Geoff.
I sit staring at her, waiting for the sleeping pills to wear off. I wonder what she'd like for breakfast. Eggs and bacon I hope. Look at those tits, with the rings in. I'll get her some fancy chain one day, so I can pull her tits together a bit. Jayne reckons I ought to make her have a tit job. I quite like the idea. I mean Sylvia's tits are big enough, but I like that what's her name, Molly Parton, she's a country singer from years ago. I think Sylvia would look good with huge fucking knockers like hers.
Here she comes waking up and stretching. Her eyes open and for a couple of seconds she smiles, and then scowls.
Sylvia.
"What have you done?"
"Relax I gave you some sleeping pills in your water last night. Now I went to the all night garage when you were getting your beauty sleep. I got eggs and bacon."
"Sleeping pills, you gave me sleeping pills!"
"Although I'm a light sleeper I thought it best for now."
I'm trying to clear my head, and trying to find the right things to say. I lift the sheet away from my body and close my eyes in frustration. Those awful rings are still in my nipples.
Slowly it all comes back to me. I'm starting to remember the things I went through, and then Geoff fucking me.
And oh my god, him knowing about Neil! I have to explain it to him, make him see that Neil and Bev had been split up with no signs of getting back together. Not that I think Geoff would care less.
I could be balling my eyes out now, but I'm more concerned with why he's still here, so I ask him, "Why are you still here, I mean it, why are you still in my house?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"No, it's not. I gave you my money and you, you, raped me, what else do you want?"
"For a start we are going to the sex shop tonight."
"But you said it would be over. I gave you my money and you said it would be over."
"Look, I know you have two accounts, trying to fob me off with your pocket money isn't going to work."
"You asshole, you've had all you're going to get out of me. Get out of here before I call the police you dumb bastard. I hate you, I do. I really, really hate you. Stop laughing at me you big jerk. Stop. Why are you laughing, this isn't a joke!"
"No Babe, but for the last minute you have been hitting me with your pillow. I mean you are priceless."
He walks out of my bedroom laughing and I throw my pillow at him, it hits his back, and I slump down on the bed.
I go and take a shower, and as I pull my dressing gown on, I can hear him downstairs talking on the phone I guess. I pull my dressing gown around me and this time I'm determined he has to go. I walk downstairs, and there he is, sat drinking coffee with Bev and Neil!
"Ah there you are, I made your breakfast, Babe," he turns away from me and resumes his conversation with Neil and Bev, "Yes we have been together about five weeks now," he turns to Neil on purpose, and says, "I know all her little secrets, I bet you two have got a few, well I reckon Neil has," he turns back to Bev, "don't worry missus I'm only joking."
For the first time in her life, probably, Bev is stuck for words. She just stares at me with an open mouth and a look of shock on her face. Neil is sat there looking up at me, questioning me with his worried eyes, and I know what about.
"Now Neil and I are going in the garden, I'm going to show him what I've got planned. Come on mate, grab us a couple beers from the fridge, I bought them last night."
The back door shuts and Bev just looks at me. I can see out of the kitchen window Geoff is stood with his arm round Neil, but Geoff is looking back over his shoulder at me. The look on his face frightens me more than it ever has before.
"What the hell are you doing with that?" Bev spits out the question deliberately slowly.
"We won't be together much, longer. I was going to tell him when I came downstairs," I say and gulp.
She throws her hands in the air, "Five weeks he says, you've been together for five weeks? God you're insane. Mum phoned me and said she'd seen you with fucking King Kong out there. God Sylvia, I was going to ask you to a dinner party with our friends, but I swear you bring him and I won't let you in."
"I said I'd get rid of him, didn't I? Just don't go on at me, you've changed since you and Neil got back together, you've become harsh."
"Okay there's no need to snap. Anyway I'm not letting Neil walk all over me anymore. God, why are you crying?"
The tears just come, I look at her and grab a tissue and dab my eyes.
"Well, he's hard to get rid of," I say weakly.
"Oh I'll bloody do it."
"No Bev, he's well a softy really, he, isn't that bad, he's just a little..."
"...Thick?"
