Marrying Mr Write (Mr Write Trilogy) (14 page)

“Oh, ok then. Never mind. Do you want to get together at the weekend?”

“Maybe Rosie, I’ll call you. Bye babe.”

She hangs up and I look at my phone confused. She sounds like she doesn’t want to see me at all, and the way she said my name was as though she hardly knows me.

“Hey, what’s up?” Jackson looks up over his laptop as I sigh at my phone,

“Pip, just seems off with me. I don’t know why!”

“She’s probably just busy. And don’t forget, she’s in the honeymoon period of living with Ben. Give her some time. By the time the party comes around, I bet she’ll be back to herself.”

His words do little to reassure me but do draw my focus back to the guest list for the engagement party.

We’ve decided to have it at home and I can’t wait. It’s two weeks away and I just hope that I’m able to walk, Safina, the trainer working with Matthew has absolutely murdered me in boot camp and I have muscles aching in places that I didn’t realise it was possible to work out.

I stand with a groan and ignore Jackson’s laugh as I make my way to the office. I need to get into party planning mood.

After a while Jackson comes into the office smiling,

“What are you so happy about?”

“I’ve got an interview! It’s for a travel magazine,” I frown and he reads my mind, “I wouldn’t be going anywhere babe, it’s an editor position. It’s in Manchester but I’ll commute.”

Jackson looks over the moon as I stand to hug him tightly and congratulate him.

“This is good Rosie; it’s the start of our future!” He’s really happy and it makes me giddy. I’m not sure how I ever smiled before him.

Jackson looks me in the eyes and I know that all of the exci
tement has had an effect on him.  That and the fact that I’m wearing my hair piled loosely on top of my head and have my glasses on, Jackson loves it when I look like the naughty librarian of his teenage fantasies. I feel playful and bite my lip as I lower to my knees and undo the zip on Jackson’s jeans, he just smiles down as I reach inside and take what I want.

“Rosie, stop! I don’t want to come in your mouth, stop!” Jackson is breathy as I relentlessly suck hard.

“I’m congratulating you baby!” I smile up and continue with what I was doing,

“Baby, stop please!” I frown upwards playfully as I stop and let Jackson compose himself before pulling me up from my knees and turning me around, bending me over his desk as he tugs my knickers
from underneath my skirt and down my thighs before slamming into me.

I let out a yell as he digs his fingers into my hips and pulls
me backward onto him with each thrust. He is achingly deep and I reach out to the wall for support as I struggle to hold it together.

I lift my right knee up onto the desk, feeling my underwear pull tightly
around my knees and then rip a little as I stretch them beyond their ability. I start to call out with each thrust as Jackson pushes me closer to orgasm.

“Ah fuck Rosie!” Jackson groans through his teeth as he pumps into me and I know that he’s close to coming. I reach my ha
nd behind me and pull Jackson’s hand around to rub my clit, keeping my fingers in top of his as he does.

I clench tightly around him and feel his laboured breath on the back of my neck as I grip his wrist in my hand and call out loudly in orgasmic pleasure. I’m lost as he comes into me and stops his thrusting.

“You’ll be the death of me Alvez!”

Jackson left early this morning to get to Manchester for his interview. He decided to give the rush hour trains a go in preparations for ‘when’ he gets the job. I’d have been a nervous wreck in his position but he’s just so confident, it makes me really proud.

I’ve hardly spoken to Pip lately and I’m fed up of it. I don’t know what I’ve done wrong but there’s something going on and I intend on finding out what, so I’
m going round to her flat and she is going to talk to me.

In the weeks since Jackson’s arrest I have gotten used to driving Audrey in London. I never thought I would enjoy it but it turns out that the traffic is never as bad as I expected and I can get about a lot easier than I ever thought I would. I park up outside Pip’s flat, her Mini is there so I know that she’s in, Pippa doesn’t do public transport.

I press the buzzer and wait an age for the answer.

“Hello?” She sounds worn out and it only worries me more,

“Pip, it’s me. Let me up.” I try to sound like I mean business but all I actually sound is concerned.

“Rosie! Oh erm ok, two secs!”

I hear the buzz and click of the door and push it open, making my way inside and up to Pip’s flat. When I get there, the front door is already open and my best friend is standing waiting for me,

“Hey,” I smile and Pippa returns the gesture,

“I’m sorry RoRo!” Pip opens her arms to me and I hold her, I don’t know what’s been going on, but I’m so glad to have her close again.

“Did you enjoy the party?” I ask with a smile as Pippa puts the kettle on to boil.

“Yeah, it was good. Did you have fun? It was so good to see you and Jackson together.” She grins but looks tired; I know there’s something she isn’t telling me.

“Pip, what’s going on? Are you and Ben ok?” I try push gently to get her to open up,

“Yeah, we’re great Rosie, I promise you. I couldn’t wish for more,” I see the look of love in her eyes and I know she’s telling the truth. “I’m just so tired Ro. I’ve been working so hard lately and I guess it’s just taken a toll on me.”

Pippa’s words put my mind at ease a little. I know what it’s like to be exhausted and run down; I just need to make sure that I’m here for her, starting with coffee and the chocolate muffins that I brought with me.

“Come on then tell me what’s been going on, you look really happy!”

Pippa and I move into the living room and take a seat on her ridiculously comfy sofas.

“I am. Things are amazing.
Jackson has gone to Manchester today for an interview. It’s going to be a big commute if he gets it but it’s a good job with a great salary. It’ll mean we can save to buy somewhere.” I sip at my coffee and still can’t shake the feeling that something is off.

“That’s great. I’m really pleased for you.”

