“Knock it off, lads,” I grunted, tossing a roll of tape in Jimmy’s direction to get him to quit with the hip thrusting.
Tonya came bounding straight up, her dark ponytail bouncing around her shoulders as she jogged on the spot, her tits bobbing up and down. I smiled, but it wasn’t in that way. I’d never seen Tonya in that way, pretty though she was. Her cheeks were flushed pink and her breath was heavy. I knew exactly what the guys were thinking, but she seemed oblivious. Oblivious or totally disinterested. It made a change around here lately.
I raised an eyebrow. “Come to chew me out about Mandy Taylor?” I asked. “If so, you needn’t bother. I already know what a fuck up that was.”
“Jesus, Trent, would I?” She gave me a healthy tut. “I don’t need to tell you when you’ve been a wanker. Pretty sure you can work that out for yourself.”
I made my way outside and she followed, stopped jogging to do some stretches. I lit up a cigarette. “So?”
She rolled her eyes at me. “I’m on a route, you know, keep fit. Maybe I was just passing.”
“Never kept fit past my door before.”
“Never kept fit before,” she laughed. “Ah, fuck it.” She stopped with the exercises and pulled a pack of cigarettes from her bra. I smirked as she lit one up. “Jodie,” she said. “I’m here about Jodie.”
“So she sent you to chew me out?”
“Has Jodie ever once sent me to say her piece for her?” She took a long drag. “She’s no idea I’m here.”
“Oh?”
She smiled. “I guess you haven’t seen her today.”
“Why would I have?”
“No reason. She’s just… found herself a little.” I didn’t have time to ask questions before she changed topic. “I’m taking her out for the day on Friday. She totally deserves the break. I wanted to make sure you’ll have the girls, don’t want her racing back for the school run before we’re done.”
I nodded. “Righto.”
“So you will?” Big dark eyes sparkled at me.
“Goes without saying, Tonya.”
She clapped her hands together. “Excellent!”
Her enthusiasm was infectious, I found myself smiling. “Where you taking her?”
“Hereford,” she said. “Spa, beauty shit, shopping.”
I pulled a face. “She’s up for that, is she?” I couldn’t remember the last time Jodie went in for all that girly pampering crap.
“Yes. She’s up for it.”
I felt a niggle in my gut. I puffed away on my cigarette, tried to play down the unease. “What’s this in aid of? She got a hot date or something?”
She shook her head. “No, no. She’s just… you’ll see for yourself when you run into her.” She tapped my arm. “She’s finding herself again. New clothes, makeup… she looks fucking amazing. I just want to give her a helping hand along the way. It’s time she lived for herself again. It’s been too long. Work and the girls.” She flashed me a look of scorn. “And Brian.”
“No argument from this end,” I said.
“Good.” She grinned. “So, it’s set. You have the girls, I’ll take Jo out for some hardcore girly time. I can’t fucking wait.” She stubbed her cigarette out. “I’d better get going, this belly fat isn’t gonna burn off by itself, Darren.”
I scoffed at her. “You don’t need to lose any of that, you look fine enough as you are.”
“Thanks,” she said. “You can tell Jimmy O he isn’t getting a piece, dirty bastard. I saw him thrusting.”
“Will do.”
She slapped my arm. “Seems I’m the only woman in the village who’s not going gaga for a gangbang.” She met my eyes. “Don’t fuck local, Darren. Plenty of rich bitches out there without crapping on your own doorstep. It isn’t on.”
“Wasn’t intending on it.” I sighed. “Mandy Taylor was a one off. For Buck.”
“Ah,” she said.
“Ah fucking right. I knew it was trouble.”
She shrugged. “Just be more careful who you stick it in from now on.” She grinned. “Lecture over.” She groaned as she looked back at the road. “I fucking hate keep fit, it stinks.”
I laughed. “Want a lift?”
“Nah,” she said. “No pain, no gain.” She let out a sigh and resumed her jogging on the spot. “Laters.”
I grabbed her elbow before she could escape. Her eyes were wide as I pulled her close, stepped to the side of the shutters. They grew wider still when I unbuttoned my overalls and reached inside.
I smirked. “Fucking hell, Tonya. I’m not about to give you the pissing gigolo act.” I pulled out my wallet, counted out three hundred in twenties. She raised her eyebrows as I shoved it into her hand. “For Jo,” I explained. “Make sure she has a nice day, yeah?”
She flicked through the notes. “She’ll never take this, and you know it.”
I shrugged. “Make something up. Say you won it at bingo or some crap. Whatever you want.”
She smiled and slipped it in her pocket. “I’ll work something out.”