tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46160904928250430642024-03-12T17:27:34.704-07:00Another Perfect AngelUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616090492825043064.post-89568878719246705322012-09-28T12:29:00.000-07:002012-09-28T12:29:15.519-07:00Another Perfect Angel - Out Now!Hi!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616090492825043064.post-42723797184064232942012-08-29T12:49:00.001-07:002012-10-30T11:19:18.259-07:00PinterestI love Pinterest and I've put together a few pins for Another Perfect Angel. Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616090492825043064.post-3695146451566853152012-08-26T02:59:00.002-07:002012-08-26T02:59:44.270-07:00Chapter Two<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Monday morning was
chaos in the Angel Blue Records Office.
As I expected we'd made a huge impact with our benefit gig. Spyder was working on the figures and he
estimated through ticket sales, merchandise and donations, we'd raised around
£20,000 for The Huntington's Disease Association, which was more than any of us
hoped we'd achieve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lora was busy
updating the website with the latest news and photographs from the gig and
Joolz and I were rushed off our feet as the phones were ringing off the
hook. The first blog reviews were coming
online and they had nothing but praise for our bands. I nearly died when I got an email from Bernard
Sumner saying he'd heard that Unknown Pleasures did a better version of
Ceremony than New Order did. I printed
out 2 copies, one to go on the wall and another to give to Miles. I knew he'd appreciate it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">We were so busy we
didn't have time to stop for lunch, so I ordered in Subway and we ate at our
desks. It was gone 5.30pm when the
phones finally stopped ringing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Shit, I'm going
to be late!" I said to no-one in particular when I saw what the time was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Where are you
going, Angel?" asked Lora.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Miles is
picking me up, he's taking me to meet his mum."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Ooooh! He's proper serious then!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I don't know,
Lora, sorry. I've got to go get changed
and he'll be here any minute!" I
said in a bit of a panic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Go on, I'll
lock up here. You two have a nice
time!" Lora called after me as I dashed out of the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I just had time to
wash my face and brush my teeth before Miles knocked on my apartment door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You're
early!" I said as I kissed him on the cheek and dashed back into the
bedroom. "Have I got time to get
changed?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, no rush,
but you'll be fine as you are!" I
stared blankly at my wardrobe, I had no idea what to wear. Miles stuck his head around the bedroom door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Angel,
seriously, you look great. We're not
posh you know, you don't have to dress up or anything."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I know, but I
want to make a good impression."
Miles smirked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Come
here!" he said putting his arms around me and pulling me in close to his
body. "You're not going to have tea
with the Queen you know, it's just my mum and she will love you just the way
you are."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Are you
sure?" I asked. I couldn't help but
feel a little nervous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Positive! Compared to Cassie you're practically the
ideal daughter in law." I blushed
and tried to turn my face away but Miles kissed me. "Now come on and get your coat."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Miles drove us to the
old part of town. I didn't know the area
very well and I lost my bearings after a while as the streets of terraced
houses all looked the same to me. Miles parked
the car at the side of the road outside a tiny terraced house. I got out of the car and Miles let us in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Only me mum! I've brought someone to see you." Miles
called as we stepped in through the front door straight into the living
room. It was kind of old fashioned, magnolia
woodchip walls, pale green velour sofa, brown patterned carpet and a gas fire
set in a stone effect fireplace, but it was clean and homely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'll be through
in a minute!" she replied. Miles
nodded at me to sit down on the sofa. I
felt so very nervous but I shouldn't have worried. Miles's mum was a short and plumpish woman in
her late 30's. Her cropped blonde hair was greying a little and she had the
same brown eyes as Miles. I stood up
when she came in the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Mum this is
Angel, Angel this is my mum, Sheila."
I shook Sheila's hand and said, "Pleased to meet you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Likewise,"
she said smiling back. "She's a
damn sight better than that last girlfriend of yours, Miles."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Mum!" said
Miles as he turned bright red and rolled his eyes at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You have a seat
and I'll go put the kettle on."
Sheila went back into the kitchen and I sat down on the sofa, giving
Miles a nervous grin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Told you she'd
like you," Miles said squeezing my hand.
I started to feel a little more relaxed.
Miles picked up the newspaper and started flicking through the pages
whilst I looked up at the photographs on the mantelpiece. They were all of Miles when he was a little
boy. He was a pretty cute kid. I opened my mouth to ask him about the
pictures when I heard a knock at the back door.
