Page 11 of Nick & Nora Martinis

“Oh my god Ab you okay?” I hear from the left side of me, as Jayne looks at the crates spread across the floor.

I shake my head, bringing myself back to the here and now. Rob releases my arm, and composing myself, I straighten up. I turn towards Jayne. I can feel my face all flush, I probably look guilty for doing something, “Yeah I'm okay, lost my bloody footing. I forgot to move these crates.” She looks at me then at Rob, she smiles, turns and walks back into the bar without saying another word.

I turn back to him “Thanks for helping me up. I think we should go into the bar where I have staff I need to talk to.” Smiling, I turn and walk out into the bar.

As I walk into the bar I address them all. “I'm so sorry for my lateness, but I'm sure you were in good hands with Jayne, your supervisor.” She looks over at me with the biggest smile ever. Pointing and mimicking to herself. The group starts to laugh. “Okay, any questions?” I ask them.

Rumbles resonate about the group, all saying no. “So now you are all up to date with health and safety, using the right colour fire extinguisher and blankets?” They all nod their heads.

“Okay, then I have one last thing to do and then you can all go home. I need to do your timetable.” It doesn't take long to fill it all in for what's left of this week, so I do the next two weeks too. I thank them all individually, telling them that I will see them tomorrow for a few hours before the opening.

“Hey gaffer, fancy a celebratory drink?” Jayne shouts from the bar where she's talking to Owen and Rob. I feel a bit of jealousy, looking at the three of them chilling together. Then Owen puts his hand on her back. My thoughts go to Rob as I stand and look at them, wondering if he thinks of me. If he would ever put his arm around me.

“Gaffer, really,” I berate with a raised, eyebrow letting it be known I can see what's going on. Owen's hand has moved from her back and his arm is now draped over her shoulder. I walk over to the bar and as I do this, Jay moves Owen's arm and runs around to the other side of the bar and starts mixing up some drinks.

“Yes,” she says “It suits ‘ya.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Oh I don't know, it does sort of suit you,” Rob says, smirking. “You think I could stay for a bit and get on the keys?” he asks.

I smile at him, “Of course.” The longer the better…

Chapter Six

The three of us sit here chatting and laughing while Rob plays the piano. After about half an hour Jayne decides to challenge the men to a drinking game. She calls Rob over but he declines. He sits down beside me.

“Jayne, is it a good idea to go one-for-one with Owen?” he asks her.

“Darn right it is, you sure you don't want to join in?”

“No, not this time,” he replies sweetly.

Whatever has possessed her I’ve no idea, but she is going to regret it in the morning.

“Game and rule time,” Jayne says. “You two can play as well but without the drink. So you've heard of never have I ever, right? Well I'll let you go first, you have to be truthful. You drink rum.”

“Yep, you sure you want to do this?”

I look at Jay and start to laugh, she knows I know that she can drink rum all night and it has no effect on her and she has no idea why.

“Let me go grab a bottle.” She comes back with a couple of shotglasses and a bottle of rum.

The game starts with the questions coming thick and fast. At first they are really simple, stupid and funny like, ‘have you ever jumped from a plane, cliff, made cakes, drank tea, eaten gherkins?’ The time is flying by, we are over an hour in and they are still going drink for drink, still asking questions, but now they seem to be turning somewhat personal.

“So Jayne tell me, have you ever been to bed with someone you have just met?” Owen asks. I know the answer to this, just like all the others that she's answered.

Jayne looks across to me, then at Owen. I can see the cogs turning, wondering if she's going to be truthful, or what I believe to be the truth. “Well,” she beams, “I have.”

Owen gives her a cold look, then knocks his drink back. “Wow.”

I blink a few times, pulling my head back and sitting up straight. Looking at her, Owen says: “Oh, you will have to tell me more about this.”

“What?”, she snaps, then looks at Owen. “So it's ok for you but not for me? And to be fair, your question should be more specific.”

“What do you mean, more specific?”

“Have I been to bed with someone I've just met? I have, but not for sex, like you thought. I was at a friend's house and three of us shared a bed to crash for the night. Nothing happened, Mr Fucking Perfect. And don't ever ask a question if you're not prepared for the answer.”

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