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Chapter 2 - Brunch
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2024-10-29 19:42:56My head is pounding as I walk through my local area, it used to be a small area, however developers had thought that Kingswood was a desirable area and continued building new home after new home. I can’t complain too much. It’s become a self sufficient area, local shops, bars, restaurants, schools and even a health centre.
What I care about now though is the lovely little cafe/restaurant that I’m heading to. The Village Green. They have a lovely breakfast and lunch menu. Just what I need, along with a drink to wash down some ibuprofen to ease this headache.I check my phone and see several messages from the girls. Laura, Ellie, Pavan and Katie are already there, having driven rather than walked. I don’t know how they dared, I must be at least three times over the legal drink drive limit still.Unless they didn’t put as much away as I did. There are messages from Heidi and Shelly saying they can’t make brunch, but let’s do drinks and takeaway tonight as they have to hear about my morning.I reply saying that I’m up for takeaway and drinks tonight and then pocket my phone. Just as I arrive at The Village Green. I open the door and walk in. A waitress approaches me just as I spot Laura, Ellie, Pavan and Katie. “I’m joining that table” I say pointing to where the girls are sitting.The waitress smiles and takes my drink order saying she’ll be across shortly to take our food order.“Here’s Miss Walk of Shame. So was he hot?” Pavan greets me. Pavan isthe newest member to our group. Having moved to Hull, UK from India to study at the university of Hull. She has a silky caramel complexion, long straight black hair, wide brown eyes and stands at 5 foot and a peanut and has the most beautiful figure. Add that to being the sweetest person I have ever met and she’s just too perfect to be allowed.“Never mind hot, was he good? I need all the juicy details” Ellie pipes in. Ellie is outgoing and a little boisterous, some would say an intimidating personality, but once you get to know her; she has a heart of gold and will help anyone. She’s 5ft6 and a beautiful curvy size 14. She has a slender face, a button nose and her hair is currently a vibrant pink.“Well, good morning to you ladies too” I smile, taking a seat at the table. “Well I hate to burst the bubble, but despite him being naked in my bed, we didn’t actually sleep together. So no walk of shame” I add.“Wait? What? He was naked in your bed and you didn’t sleep together. Are you sure? Is his cock broken?” Laura asks. Laura, my partner in crime. We’ve been friends for 10years. She’s five foot five, athletic, blonde and gorgeous. Seriously guys. If carlsberg did friends and all. My group are the winning combination.“Well given the eye full I got this morning, I would definitely know if we had” I tell them, holding my hands out, indicating he is huge. This makes the group laugh out loud.“So why didn’t you sleep with him?” Katie asks. Ah Katie. The bronzed goddess. She’s tall at five foot 11, slim body and slim face, a straight nose, deep blue eyes and shoulder length blonde hair.“Well apparently I tried to. But because I was so wasted he didn’t want me to think he’d taken advantage so he turned me down and just cuddled me apparently. I mean what guy turns down no strings sex?” I ask, face palming myself. Am I such a mess that he didn’t want me?“I think it’s sweet. He has respect for women. He wants to appreciate you. I think” Pavan says, ever the optimistic.“Well when I woke him, we had a coffee and walked to the station. We made some general chit chat while walking. He said he put his number in my phone last night and to call or text him if I want to meet for dinner. Does that mean he’s happy to have a one night stand. If I am not wasted, if I am sober?” I wonder aloud.“No, I think he would have said hook up if he wanted a one night stand. Maybe he likes you and wants to get to know you” Ellie chimes in.“Excuse me, are you ready to order ladies” our waitress asks. Her name badge says she’s called Louise. She’s new here, she hasn’t served us before.“Could I have the Eggs Benedict please?” I request.“Same for me please” Ellie says.“I will have the same but please hold off on the meat” Laura adds.“I will have a full English please” Katie speaks up.“Ok, so three Eggs Benedict, one without meat and a full English. Will that be all?” Louise asks us.