Lucy in the Sky

flabbergasted.
    ‘Yep.’
    ‘ Really? ’
    ‘If you ask me that one more time I’m going to nail your fucking beak to the fucking bar!’
    It turns out that one of the guys from Nathan’s work has just returned from London where he’s been helping to build the new Wembley Stadium. The building company running the job is Australian and they’ve been looking for more Aussie builders to work over here. As simple as that.
    ‘How long are you coming for?’ I ask, almost lost for words.
    ‘If it all goes to plan, and it might not yet, we’ll see, but if it does, they’re trying to line us up with three-month working visas. So we should be there until early January.’
    By we, he means his friend Richard from work who also wants to come to England.
    ‘Where will you stay?’ I want to tell him he can stay here but of course that’s ridiculous. Even if we did have a spare room, James would never allow it. And anyway that would just be asking for trouble. It was bad enough having him sleep in the room next door to me at Sam and Molly’s house.
    ‘I haven’t figured that part out yet. Somewhere in north London, I reckon, judging by what the guy from work said.’
    After we hang up I sit on the bed for a moment feeling shell-shocked. Then I go through to the living room.
    ‘James?’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘You know Nathan, Sam’s little brother?’
    ‘Yeah…’ he says, eyes still fixed on the telly. Suddenly he yells, ‘That was in, you moron!’
    I carry on. ‘Well, he might be coming over here in three months’ time.’
    That gets his attention.
    ‘So you’ll be able to meet him!’ I add cheerfully.
    ‘ Great! ’ Oh, the sarcasm.
    ‘James, don’t be mean.’ I keep my tone playful. ‘He’s a nice guy; you’d get along well with him.’
    He looks up at me from the sofa, blue eyes staring intently at me and I avert my gaze to the tennis on the telly. ‘Who’s winning?’ I ask.
    ‘Lucy, come here,’ he says and reaches up for my hand.
    ‘James, careful!’ I squeal as I start to lose my balance. He doesn’t let go, just pulls me firmly down onto his lap so I’m kneeling above him.
    ‘Do you fancy him?’ he asks, looking searchingly into my eyes.
    ‘No!’ I laugh.
    ‘Really?’
    ‘James, stop being silly.’
    He reaches up and rubs his thumb over my nipple, through my T-shirt. Then he takes my face in his hands and starts to kiss me, slowly at first, then harder, like the expert kisser he is. I respond to him more passionately as he reaches down and unbuckles his belt.
    But when we’ve finished I feel dirty.

Chapter 18
    ‘Are you serious ?’ Chloe squeals on Monday at work.
    ‘Shh! It might not happen yet. He’s still in the process of sorting it out.’
    ‘Lucy, what time are you going to collect the clients?’ Mandy calls from her desk, interrupting our gossiping.
    ‘I’ve got a car coming in twenty minutes,’ I call back.
    Titteesh are flying in direct from Portugal where they’ve been on a promotional tour around the Algarve’s bars and nightclubs. Chloe comes with me to collect them from the airport because we’re launching straight into ‘the operation’. We don’t have long if we’re going to get this video up onto the internet tomorrow.
    Two hours later we’re standing in front of the Millennium Wheel on London’s South Bank and Chloe is trying to hold a camera steady while attempting not to laugh as the three members of Titteesh whirl and twirl in front of her. I’m blasting their song out of a portable stereo player and wishing the ground would swallow me up as the crowd of people in front of us grows.Suddenly two girls aged about nine or ten begin to join in with the dance routine. Alexei, the male member of the band, gasps in animated delight and encourages them to form a twirling circle.
    Mockah Chockah hot!
    Mockah Chockah slow
    Mockah Chockah now!
    Go! Go! Go!
    They chant as more kids run to join in, followed by a few laughing students. The girl band members, Regina and Varvara, join Alexei in enthusiastically welcoming every single newcomer. Regina, the blonde one, pulls me into the circle. I put on a brave face and embrace the madness as the crowd just keeps growing.
    It’s the same at Buckingham Palace, only this time there are guards trying not to look, which makes it even more hilarious.
    By the time the day is over, Chloe and I can’t get the bloody song out of our heads. I’m still singing it that night as I try to fall asleep, and in the