Love Never Goes Out of Style/CH 16
After turning the music station on softly just in case Daniel accidentally made any noise, Betty carefully took Christine to the other side of the suite to sit down.
She looked at her friend with concern, "What happened, Christine? You look like you've been crying. Are William and Stuart alright? Please don't tell me Stuart's illness came back!"
Christina narrowed her eyes, "No! But when I'm done with the likes of that bloody wanker, believe me, he's going to wish that's all that was wrong with him!"
"Christina!" Betty was shocked. "Why would you say that? What's going on?"
"Exactly, Betty! That's what I'd like to know-what's going on? We have the same model cellular, so I accidentally grabbed Stuart's phone the other day in my hurry to get on the train to London and look at the text that he got!"
Betty read a text that read, "Wen will ur wife b back? I have 3 hrs if u want me 2 stop by 2day. Maria."
She bit her lip, "I'm assuming Maria isn't the babysitter offering to sit with William?"
"Not bloody likely!"
"Okay, so, it doesn't look good. But there could be a perfectly innocent explanation here, Christina. Have you called Stuart yet to see what he says?"
"NO! I called him to tell him I was on my way home yesterday and said I had his phone. But then when I got this...I didn't know what to do, Betty!
It took me all night last night to get off the train at the nearest stop and come back here, then I went to the pub for a bit. I walked around London this mornin...not knowin what to do!
I'm afraid of what I'm going to find out. I almost don't want to know. I'll know the second he opens his mouth if he's lying to me.
There have been times lately, when I knew he was hiding something. I could tell he was keeping something from me, holding something back. I'm working too much and I'm here in London a lot lately.
I really miss little William. But..I don't know what to do, Betty! I really can't believe he would do this to me after all we've been through together. He's such a numpty!"
Betty hugged her friend, "I wish I knew what to tell you, Christina. He is a numpty, if it's really true.
But I'm hoping he has a good explanation. I still say, you have to talk to him about it, though. You can't avoid him forever, you know.
Do you...want me to call the other girls and we can all meet in the pub we went to the other night?
Oh, uh...um, we sort of have, well, never mind, just wait, let me call Hilda and Amanda and see if they can get away from, uh...I mean, maybe they can come here and pick you up and I'll meet you all there in half an hour.
I uh... have a small article about the last show I saw that I'm almost done with that I… um…really have to just get finished and out of my hair. Then, we can all be there around you when you call him, if you'd like."
She nodded, "That sounds good, Betty. Thank you, darlin. Um...would you mind terribly if I stay here with you tonight?
I missed the last train to Edinburgh tonight and...I don't want to go there right now, anyway until I get this sorted out. I called my sister and she's going to take William to her place for me.
In case...I end up needing to come collect him. My friend I usually stay with here in London is in Europe this week."
Betty put her hand on Christina's. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that with William. But, of course, you can stay here! Hang on. Let me call Hilda and Amanda."
After several tries, she was able to talk to her sister and Amanda and let them know what was going on.
Although they weren't particularly happy about the situation, Tyler and Bobby both were understanding and agreed to go to a different pub and wait for the ladies to console their friend and support her.
Betty told the other two women quietly not to mention that their respective boyfriend and fiance were here in London; that it would only make things more difficult for Christina right now.
As quickly as possible, Betty had Hilda and Amanda escort Christina to the pub, with promises that she would join them the minute she finished her 'work'.
The door closed, and Betty ran to the bathroom. "Daniel? She's gone. You can come out, now. Are you okay? I'm so sorry it took so long!"
He came out, "So...it sounds like I need to make other arrangements for the night, huh? I guess I really should have booked my own room, after all."
"I'm sorry, Daniel. I didn't know what to tell her."
He shook his head, as she hugged him, "It's okay, Betty. I understand. You're just being a good friend. I don't blame you. So...I'm a 'small article you need to finish and get out of your hair', huh? Should I be offended?"
"I panicked! I didn't know what else to say! I mean what was I supposed to say? 'Sorry, Christina. I can't help you right now when your marriage is in crisis because Daniel and I were in the middle of having great sex!' That's not very sensitive!"
He smiled, "Great sex, huh? Well, I guess that makes up for the 'small article' crack, Betty. So, I'm on the clock now, though? Half an hour is all I get? You were serious?
I guess I can work with that, but since you got like an hour and a half, I'd say you kind of owe me, sweetie!"
She smiled, gently pushing him towards the bed. "Next time, I'll make it up to you, I promise, Daniel."
He nodded, grabbing her around the waist as he kissed her neck, "Mmmhmm, less talk, more action, Betty. I'm on a time-crunch, here."