I couldn't help but eavesdrop on the conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Sheila?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You alright,
Chloe?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, can I ask
a favour? Can you have Jake for an hour
please, until my mum gets home. They
want me to go back into work, Tracey's not turned up again and they've got
no-one else to cover."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Of course I can,
love. Go on in Jakey, your dad's in the
room."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Cheers Sheila,
I owe you one!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">For a moment I
wondered what was going on, but it didn't take long for me to find out. A moment later a little boy wearing blue
jeans and a red nursery school jumper, came running through the door and jumped
on Miles shouting, "Daddy!"
Miles picked him up by his arms and lifted him into the air, then
pretended to drop him, making him squeal in delight. I couldn't quite believe it! I sat there with my mouth open, completely
dumbstruck. Miles looked across at me
and gave me a rather sheepish grin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Jake, I'd like
you to meet my friend, Angel. Angel,
this is my son, Jake."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hello
Jake," I said to the little boy. He
was the absolutely spitting image of Miles, right down to the dirty blonde hair
and big brown eyes. There was no
mistaking that Jake was Miles's son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hello,"
said Jake shyly, as he tried to hide behind Miles's leg. He tugged on Miles's shirt. "Dad, can we go play football?" he
asked in a very quiet voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I don't know,
Jake," he said looking over at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Go on, you go
play and I'll watch," I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah! I'm going to beat you a hundred nil!"
said Jake, tugging on Miles's sleeve. I
got up and followed them as they raced through the back door and out into the
yard. Sheila smiled and handed me a cup
of tea. She took one look at my face and
said, "He didn't tell you about Jake, did he?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No, he didn't,"
I admitted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I don't know
why, he should be so proud of him. Jake's
a lovely lad, he's a credit to him."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, he seems
really sweet," I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Our Miles takes
proper care of him too. He left school
at 16 and started working so he could support him financially."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Really?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, well his own
dad was never around much for him when he was growing up and even though Chloe
was with someone else by the time she had Jake, Miles always said he wanted to
be a proper dad to him." I
smiled. I was still reeling at the shock
of finding out Miles was a father, but I had to admit it was wonderful seeing
him playing with his son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"So Angel, what
do you do?" Sheila asked me. She
caught me off guard and I wasn't quite sure what to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well, I'm kind
of Miles's boss. I run Angel Blue
Records and I manage Unknown Pleasures."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You're very
young to be running a company aren't you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I guess, my
husband and I set it up a couple of years ago."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Your
husband? You're married?" she said,
narrowing her eyes at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh no, not
anymore. Unfortunately Simon died last
year, you probably heard about it on the news."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh I'm so
sorry. I remember Miles telling me about
it but I didn't make the connection. Oh
you poor love!" said Sheila putting her hand on my shoulder. Not so long ago talking about Simon would have
made me cry, but now I was getting better at dealing with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sheila and I talked
for a while, sitting by the window, drinking tea and watching the boys clowning
around in the yard. After a while Jake
started to get tired so we all went back through to the sitting room. Jake snuggled up on Miles's knee, sucking his
thumb and watching cartoons on the TV. He
had almost fallen asleep when there was a knock at the back door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"That'll be your
Nana Dawn," Sheila said to Jake as she got up to answer the door. Miles picked up Jake and carried him through. When Miles came back he asked me if I wanted
to go out for something to eat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, I'm
starving, and you've got some explaining to do!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I know!"
Miles said rolling his eyes. His mum was
still chatting to Dawn at the back door so he shouted through, "We're
going now mum, I won't be late!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"All right
love! See you later!" she replied,
and we let ourselves out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Miles was very quiet
in the car as he drove through town to the pizza place. We sat down in a booth at the back of the
restaurant and Miles idly picked up the menu, pretending to read it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"So?" I
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"What?"
asked Miles, glancing up from the menu then looking away again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Pepperoni or
Hawaiian?" I said giggling. Miles
gave a nervous laugh too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Got to be pepperoni,
I can't stand pineapple," he replied, smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Why didn't you
tell me?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"What, that I
don't like pineapple?" he said joking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You know what I
mean! About Jake!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I don't know,
Angel. I'm sorry, I didn't meant to hide
it from you. I guess I'm just not that
proud of being a teenage dad," Miles sighed. "Like I told you last night it was
complicated. Chloe was the first girl
I'd ever slept with and it all happened so quick. I really liked her, but she made it up with
Steve and didn't want anything to do with me after that. She kept the pregnancy a secret until she was
nearly 6 months gone. I wasn't even sure
that Jake was mine until he was born."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Wow, how did
you know? Did you like have to have paternity
tests done?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"It wasn't like
on Jeremy Kyle you know!" Miles joked.
