Page 26 of Nick & Nora Martinis

I stare at the pair of them from behind as they make their way to the bar. They are taking the piss and I won't stand for it. Walking up behind them, Jayne turns towards me and smiles. I don't give them time to say anything before I say:

“Out the back now, both of you.” I put the empty glasses on the bar. “Mary, I'll be back in five.” I start to walk away.

“What the hell are you two playing at? I told you to sort Ian out, not to get anyone else involved. Why are you kissing in front of him, adding fuel to the fire?”

“Come on Abi, it's not like he doesn't deserve it after what he has done to Jayne,” Owen butts in.

“I'll get to you in a minute,” I say, scowling at him.

He puts his hands up in defence.

“He was getting a bit handsy with me, Owen came round the corner and told him to fuck off and to take his hands off of me as I was taken. Then he kissed me. Ian said a few heated words to me and walked away. That's it.”

I look between them, I nod my head in her direction for her to get back to work. Jayne looks at Owen then me and walks away into the bar.

“Well, and your excuse for not turning up today for your shift is?”

“What,” he looks surprised. “Did she not tell you?”

“Does it look like she told me?”

Smiling at me but looking a bit embarrassed and sheepish, he says: “We broke my bed, so I had to go find and order a new one. That's why she covered my shift. It took longer than I thought. Sorry, Abi.” He half smiles.

“Broke your bed.” I shake my head, “I don't want to know, and outside just now, what was that about?”

“Her ex you mean, he was being a prick so I asked what his problem was and to release her arm and to leave my bird alone. He started to laugh at that, and the next thing Jay had her tongue down my throat. He says a few choice words then walks off and we come in here.”

I glance at my watch, it's five-thirty.

“Alright, I'm going to get my paperwork. Ask Jay to let Mary go home, her shift is finished. And now you're here Jayne can finish too. I'll be back down in a sec.” Owen turns to walk out the door and as he does so I run upstairs.

I'm just about to lock the door when Rob shouts at me, running up the stairs. “Don't lock it!”

I stand there like an idiot staring at him.

He grabs me by the hand, opening the door and pulling me through it. Once on the other side he scoops me up into his arms and twirls me around, the papers and book I'm holding in my arm fall to the floor. “What the hell…?” Before I get to finish his mouth is on mine. He carries me to the kitchen, placing me on top of the counter, “What are you doing, I have stuff to get….”

Standing in between my legs, he kisses me again. “Thank you,” he says.

“For what?”

“For believing in me, for giving me a job, for us.”

“What's going on?” I ask him, all confused.

He goes into his pocket and pulls out a thin square box. “This is for you.”

He passes it to me.

“What is it?”

“Just open it, and you will see.”

I rip the paper off it. “It's a CD, oh my god it's your music,” I squeal as I pull him closer, hugging him. I pepper kiss him all over his face in between telling him how proud I am.

“Why didn't you tell me?” I say with a big smile.

“It all happened so fast, I swear Ab I had no idea. The phone call I had this morning was from the recording studio, they said that Mr Feancus would like to see me.”

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