Chapter Four
This is part of a series. This Chapter does not stand on its own. Please read from Chapter one.
++++++++++++++++++
The morning air was a little chilly as I walked slowly home. It was six-thirty. Graham would leave at seven-thirty. I wanted to arrive home after he'd left, not out of fear or shame particularly; I just wanted time to reflect on what had happened. There's a coffee shop opposite where we live so I sat in there until I saw him leave for his workshop. Once inside I had a long bath before getting into bed. Not to sleep so much, though I was tired, but more to think.
I'd never had an experience like last night. Orgasms so strong I almost went unconscious. Two guys who really seemed to care about my pleasure as well as theirs. I'd felt completely at home with them; safe. Though I always felt safe with Graham, I never felt so at ease with him, yet these two guys who I'd only known a few hours felt like my oldest and best friends. Friends who fuck like rabbits, that is. I dismissed the idea of going away with them. It was insane. I couldn't just up and leave like that. Could I? The idea popped into my head that perhaps I could. Why not? People do impulsive things, don't they? Yes, and usually end up in deep trouble. Once the idea of leaving was there I couldn't get rid of it. By mid-afternoon, I'd thought of ways to deal with work and friends. Graham was a different matter though. I felt I owed him. I dismissed the idea again.
Until Graham came home, that is. When I was with him I realised that my feelings for him weren't deep, and never had been. He was a good man, but not a man to spend the rest of my life with. After dinner I said gently.
"Graham, I think I'm going to go away for a few days. Is that OK?"
He looked devastated. "A few days? How many? Why?"
"I don't know. I'm sorry. I just need a break. I...I..well, I'm sorry."
He tried to get more from me, but I wasn't really able to say more. I couldn't say if I was leaving permanently, though I doubted it. I was just going off on an impulse. I told him it wasn't him, it was me, but he didn't believe me. Later we made love gently; I felt guilty at consolation sex, but he seemed to need it. He left in the morning without a word. I felt sad for a while, but then the thought of what I was going to do excited me. I showered, ate something, tracked down a suitcase and sorted out some clothes to take for a fortnight. I was very careful with my appearance. Perhaps they'd change their minds if I didn't look good. I put on a tight shirt, with a jacket over the top and a short, but not too short, skirt. By the time I'd finished, it was nine-fifteen; I only had three-quarters of an hour to get there. I took a taxi, asking him to drop me a couple of streets away, in case I wanted to change my mind at the last minute. It would be simpler if I was on foot. I walked down to the bar where I'd met Darren. There was a large BMW parked outside with its boot open. Darren came out with a suitcase and put it in the boot. I walked up to him.
"Well, here I am then."
Darren turned. "Gail!" he hugged me. "You changed your mind then. Tommy! look who's here!"
Tommy came out of the door. "Well, well. You won't regret this, luv. God, you look gorgeous. Give me your bag. Climb in, we're ready to go."
"Erm, where exactly are we going?" I asked, nervous now that the moment was here.
"Harrogate," said Darren, "it's a lovely town."
"Is it by the sea?" I asked, not sure of my geography.
"No. But Scarborough's not too far away." Sensing my nervousness he said, "Get in the back, luv. We'll be in the front. If you change your mind we'll drop you off at a station. Don't worry we're not perverts or kidnappers."
Something in his manner reassured me, so I climbed in the back of the car. Tommy took the driving seat, Darren sat beside him, fiddling with the dashboard satnav.
"Nice car," I said.
"Ta, luv. We were going to come in Darren's Merc, but it's only got two seats. Good thing we came in mine, isn't it?"
They obviously had money, I thought as we drove through the town out to the motorway. I didn't feel like I was embarking on a great adventure. I felt perfectly normal. I texted Jackie: "away to Harrogate for while speak soon". She came straight back with: "where? why?" I re-sent "speak soon". Then I texted Graham: "On my way. c u soon xx". I looked up to find us driving into a service area.
"Breakfast break," said Darren over his shoulder. "We didn't have time earlier."
They both had a full English, I just had a coffee and Danish. Tommy paid. They talked mostly guy stuff, but didn't ignore me. We just didn't have a range of subjects in common yet, but I felt they would come in time. An hour later after loo breaks, we returned to the car. I resumed my previous seat, but this time Darren climbed into the back with me; Tommy sat behind the wheel. I offered to pay towards the petrol as they filled up, but Darren said: "No. We said we'd take care of you and we will. You won't need any money. At least not on our account. Don't worry, we can afford it."
As we drove off I asked him, "What do you do then?"
"I have a small software company. Tommy has a building firm."
Tommy snorted, "He says it's a small company but it's valued in the millions. He doesn't even have to do any work; he can afford to pay people to run it for him. He sits around all day dreaming of being a writer. I have to work for a living."
"Listen to him! Poor hard-done-by! He employs over a thousand people you know. He could do less if he chose. He loves it."
"Aye, well. I do it's true. But I'll never be a writer, me. Neither will he, I'd bet." Darren smiled to himself. They were obviously well used to joshing each other.
"How long have you two been friends?"
"We were at school together. Primary, that is. We just seem to get on. And we share an interest, of course."
"Football?" I asked in all innocence.
They both laughed. "Tommy's the football man. I meant...er.. the opposite sex."
"Oh," I said embarrassed.
"What do you do?" Darren asked.