"No, we didn't need to. Steve's
black, his parents are Nigerian and you've seen Jake, fair skin, straight
blonde hair. It was obvious to everyone
that Jake was my son." I wanted to
hug him but the waitress came over to take our order. When she'd gone I reached across the table
and took Miles's hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Your mum told
me what you'd done, leaving school and getting job to look after him. You should be proud. He's a lovely kid."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, he
is."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"And you're a
really good dad!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I don't know, I
mean I hardly get to see him now Chloe moved into her new flat."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"But you were
great playing with him and everything."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah. I guess I am proud of him, I just feel like
people judge me when I tell them about him.
I'm 20 years old and I have a 4 year old son."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hey, I'm 18 and
a widow. People will always find a
reason to judge you so don't you dare be ashamed of Jake! He's wonderful!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"And it doesn't
put you off, me having a kid?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Are you
serious? Watching you two together made
me see a whole new side of you. If
anything it made me like you even more."
Miles smiled and looked away, scratching the back of his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I guess I can
be a bit of a softie sometimes, just don't go telling the lads in the band
eh?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"What? You mean they don't know?" Miles shook his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No, it never
really came up. I joined the band to
replace their last bass player, I didn't know any of them before and they knew
nothing about me or my past. I just told
them that I was a landscape gardener and I knew how to play all of Joy Division's
songs."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"But surely you
told Cassandra?" Miles shook his
head again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No, I only ever
took her home once, my mum thought she was a slut."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Your mum is a
good judge of character," I joked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You're right
she is. She really liked you, I could
tell. Anyway, please don't mention Jake
to anyone. I will tell them, but in my
own time."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"OK," I
said as the waitress brought our food and drinks over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The rest of the
evening was pretty weird, there was a kind of tension between us. Even when Miles took me home and came in for
coffee he was still a bit guarded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hey what's
up?" I asked, sitting next to him on the sofa and snuggling up to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Nothing,"
he said, but he couldn't fool me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Is it about
Jake? Because I am totally fine with
that. I mean, it was pretty big shock,
but I loved seeing you two together. I'm
not going to get in the way of that."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I know, it's
just, we're from different worlds aren't we?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"How do you
mean?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Come on Angel,
posh girl like yourself living in a fucking mansion and me, working minimum
wage, living with my mum and trying to support a kid." My jaw fell open in shock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You think I'm
posh? Do have any idea where I grew
up? Hamilton Street, on the Manor estate! I used to live in an ex council semi with my
mum, dad and little sister. My dad is a
line manager at the Greencore factory and my mum works part time at Tesco. Hardly fucking posh!" I lost my temper at Miles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'm sorry
Angel, I just presumed..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well
don't!" I said angrily. I looked
into his brown eyes, but my frown faded.
I couldn't stay mad at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I guess we
don't know very much about each other at all do we?" Miles said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I guess not, but
I want to find out more," I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Me too,"
said Miles as he looked into my eyes and then kissed me. I melted in his arms as his lips lingered on
mine, but I pulled away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Wait, you
haven't got any other secrets have you?
You've not got a wife or been to prison or anything?" I said,
jokingly. Miles laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You're not a
drug runner, or an undercover agent?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No, now you're
being silly!" Miles giggled.
"I'm am just Miles Denby, I work for the council as a gardener, I
have son called Jake Denby and I'm the bass player with a band called Unknown
Pleasures. There is nothing more to
tell."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Nothing?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Apart from the
fact I have fallen in love with an angel."
I grinned and kissed him back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"So what about
you, surely you have some secrets Angel?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I don't know, I'm
a pretty boring person really. Simon was
my first boyfriend, but I told you that already. I guess we didn't have the most normal
relationship. He was always doing crazy
things, like he proposed to me the day before we got married. I didn't know he was sick then either, I
found out by accident not long after we got married."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh Angel, that
must have been devastating."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, it was,
but things weren't all that bad. We had
a lot of good times together. He spoiled
me rotten, although sometimes it was a bit hard to accept some of his more
expensive gifts. I never did get my head
around having all this money, I don't think I ever will." Miles smiled at me. "There was one secret through, no-one
else knows about this. You promise to
keep it to yourself if I tell you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Of course I
will. What is it?" asked Miles curious. I took a deep breath, I wasn't sure if I
should tell him or not but it was all in the past so what harm could it do now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Can you
remember Simon's 18th birthday party?
