Page 62 of Always Beth
‘Oh yeah, but denies anything happened until after we split.’
‘But you caught him red handed?’
I look at her quizzically and then realise James has obviously spoken to her about this.
‘Sorry, he mentioned it.’
I nod, part of me is pleased he’s talking about me. ‘It’s okay,’ I whisper. ‘How is he?’
‘Oh god, don’t even ask, that’s why I’m out walking Dick. He’s found his next calling and is completing unnecessary DIY throughout the cottage.’
I smile to myself as I imagine him hot and sweaty in control of power tools, and my temperature starts to rise at the very thought.
‘He’s useless though, cursing every two minutes. He wasn’t made for manual labour.’
He seemed good with his hands to me.
‘Oh God, Beth, what are you thinking about?’
Clearing my throat, I raise my eyebrows. ‘Nothing, honest.’
She scrunches her nose and looks up at the paddock ahead. ‘So what are you going to do about your dickhead husband?’
‘There’s not a lot I can do.’ I shrug. ‘It’s my word against his, unless there’s a sex tape or some kind of photographic evidence lurking somewhere I’m unaware of, then I’ll have to file under something else. Like irreconcilable differences or something.’
She stares ahead in contemplation. ‘I’d say your husband having sex with someone else is pretty irreconcilable, if you ask me.’
‘I know, right?’ I laugh.
Lauren pauses and scans the clouds that have rolled in from nowhere. ‘If we go much further, we’ll end up get caught up in the rain.’
I reluctantly call Poppy back and Dick immediately follows. This walk has been far too short and any hope I have of probing further into James’ behaviour is well and truly gone.
‘I’m going to make a dash for it. I’ll see you soon, Beth.’ Hoisting Dick underneath her arm, Lauren hurries along the lane as I stand rooted to the spot.
‘Oh. Bye…’ She couldn’t get out of here fast enough. Maybe it was something I said. As I take a slow walk, I consider my next move with Stephen. There’s no hope, I know there isn’t. I’m going to have to resign myself to the fact that he’ll come out on top, like he always does.
James
I’m done with making improvements to this place. With any luck a tornado might come whirling through the village and whip it off to Oz, and then I can put an insurance claim in. Allowing it to get into such a state of disrepair is our own fault. It’s not like we cared for it much after Mum and Dad passed away. I settle down on to my bed and lie back, staring at the poorly plastered ceiling. It’s been a week since I last saw Beth and it feels like the longest week of my life. Knowing that whatever we had, no matter how brief, is now in the past is unsettling. Every time she creeps into my thoughts, I want to reach for my phone, or my cock. It’s like my mind can’t find any relief. Closing my eyes, I picture her, wet and naked in my shower, biting her lip as she fights to control herself. The memory of her silk-like body wrapped around me and how I repeatedly lost myself deep inside her, overwhelms me. I quickly release the buttons of my jeans and shimmy just enough to free myself from my boxers. She has me as hard as she would if she were here in person, but my imagination doesn’t even come close. Taking myself in my right hand, I pump slowly as the sound of her voice echoes throughout my consciousness. I haven’t been in this much of a state over a woman in years and it unnerves me that I’ve got no choice over the matter whatsoever. This wasn’t supposed to be anything, but it turned out it was everything. My eyes widen with the clatter of the gate, and I bolt upright as I wait to see if a knock at the door follows.
Fuck, it’s Lauren.I hurriedly tuck myself away as her keys jangle in the lock. I told her not to start walking the dog, but she wasn’t having any of it. When I finally relented, I thought the only silver lining was that I’d get some peace, but she’s barely been gone fifteen minutes. Four paws arrive alone at my bedroom door and it’s not the post-walk contentment I’m used to.
‘What’s the matter, buddy?’
I receive a grunt in response before he stretches himself out in front of me, completely deflated. I know how he feels. The cottage is suspiciously quiet and if I didn’t know better then I’d say Lauren was up to something. I check myself in the mirror quickly, to make sure I don’t look like a man who’s just cut short a solo session and creep quietly down the stairs. As I peer into the lounge, I find her in the chair with her laptop propped neatly in front of her, her head so closely buried in whatever she’s reading that she’s no idea I’m even here.
‘What are you up to?’
‘Jesus Christ!’ she squeals.
‘Not Jesus. James.’
‘Ha. Ha. Ha. Minding my own business. What have you been doing, wanking over Beth?’
‘I really don’t like you sometimes.’
Her face contorts smugly, relaxing as she continues to hammer away at the keyboard. ‘In case you’re wondering, or you’re interested, she’s as pathetic as you are right now.’