“Pip, what you said at the party…you know that you’ll never lose me don’t you? Regardless of what happens in our personal lives, you and I are solid. Tell me you know that!”

Pippa sighs and smiles weakly, “I do, I know Ro. Honestly I’m just tired.
But really I am ok, how are you? Really, how are you coping with everything that’s happened over the last few months?” Pippa pushes the focus back onto me and I know that the best thing to do is just let her, she’ll come to me when the time is right I’m certain.

“Ok, highest highs and lowest lows but we’re getting through it. Jackson has been really supportive, even vetting cafes and bars first to make sure they’re pregnancy free!” I laugh and Pip looks at me confused,

“What do you mean?”

“Well, with everything that’s happened, I’ve not been
able to be around to be around pregnant women. It just stirs up too many mixed emotions in me. I’m sure I’ll get over it but for now, we’re staying clear of anything pregnancy related!”

Pippa smiles and shakes her head as she takes a sip of her coffee,

“I really hope you feel better about it all soon, you did nothing wrong Ro and you can’t avoid it forever,” the concerned look in Pip’s eyes is one that I’ve seen a million times and the familiarity of it makes me feel happy, that’s the first sign I’ve seen that my Pip is still in there somewhere.

“I know, I will. It just hurts Pip.” She reaches out
and holds my hand and I look up into her smiling eyes,

“Love you RoRo, always!”

“Love you too Pip.”

After a few hours catching up, I feel a bit better about the distance between Pip and I. She’s not her normal self but insists she’s just tired and I have to believe that. I leave Pippa’s flat with a massive hug and a promise that she will come to me for anything and head towards Euston station to pick up Jackson.

“Mr James, your carriage awaits!” I tease as I see Jackson heading toward me.

“What are you doing here? I’d have got a taxi!” Jackson pulls me into a hug and kisses me on the temple.

“I know, I was in the neighbourhood!” I smile up at Jackson and he laughs, leading me out of the station and towards the car park.

As I drive towards home Jackson asks how Pip is and I fill him in on how weird she seemed. He tells me not to worry and that she probably just needs some time to adjust to things.
As I pull Audrey into the parking space next to the Range Rover, Jackson’s phone rings and he looks at me with a shocked expression on his face. He answers.

“Jackson James,”

There’s a pause as he listens and then he speaks again.

“I see, erm, yes of course.”

Another pause,

“Oh! That’s fantastic, thank you. Great I’ll look out for it then.”

He pauses again,

“Good stuff, speak to you tomorrow. Thanks again. Bye.”

He hangs up and looks at me with a smile,

“I got the job!” He shakes his head, “They cancelled their other interviews after they met me, I don’t start until January but the job
is mine Rosie!”  He laughs and his happiness is infectious, I lunge at him across the middle of the car and he pulls me into his lap and kisses me. “First day of the rest of our lives baby!”

“Frankie, how are you gorgeous?”

I step inside the familiar office of Francesca Franklin, the must
y smell filling my nostrils as her yellow toothed grin greets me from the other side of her desk.

“Jackson, I’d be better if you weren’t so intent on leaving me!”

“Oh Frankie, we always knew this was temporary, it just lasted a little longer than expected. You know I’ll always be grateful for everything you’ve done for me though.”

My meeting with Frankie was to finalise the details of my last book with Gold Star publishing, ‘Romantic Britain – A guide of the most romantic places in the British Isles.’ We decided on a three month tour of the country, I’ve arranged an itinerary and for Rosie to come with me. Frankie was certainly surprised that Rosie and I were not only a couple but getting married and tried to get us to write a book about being t
wo authors in love. The pound signs were clouding her vision yet again.

“Well then Jackson, I guess I’ll see you in the new year with a finished book. I look forward to it. Love to Rosetta.”

I stand to leave, knowing that Frankie isn’t one for pleasantries,

“Oh
Frankie Thanks. That book you gave me last year, it changed my life!”

I smile as Frankie remembers giving me a copy of Rosie’s novel and head home, I feel happy and excited for everything that the future holds.

Despite her promises, Pippa has remained distant in the two weeks since I went to her flat and to be honest, I’m furious with her.

Pip and I have been best friends for most of our lives, we argue like sisters but we’re always honest with each other about what has pissed us of. We talk it out and make up, but this time she’s just ignoring me. The thing that’s really getting to me is that it was her who said she was worried about losing me, and yet it’s her pushing me away.

I have done all that I can though. I’ve called and texted her, gone to her flat and tried to figure out what’s going on
, but I can’t do any more if she isn’t willing to tell me what’s wrong.  I’ve obviously upset her somehow. I know she was a little annoyed about me keeping the fact that Jackson and I were back together from her, but she said she understood that and was happy for us, so it can’t be that. But if it isn’t, then I have absolutely no idea.

Mine and Jackson’s engagement party is tonight
, and despite not knowing if my best friend is going to show up, I am excited. Rafe and I have been arranging the apartment, he has set up his sound system so that we can play that party playlists that I have spent hours putting together, and Matthew and Jackson have gone out on a booze run.

I have a new dress and new shoes that Jackson salivated over in the middle of Schuh and to top it off, all of my old curves are back where they should be.
Jackson tells me every day that he thinks I’m gorgeous and sexy, but tonight, when everyone is looking at me as his fiancée, I want him to be proud to be marrying me, and he will be!

“I can’t believe you left your brother to do all the work while you play with your hair!” Jackson says with a smile as he comes into the bedroom to see me running serum through my wet hair.

“The work was already done I’ll have you know, and I need to beautify before people get here!”  I pick up my hair dryer as Jackson pulls off his t-shirt and kisses me on the temple before heading toward the bathroom.