His dad died the following day.
He was so ill, Miles, he couldn't do anything for himself, he couldn't
even talk and Simon made me promise him that I'd never let him get like
that."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"What did he
mean?" asked Miles, narrowing his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"He asked me to
help him to die. I promised that I
would."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh my God,
Angel!" Miles said in disbelief as
I buried my head in his chest and started to cry. Miles stroked my hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"We agreed that
when he got to a certain point, when he started to lose control of his body and
mind, that we would get help and that I'd help him to die."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Wow, I don't know
what to say, that's just...."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I know, crazy,
but that's how it was with Simon. I
suppose that's why his suicide didn't come as that much of a shock to me. I knew it was going to happen sometime, I
just wish I'd had more time with him and that I could have said goodbye."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You must have
loved him very much," said Miles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I did, he was a
wonderful person, but... I have one last
secret that absolutely no-one knew about.
Well, Lora used to tease me about it all the time but I never actually admitted
it to anyone."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Admitted
what?" said Miles, looking really confused this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"That I kind of
had a crush on you," I said, biting my bottom lip. Miles went bright red and gave me the biggest
smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well, I guess
that's not such a great secret now!" he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I suppose
not! So, we're officially a couple
then?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, well I've
taken you to meet my mum haven't I?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"And I've met
your son," I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"...yeah"
said Miles scratching the back of his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"So would like
you to be officially introduced to my parents?" I asked. Miles pulled a worried face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I guess so,"
he replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well, you've
met them before, remember at my birthday lunch?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, but I was
just a friend then, wasn't I."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You still are,
just a bit more so," I giggled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I want to be
more than a friend, a lot more," said Miles, looking me straight in the
eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You're really
serious about us then?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yes I am,
Angel," Miles openly admitted. I
smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Let's just take
one step at a time then."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I love you
Angel," said Miles with such conviction.
I threw my arms around his neck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I love you
too!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thankfully things
were a little quieter at work the next day.
I slipped back upstairs in the middle of the afternoon to call my
mum. I actually felt pretty nervous
calling her, but I needed to tell her about Miles some time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Are you busy on
Friday night?" I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No I don't
think so, why Angela?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Only I was
thinking I might come round and see you.
I've got someone I'd like you to introduce you to."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Who? You haven't met someone have you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well, I've actually
known him a while but, yeah. I've got a
new boyfriend."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well, that is a
surprise! Is it anyone we know?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, you met
him at my birthday. Do you remember Miles,
the tall blonde lad from the band?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Miles? Oh, the really handsome one with the spiky
hair?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yes! That's the one. Anyway I thought I could pick up some fish
and chips and we could have supper together.
Would that be OK?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Of course love,
I'll let your dad know."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Thanks
mum, We'll be round about 7," I
said as I breathed a sigh of relief. She
seemed to take it pretty well, although I was so embarrassed when she called
him handsome. I hoped she wouldn't show
me up on the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I arranged to pick
Miles up at 6.30 Friday night. Even with
the sat nav on my car I struggled to find the house but I made it there just in
time. He was waiting in the doorway of
his mum's house looking very smart indeed.
I told him he didn't have to dress up but he'd shaved and put a smart
black shirt on anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Look at
you!" I said eyeing him up as he
climbed into my little red Fiat 500. He
reached over and kissed me. "Anyone
would think you were trying to impress someone!" I teased.
Miles gave a nervous laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Like you weren't
nervous meeting my mum," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"OK, OK. You do look lovely though," I said as I
drove off to the chip shop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Miles was pretty
nervous about meeting my parents, but they welcomed him in and they hit it off
straight away. My little sister Karen
said she liked him but she thought his hair was a bit funny. Miles tried not to laugh and mum told her off
for being so rude. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">After we'd eaten our
chips my dad asked Miles if he would like a beer and they sat in the living
room drinking and talking about football.
Karen went upstairs to play on her DSi and that left me and my mum doing
the washing up, I didn't mind though it gave me an excuse to have a good chat
with her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"So what do you
think to Miles then?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I think he's
really lovely Angela, so down to earth and very handsome!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Mum!" I
said as I blushed and hit her with the tea towel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"So, when did
you start seeing him."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well, it's sort
of a bit complicated. We've been friends
for a long time and I found out he really liked me at Christmas, you know when
everyone came up to the house. He was
with someone else but they broke up at the benefit gig just before he went on
stage. It all happened pretty quickly. He sang a song for me, we kissed and I took
him back to my flat that night."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Angela! You didn't!" I didn't say a word but my mum could tell my
answer from the colour of my cheeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"We're not kids
anymore, mum, and before you ask yes we were careful!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Angela, you
know you don't have sleep with a man to make him like you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I know mum, but
I wanted to, I really wanted to. Miles
is special, and you should see him without his shirt on!" I said raising my eyebrows making my mum
blush.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Angela! I really don't need to know!" My mum protested, trying not to laugh but
failing as we both burst into fits of giggles.