“For food yes thank you. Could we also have one of the new smoothies please, one of each so we can all try them” I add.Louise nods and leaves our table.“So are you going to call him?” Katie asks me.“I don’t think so. What do I say? Thank you for sleeping naked with me, how about we do it again. So what else did we do last night? Seeing as I’m the only one with no recollection” I grumble.“How about we save that and Mr in your bed for our takeaway when we are all together” Ellie teases.We eat our brunch, chatting about work and family. As usual the food is amazing, and really helps the hangover. When we have finished we make plans to meet at 6pm for takeaway and wine at mine. We tip our waitress Louise, hug and say ‘bye for now’. Well only seven ish hours until I find out what the hell happened last night* * * * * * * * * * *Now some may say I’ve made no effort, but knowing my friends, they will rock up in the same attire. What are friends for after all? Wearing my new Harry Potter pyjamas, with the quote exceptionally ordinary from Luna Lovegood, I tie my hair up into a messy bun.Then I make my way to the kitchen to get out wine glasses, plates, knives and forks so that we’re ready for when the takeaway arrives. I place them on the coffee table and switch the radio on low. Then I sit and wait for my girls, prepared to find out how I embarrassed myself last night and also dish the dirt on Mr no name in my bed.Mr no name who now has a name, Mark. Mark who seems like a respectful, kind and funny guy. Mark who wants to take me out for dinner to get to know me. Mark who is painfully handsome, with the body of a god and just appears to be too good to be true.Mark, the man who has occupied my thoughts all damn day. Mark. Mark. Mark. Uhhh the girls need to hurry up and get here so that I can get him out of my head, at least until I have to spill the dirt anyway.I hear the familiar sound of the door handle jiggling, followed by a rat-a-tat-tat knock on my door. Opening the door I see that Heidi is the first to arrive. “Glad to see you are finally being sensible and locking your door. I was beginning to worry that one day I’d come to find you had been murdered”, she states, being as dramatic as ever.“I only ever have it unlocked when I know that people are coming.” I argue back.“That’s besides the point. It could happen you know. I see it in the news regularly. Is anyone else here yet?”“No. You’re the first, come have some wine”, I tell her. Letting her lead the way to my living room.We’re sat huddled around my coffee tables eating domino's pizza and drinking wine. “It started with those damn shoes. You know the ones that you just needed so badly…” Heidi begins.Ahh the shoes that ruined everything, the night comes flooding back to me…..Related chapters
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Always Finding Mr Wrong Chapter 5 - Recovery and a New Start
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Always Finding Mr Wrong Chapter 9 - Bad Date
I’m so excited about Project Scott, I’m almost tempted to bring proceedings forward and rearrange my date with Jake tonight. But Dani’s out anyway, with a wealthy older man she’s been seeing recently, and Katie and her boyfriend Ryan have gone to the cinema. Besides, we couldn’t do it properly on a Friday night.Instead, we have the whole of tomorrow in which to hit the shops and begin Scott’s reinvention. Consequently, I have stuck to Plan A and arrived at the shabby-but-trendy bar where Jake and I arranged to meet. Judging by how sexy he looks when he walks in, it was the right decision.“Emma, how are you?” He smiles as he approaches me at the bar. Jake is a lecturer in Social Studies (whatever that means), so as well as having a bum I could keep under observation all day, he’s a chatty man too. He’s wearing fitted jeans, vintage trainers and a T-shirt showing off biceps that could have been inflated with a tyre pump. I’ve dressed in what could be the first thing to fall out of my
Always Finding Mr Wrong Chapter 10 - God Bod Scott