"Bev, you're not helping. I can deal with this, just let me, please?"
"Christ darling," she sighs, "Okay, but honestly you can do better than that. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes," I snap a little too quickly.
She holds her hands up defensively, "All right, I can take a hint."
"He's been good to me," I say wondering why I'm defending him, "He does things for me, and as he said to Neil, he's got plans for the garden."
"Well it doesn't sound like you mean to get rid of him anytime soon. Oh my god, Sylvia. Is this like Gary and Susan? You know, like we used to wonder about why the prettiest of our friends married a guy 20 years older than she was, with his beer belly, bald head, and big ears?"
I just nod, hoping Bev will be convinced enough to stop going on about it. Then I remember another couple we know.
"It's like that guy who left his slim wife, for that fat woman I guess. Geoff and me will probably wear off, but I like him," I say and turn away before Bev realises I'm lying.
I feel her arms go round my shoulders and she turns me round. She hugs me and says, "I understand. Hey what's that?"
"Nip, nipple rings, I've always wanted some," I say hoping I sound more convincing than I feel.
"God they feel huge. Sorry I shouldn't have touched."
"I know you don't like that sort of thing, but I, do."
"Hey, what are they up to out there?"
We look out of the window. Geoff and Neil have started hacking bits off the overgrown bush at the bottom of the garden.
"Neil hates gardening. I can't believe it," Bev says and laughs.
Geoff.
"You see Neil, me old mate, you and I got something in common, we've both shagged Sylvia. But she is my girl now, and it wouldn't do for that wife of yours to get to know. She's a bit of alright your missus, nice tits, and I wouldn't say no. Now you keep your hands off Sylvia, and I'll keep my hands off your missus, then we can all get along, perfectly."
He's got the message alright, and he agreed to help me with the bush. He works at the big DIY shop, and could come in handy now we are best mates.
Beverly.
"Fucking hell Liz, you should see him, he's like a fucking Gorilla, and thick as fuck. I think she likes him, you know what she's like, but you should have seen her face when she came down the stairs. Anyway I might invite him to dinner then you can all see him. We can play pin the tail on the donkey, I'm not kidding that's about his limit. Right got to hang up now and phone mum."
Sylvia.
I take them out a beer as they finish tidying up. Cutting the bush right back has opened up the garden, and while I still want rid of him, he and Neil have done a good job.
"Right mate off you go, and thanks for helping me, and I'll be round for those paving slabs in a couple of days. Neil's got some in the garden department going free, haven't you mate?"
"Well not free, but cheap," Neil says like he is frightened to death about something.
"Yeah very cheap he reckons, that's right Neil, isn't it, me old mate?"
Neil walks away, and takes a quick worried glance over his shoulder at Geoff and me.
"I kind of like him. So what do you reckon to your new garden then?"
"It looks lovely. Geoff I need."
"I'm going to cut the grass and mend that fence. I been thinking too, I'm going to give you your money back."
"Geoff, you can't carry on like this, us I mean. I'm not your girl friend."
"I know. I'll be out your hair next week. I got to go away."
"Permanently I mean. I don't want to see you again," I say hoping I haven't pushed it too far.
"You won't have to worry much longer. I know about you and Neil, so just do as I say for a few more days."
I nod and think maybe there is a chink of light now after all. I'm not one for wishing my life away, but the next few days can't pass quickly enough. He goes back out in the garden and pulls the lawn mower out of the shed.
Geoff.
Fucking ungrateful bitch she is. The trouble is I like her, and I've been stupid thinking she'll like me. It was never about that in the first place, but when she came to the cop shop and told the police I was with her, I thought just maybe she had started liking me back. When my dad was alive he told me to get me eyes off the pretty girls, they won't like you, and if you can't stand fucking an ugly bird, put a bag over her head.
Sylvia seemed happy enough with what I told her about leaving her alone. Well I have to, like I said I've changed my plans. I'm still building a room for her, but not where I'm living. I'm starting on a room at my dad's old run down farm. It is miles away from here out in the sticks. We won't have any Neil bothering us, and no Beverly popping in for coffee, and looking down her nose at me. In fact we won't have anyone visit.
 
                             
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                