She giggled, closing her eyes, "Mmm...Well, I could stretch it to forty-five minutes, I suppose. It's not really that 'small' of an article. Actually, it's a very large one, so...it may take a while longer."
"To get it finished and out of your hair?" he smirked, as he continued smothering her with kisses.
"To get it off my mind, so I'm not thinking of it constantly." she pushed him onto the bed and stood over him, smiling.
He shrugged, motioning for her to join him, "Yeah, we wouldn't want you worried about me and my friend being sad and lonely all night, would we?"
"Exactly! Now let's get to work on that article!"
Exactly forty-five minutes later, Betty's cell phone alarm went off. Daniel moaned. "Seriously? You actually set your alarm, sweetie?"
She winced, "I'm sorry, Daniel. But, I know how carried away we sometimes get and lose track of time. Like in the sex room at Mode. You were...done, right?"
"Well, yeah, but...okay. Fine. Whatever. I know, you've got to go help your friend. I guess I'll be here, all sad and lonely, missing you."
Betty started getting dressed quickly, then looked back at him, lying on the bed, "Well, actually, Daniel..."
He frowned, sighing, "Oh, right. I forgot. You need me to get out, so you can bring her here tonight."
She got up and started getting dressed, gesturing for him to stay in bed, "I'm sorry, but eventually, yes. You don't have to leave right this second though.
Take your time. I'm not sure how long this is going to take. It depends on what happens with Stuart, of course.
If things don't go well, we might be in the pub for a while. I'm going to try and not drink very much myself, though. I'll order some sodas, too."
He raised his eyebrows, "Maybe I should come there and stalk you, to make sure you don't go flashing anybody again."
"I won't, I promise, Daniel."
"Famous last words, Betty. You just got done flashing me, and you're not even drunk!" he grinned.
"Well, that doesn't count. Besides, I swear to you, nobody sees the girls from now on, besides you. They're for your eyes only."
"Great. Should I have the family lawyers draw up a deed for me, exclusive ownership rights to Betty's boobs?"
She giggled, "Sounds good to me. You definitely know how to handle them properly."
He pulled her down for another kiss, then smacked her bottom as she walked away, "Okay, fine, go do your girl-power thing, sweetie.
I guess I'll call the sad boyfriend club and see where the guys are and go hang out with them for a while, then try and figure out where I'm going to sleep tonight.
Maybe we can do some room swapping, since you ladies may all end up together here anyway."
"That's true. Just text me later and let me know where you are. If I can, I'll sneak away later tonight and see if we can't try to make up some of that time I owe you."
He nodded, kissing her ear, and whispering, "I'll be ready and waiting."
She took a deep breath, "Way to make it easy for me to leave, Daniel."
He grinned, as she got up, and teased, "I don't want to make it easy. I want you thinking of me. All the time. Wanting me, missing me, needing me..."
She shook her head, laughing, "Stop! I get the message. I'll be thinking about you, Daniel, believe me, wanting you, missing you, needing you... bye, sweetie!" She blew him a kiss and left.
He lay back down, and said quietly, "Me, too." He sighed for a moment, then shook his head and rolled his eyes at himself, "Pull yourself together, Daniel. You sound like a girl!"
Half an hour later, after a shower and trying to cover up the fact that his shirt was ripped by buttoning up his jacket, Daniel joined the other two men at the Savoy bar.
As he sat down, Bobby and Tyler both looked glum. Bobby had a Guiness and Tyler was nursing a club soda.
Daniel shook his head, smiling, patting both men on the back, "Wow, this has to be the saddest long distance booty call we've ever made, huh, guys?
Here we come all the way across the Atlantic, only to end up here, the freaking three amigos, still without our ladies!"
Bobby shook his head, and took a gulp from his beer, as Daniel ordered a Scotch on the rocks,
"Hell, yeah! We barely even got to be together one time, then I was in the shower, waiting for Hilda to come play when she told me she had to leave to help her friend from Scotland!
Then she yells at me, that I'd better not ever think of cheating on her, or she'll cut my balls off like your sister, Daniel! All's I wanna know is: what the hell did I do?
So much for our little 'warm-up for the honeymoon! Hell, I got more action at her house in Queens, upstairs while her dad was in the kitchen and Justin and Betty were out of the house!"
"I know. Betty put me on a damn timer! Here I was all nice and 'sweet' and took my time with her, then Christine comes over and next thing I know, I'm stuck in the bathroom, hiding out, thinking unsexy, unhappy thoughts about how blue my balls are!
Then to top it all off, I find out, I don't even have a place to stay tonight! I'm out on the street! What the hell is that?"
Tyler nodded, "I didn't know what hit me, either. One minute, Amanda's all over me, and we're going at it like bunnies.