Dani looks as if she’s bitten a rotten apple and washed it down with lighter fluid. “That’s very weird and creepy.”She, Katie and I have hit the shops with Scott to begin his makeover. “I mean it,” continues Dani, frenziedly rifling through a rail of sweaters. “One phone call from his mother would have been suspicious. You deserve a medal to have lasted as long as you did.”I shrug. “I definitely won’t be seeing him again, that’s for sure.”“It just seems so unfair,” sighs Katie.“But, it wasn’t just the thing with his mother,” I complain. “I couldn’t understand a bloody word he was saying. And that was when he was talking about the plays I’ve seen. When he got onto Roger Vitrac and Power to the Children he could have been speaking Cantonese.”“Oh hell,” says Katie, concerned. “Don’t worry, Emma. I’m sure you’ve just been unlucky.”This is what she says after all my dates, but I don’t point it out. Besides, unfettered optimism must come easily when you’ve got a love-life like Katie’s
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Always Finding Mr Wrong Epilogue
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Always Finding Mr Wrong Chapter 79 - Made to Hold You
The moment I see him I am balled over by how handsome he is, he’s irresistibly, mouth wateringly sexy. I’m looking at a man who, thanks to project Scott, is the ultimate manifestation of female desire. He turns heads wherever he goes. But that isn’t the reason I love him. It’s not the clothes, or the hairstyle, it isn’t even his body or face. The Scott I love is the funny, intelligent, caring, loyal and lovely person I met all those years ago. That’s the Scott I long for, the Scott I can’t spend another day without. The trimmings and display are irrelevant. “Hi there, Emma,” he grins. His grin becomes a smile and it sends a surge of Hope through my veins, turning my legs to jelly and killing my ability to speak. “Are you okay?” “Yes. I … yes,” I stutter. Emotion rushes through me and my heartbeat thuds in my chest, thundering in my ears. “I’m just surprised to see you,” I say once my words find their way back to me. “And… happy?” I nod as tears cloud my vision. “Ve
Always Finding Mr Wrong Chapter 78 - I Love The Real You
There’s one single word on the front: Emma. Seeing my name written in Scott’s very distinctive handwriting makes my heart pause and I gasp for breath. With my heart racing and fingers trembling, I open the envelope and head to my small balcony terrace. I throw myself into the chair, cross my legs and scan the letter, unable to devour its contents quick enough. ******** Dearest Emma, I’ve written this letter multiple times, and rewritten it in my mind at least a thousand times. Yet o never thought putting pen to paper would be so difficult. This is the eleventh copy and I’m still not happy with it. I thought about quoting your favourite poetry and literature but nothing seems appropriate enough to explain the situation, so it’s down to clumsy old me. There’s just one small problem; what do you say to the woman you’ve been in love with for years? From the moment I first met you, Emma, my life has been enhanced in a way I can’t fully explain. All those cold, wet and miserable aft
Always Finding Mr Wrong Chapter 77 - An Envelope
I try to think of an ingenious way to get through security. But after yet another infuriating conversation with another official, I’m forced to accept that the methods to combat terrorism are also enough to intervene when a unfit, scruffy and desperate woman. With an alarming and increasing level of determination I decide to buy a ticket to somewhere in Asia, just so that I can get through the security gates. But after another episode at the security desk, the fact that my passport is in a box at my new home is clearly a show-stopper. I stand in the airport in a confused daze, and take out my phone. I wanted to do this in person, but now I have no choice. I close my eyes and wait for the line to ring. It goes straight to voicemail. “Oh god,” I cry, but nobody notices. For almost an hour I pace up and down, trying to come up with a brilliant plan. But no matter how I try, nothing happens and no plan is formed. I look at my watch for the millionth time today and see that
Always Finding Mr Wrong Chapter 76 - Bloody Idiot
I’m normally the safest driver in the world. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. Scott would say I drive like a grandma, behind the wheel , sticking to the speed limit and often below it. Scott, my heart aches. But with the needle on my speedometer touching a perilous 74mph – okay, so I’m not the next Schumacher or Hamilton, but I’m belting along the M62 in a small Vauxhall corsa leaving behind a caravan and two heavy duty trucks. My heart is hammering against my ribcage as I play corny movie scenes in my head. Lovers running with open arms and floaty haired women being spun around. Kisses that go on forever. The problem is, that this reunion isn’t going to be straightforward. Firstly, there’s Katie. Whether she fancies Daniel or not, there’s protocol to follow. Call me old fashioned, but declaring your love for someone else’s boyfriend isn’t the done thing. Yet, that is exactly what I’m about to do. And I’m not sure if I care about the consequences. And then there’s t
