Page 22 of The Vow We Made
“The bird Aiden picked up.” I clear my throat and Will realises his mistake. “Sorry. The lovely young lady whose knickers he was trying to get into.”
“Jesus,” I groan giving him the chance to get his own back.
“To cut a long story short, she binned him.”
“You’re joking,” Luke laughs and turns to face Will. “Is that the one you said—” He stops mid-sentence, probably realising he was about to put his foot in it. I turn in Will’s direction, waiting for him to fill in the gap.
He holds his hands out. “What? I did nothing but help her out, but I tell ya, if I’d seen her first.”
Luke lands his giant hand on my shoulder. “Are you pissed off it wasn’t you?”
I want to tell him he’s wrong and I don’t have time for all this shit, but I’d be lying. All he gets out of me is a deadpan stare. Then I admit, “Apparently, you two aren’t the only twats around here. I’ve royally fucked up.”
Will’s cocky smirk is back. “I can make your day if you get another round in.”
I’m intrigued now and waiting for his one-liner. “Really? And how’s that?”
For once, he has something useful to offer. “I’m not just a pretty face.” He taps his ear with a stupid grin. “I’m always listening, it’s part of my job.” There’s no denying his incredible memory and map for a brain but it has more to do with his job as a London cabbie. Nothing much gets past him and let’s be honest, who doesn’t like a laugh at his ‘what goes on in the back of my cab’ stories? That aside, while I spent my early twenties getting through my basic medical degree, Will worked his way through university, made a stack of cash and then studied The Knowledge. It’s the qualification all London taxi drivers need to gain their licence and means he knowsevery inchof London. It took him nearly four years to learn, but his determination saw him through.
“Spit it out, what have you got?” I ask, my tone distinctly ‘couldn’t give a damn’, but his smug expression tells me this information is valuable, to me anyway.
“I have her address,” he brags.
“Come again?” I’m one of three things at this point: Pissed-off he asked her for it, pissed-off shegaveit to him and finally, pissed-off because it took him so damn long to tell me he had it.
“I kept my ears open when the driver asked where she was going.”
I can’t hold back the smile on my face. “Are you winding me up?”
“Nope.”
“And you did that for me?”
“I could tell you were interested, so when she said you were with some blonde, it didn’t make any sense. I know you bruv, it’s not in you to play the field.”
“You beauty.” I knock Luke out the way and grab hold of Will, kissing the top of his head. I thought my luck had run out when it came to Victoria, but my big brother is handing me another chance. He’s a legend.
“Get off, another beer will do,” he laughs. “and I expect you to name your first born after me.”
“Yeah, probably not. It’ll take a lot more than that,” I grin and head to the bar with Luke. My brother will want his drink before he gives up any valuable info but to be honest, it’s a small price to pay. I can’t believe my fucking luck.
“You’re a jammy git,” Luke says once we’re propping up the bar.
“What will you have?” I ask beaming from ear to ear.
“I’ll have a pint of whatever you’re on. I haven’t seen you this happy in a while,” he smiles and slaps my back while I silently thank God for my sneaky arsed brother and another shot with Victoria.
Feeling crap about the way things were left with Victoria, I amble home to clear my head. I know it would be better to see her sooner rather than later and it wouldn’t be out of my way to pass her house on the way to work. It's one tube stop from mine, granted in the opposite direction, but I want the chance to explain and let her know that fucking around isn't my style. The thought of her seeing me as a player has my back up. I don’t know why, but I need her to think the best of me and so far, I haven’t done a good job.