The next thing I know, she gets off the phone and just leaves me hanging, saying something about girl solidarity and that she'll come find me later tonight when she's gotten drunk with Christine and Betty, so be prepared for some crazy drunk sex. That was one thing when I drank, but now..."
Bobby lamented, "Oh, believe me, once those three get together, they'll be drinking and complaining about how all men are jerks, blah, blah, blah! I just hope he didn't really cheat on Christine, or else we'll all be in the doghouse, at least for tonight!
Then we'll have to talk our way out of it tomorrow, bring them flowers, and convince them that not all men are scumbag, lying dogs, just because he was! If I had the guy here right now, I'd deck him!"
Daniel and Tyler looked at each other, then Bobby, "Really? But we didn't do anything. Even if he did. That's not fair!" Tyler complained.
Bobby shook his head, and took a drink, then made a face, "Damn! This beer sucks! It's not even cold." he looked back at his two 'protegees', slapping them each on the back,
"Yeah, well, it may not be fair, boys, but it's how it's going to go down, mark my words. I know women. I sure know Hilda! And they're all alike.
Once they get a little booze in them, they either are horny as hell, hittin on every guy that walks by, or else they all band together and talk about how terrible we are!"
Daniel nodded, "Well, I know you sure hit the nail on the head about the first one. The last time they were all together drinking, Betty went flashing that stupid little Gio and running around London with him like I didn't even exist!"
Tyler commiserated, "Yeah, Amanda admitted to me that she had flashed a whole table of guys, that night! She was proud of it! She said Hilda had done it to some guards, too."
"See? I told you. And I guarantee you, if this Stuart guy really was a dog, it'll be all the excuse they need to blame us for it and yell at us, and tell us that we're all alike, useless, no good man-whores, that can't be trusted!
It won't matter one little bit that we were all the big heroes earlier, coming all the way here to be with them! We'll suffer for his sins."
"Huh, man-whores? How ironic! Great, Betty already used to call me that. Hell, even my mom did. Back when...well, when I actually used to be one, I guess. But still...I'm not now! I've been a very good boy. But now, just because Stuart messed up, why should we all get the blame for his…shenanigans? Why do we get left out in the cold?"
Bobby held up his beer to Daniel's and to Tyler's club soda, "To shenanigans!"
After a few beers themselves, the ladies finally convinced Christina to 'make the call', again, after reaching Stuart's voicemail twice and hanging up.
She hiccuped, "Stuart! Listen to me, and listen good, you…you little weasel! You had better have a damn good excuse for that shite text message I got from your 'Maria', whoever the bloody hell that is about exactly why she's askin you when your wife will be home!
All I know fer sure is...if I don't hear back from you and soon with the explanation that she's your dead mother's long lost sister come to sit for William, and gift me with her spoon collection, you won't be seein the likes a me or your son for a very long time, and you'll never find us because we'll be here in London with my friends! I should have stayed in New York if I'd known you were going to be such a...such a lyin' pratt!
Goodbye! I love you...oh! Crap! I mean, I hate you, you bloody wanker! Call me! This is Christina Mckinney…or possibly Lovejoy again, by the way, you remember, your wife, in case you forgot you had one, you two-faced, schemin, numpty!"
She clicked off the phone, with a look of satisfaction. "There! I guess I told him! The little..." She shook her head and buried it in her hands, crying.
The girls all gathered round her, trying to offer comfort. "Don't worry, Christina! It'll be alright. The stupid jerk! He doesn't know how lucky he is to have someone so talented and amazing and beautiful!
Who does he think he is, anyway? I mean, I tell you, that's just like a man, isn't it? He thinks the whole world revolves around him and that when he gets home, you want to hear every single, excruciating detail of his day. No matter how boring it is!
I mean, come on...sometimes you just want to say, 'shut up, and take your pants off, mister!'
Amanda giggled and burped, "Huh...no kidding, Hilda! I know what you mean. Tyler sometimes talks about really stupid stuff. I just want him to keep his sexy mouth shut or better yet, focused on me, not talking!"
"I miss Daniel." Betty put her head on the bar, "Um...listen, Christina. Christina?" Betty shook her friend. "Guys, she's asleep. Poor thing!
She said it took all night last night for her to get back on the train from Edinburgh and head back here. I don't think she got any sleep!
Come on, help me get her into my hotel room, please! I need to call Daniel and see where he finally got a room. Maybe since Christina's asleep anyway, I can go to his room for a while."
Hilda laughed, "You mean for a booty call?"
Betty smiled, "Maybe. Would that be terrible of me? I could leave a note next to her to call me if she woke up. Do guys do those, too? I mean, is it okay for us to call them for that, like they do us?"
"Oh, Hell, yeah it is!" Both Amanda and Hilda nodded and laughed, then high-fived one another.