Always Finding Mr Wrong Chapter 75 - The Love of His Life
Dani is screaming so loudly that the poor patients at the other end of the corridor must think she is undergoing an amputation without pain relief. “Why didn’t you tell me? For fuck sake!” “I… I .. don’t know,” I stammer. “I didn’t want to compromise your friendship with Katie for a start.” “How?” She asks incredulously. “Katie’s in love with Scott, like you said. Even if I was going to be a total arsehole and try to steal him – which I’m not – what good would come of telling you? It’d just land you with information that you’d be powerless to act on.” “Uhhhhh,” Dani rubs her hands down her face. “What a mess.” “Don’t I know it,” I agree. “I don’t mean about you and Scott,” she tuts impatiently. “Though I grant you, that is also a mess.” “What then?” She sighs and her eyes find the window. “You know when I said that I thought Katie was in love with Scott?” I nod. “I was wrong.” It takes a few seconds for her words to sink in. “What?” “She likes Scott, don’
Always Finding Mr Wrong Chapter 74 - Told Scott What?
Given the fact that my mum was in a serious near death experience twelve hours ago, she’s looking amazingly well. “Just typical, isn’t it?” She mutters as she grabs another peanut m&m. “Everyone in the real housewives has a hot tub and none of theirs houses burned down.” Dani just smiles and offers me an m&m. “No thank you,” I shake my head. “But then I suppose they had the real thing and wasn’t swimming around in a discarded birthing pool.” My mum must be made of stronger stuff than me. While she is happily stuffing her face with chocolate, I feel like I’ve been hit by a damn truck. It’s not just the aftermath of the fire though, although that alone could leave me in a state of shock until 2040. My mind is also spinning with thoughts of Scott, who is now en route to Doncaster airport. I hope he’s not too annoyed with me for sneaking off, but then I did have a good excuse, even though visiting hours don’t officially start until 10am. It’s a good job Dani managed to
Always Finding Mr Wrong Chapter 73 - I Can’t Say Goodbye
Scott has gone to the local store, just as he always does on his days off. Only this isn’t a normal day off. All his bags are packed and waiting by the door, ready for his departure in two hours. I’m supposed to go to the airport to see him off, but the moment my eyes opened this morning, I knew I couldn’t go through with it. I won’t be able to watch him and Katie head off together without bursting into tears and giving the game away. I take a notepad and pen from my bag, and begin writing as quickly as I can. I don’t have long until he returns. ‘Dear Scott, I’m sorry that I didn’t get to go to the airport with you, but if I don’t make visiting hours at 9:00am, I won’t see mum. She needs me right now, more than you need me, after what happened. I know you’ll understand, under the circumstances. Have an amazing trip and please don’t forget about me, will you? I’ll miss you more than I could ever explain. I meant what I said – I want a post card from every destination - don’t
Always Finding Mr Wrong Chapter 72 - Fire
Scott abandons the car without consideration for others outside of Mum’s and Dad’s house and we quickly jump out. The air is thick with smoke and fear as the neighbours with grey faces huddle amongst themselves. There’s firefighters everywhere; running and shouting. I stand in front of the house and struggle to breathe as the flames crackle and roar, as they burst from three windows and the smoke billows into the night. “Where are they?” “They’re still in there,” Steve says, his eyes heavy with tears. “I tried to go in, but the hallway was filled with smoke and….” Without even thinking, I race towards the house, but Scott wraps his arms around me and pulls me back. “LET ME GO!” I scream. “Let the professionals do their jobs, Emma,” he pleads as his arms wrap tighter around me. I watch horrified as the firefighters wearing breathing apparatus make their way into the house. There’s orders being shouted and soon the house is being doused with foam and water. I feel a sudden r
