“He’d older than you, Laura,” he shouted.
“I don’t care about that. I love him, Peter. This isn’t one of those stupid crushes,” she argued.
He let her go and she rubbed a hand over her wrists. His grip had been tight.
“Is that what you think I’ve got for you? A stupid little crush?” Peter asked.
Laura shook her head and stared at the pavement. “I don’t know what you’re thinking or feeling about me. I love him.”
“He’s using you. You’re a young and beautiful woman, Laura. He can do what he wants. You’re clever, why can’t you see that?”
“Please, don’t say anything,” she asked. “This is my life and if he’s using me, I’ll deal with it. Please, be my friend.”
Peter glanced at the ground before nodding his head. “You’re going to get hurt by this,” he warned.
“That’s my problem. Not yours.”
“You’re wrong. It’s my problem because I love you.”
Laura smiled at his words and rubbed the tears from her eyes. “I do care about you, Peter.” She kissed his cheek and walked home.
* * * *
Laura stayed home and didn’t call Dean. Her brother was watching a film on the television and she sat on the floor reading a course book. Her mother had come in a few hours later with several bags. She didn’t know what was for dinner, but it looked like something special.
“When are you moving out, sis?” Tommy asked.
“I don’t know. Why?”
“I want your room. It’s bigger than mine. Plus, aren’t you ancient?”
“Cheeky, sod. I’m only twenty,” she told him. “Still old enough to do most things.”
Like have an affair with a man older than you.
Laura chuckled and went back to her book. Her mother walked in twenty minutes after her dad came home.
“I invited Dean Riley over for dinner tonight. I want you all on your best behavior,” her mother announced before dinner was ready.
Laura panicked and rushed upstairs. No one in her family paid attention to her. This would be the first time she’d seen him since his trip. Is that why he didn’t arrange a meeting with her? Because he knew he’d be coming here for dinner? Did this have anything to do with him withdrawing from her? All sorts of questions ran through her mind and she couldn’t think of a single reason. Maybe she’d have time to talk with him.
She checked her hair and made sure her shirt wasn’t stained by any grease or anything. Satisfied with her appearance, she paced herself and when the doorbell rang she made her way slowly down the stairs.
He wore dark blue jeans and a crisp white shirt. His tan looked good and his grey streaked hair made him seem all the more mature. She couldn’t believe he was here in her parent’s house about to have dinner. Especially when she visualized his head licking her wet cunt between her spread thighs.
Dean moved out of the doorway and her heart stopped. What felt like a million punches hit her in her solar plexus.
“I’m sorry, Mrs Cox, but I brought a date with me. This is Kimmy,” he introduced the woman.
What the hell was happening?
“There you are. Come on down, Laura,” her mother called.
She moved past the guests and went straight to her seat in the dining room. Her dad was already seated and she took the seat to his right, hating her mum with every passing second as she sat Kimmy and Dean in front of her. Dean shook hands with her dad and she averted her gaze when he stared at her. She couldn’t do this.
Help me.
Dinner began and her nightmare started, Peter’s words haunting her.