My dad came in to get more beer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You didn't tell
me he was a city fan, Angela," he said reaching into the fridge for 2 more
cans. "He's alright," he said
patting me on the shoulder as he went back into the living room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well, that's
your dad's seal of approval then!" my mum said and we laughed again. As long as you were a city fan you were all right
by my dad!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"But what do you
think?" I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well I like
what I've seen of him so far."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I was just a
bit worried that people would think it was too soon, you know, after
Simon."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"It's been
nearly a year hasn't it and you're young Angela, no-one can expect you to stay
on your own forever."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, I know. Miles is really special, but I still miss
Simon." My mum looked at me and
gave me the biggest hug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I know you do
sweetheart, we all do," she said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">We went through to
sit with the boys in the living room.
Dad and Miles were getting on like a house on fire, they talked until
gone 11pm and I had to practically had to drag Miles out of the house! They had polished off a case of lager between
them and Miles was a bit drunk. I asked
him if he wanted me to drive him home, but he insisted on coming back to the
house with me. I didn't argue, I'd not
had a moment with him to myself all night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">We got back to my apartment
and crashed on the sofa. Miles insisted
on having another beer and I thought I'd join him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"So what do you
reckon then? Are my family too posh for
you?" I joked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No, not at all.
I'm sorry I said all that stuff Angel,
your family are great. Your dad is
sound!" I laughed at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You know my mum
thinks you're handsome."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No way!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, I told
her she should see you without your shirt on."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You
didn't!" Miles said almost spitting
beer everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I did!" I
laughed. Miles was so funny when he was
drunk, he also got very romantic and it wasn't very long before he reminded me
of what a great body he had as he unbuttoned his shirt and practically dragged
me off to the bedroom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Afterwards as Miles
lay in my bed snoring, I just laid there watching him. My mum was right, no-one would expect me to
stay on my own forever and Miles was pretty special. It felt like I'd waited so long for him and
now it was all happening so fast but it felt good, really good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616090492825043064.post-40496455289606586122012-07-11T10:21:00.002-07:002012-07-11T10:36:44.778-07:00Synopsis<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Angel is finally with Miles, the man of her dreams, but the
course of true love never runs smoothly.
Miles is hiding a secret from his past and how will Angel cope when she
finds herself unexpectedly pregnant with his child? It seems like the world is scheming against
them with an ex causing trouble and a stranger threatening to steal her fortune. Is their love strong enough to conquer all?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another Perfect Angel is the sequel to Heaven Knows This
Time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Due for Release August 2012</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616090492825043064.post-3260293456627366522012-07-02T07:08:00.003-07:002012-08-26T02:58:28.648-07:00Chapter One<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sometimes you have to
go through the hard times to really appreciate the good. Sometimes you have to
let go of the past before you can make the leap into your future. Last night, I let go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Taking off the wedding
ring, given to me by my late husband, was liberating in more ways than I could
have ever imagined. It made a far greater
statement than any casual 'I love you' ever could, and it freed me to give
myself completely to Miles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">He woke me, kissing me
softly on my forehead. At first wondered
if it had all been a dream. I looked
deep into his brown eyes and smiled the deepest smile as I realised the dream
had come true. The sun was streaming through
the bedroom window of my Docklands flat, as we lay naked between the black
Egyptian cotton sheets, completely and unashamedly in love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Last night had been so
crazy. I still found it difficult to believe
that at the age of 18 I was a widowed multi-millionaire, living in a mansion
house and running my own record company.
Last night we'd hosted a charity concert in memory of my late husband,
Simon. Miles's band, Unknown Pleasures,
had been the headline act. It was an
amazing show, but that wasn't even the crazy part! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I felt like I'd
waited forever to be with Miles. Over
the past 4 months I'd been slowly falling in love with him, but his dysfunctional
relationship with Cassandra complicated things, preventing us from being
together. That was until last night, when
she gave Miles the perfect reason to leave her.
Who could blame him? When you catch
your so called girlfriend performing sexual favours in exchange for drugs, it's
pretty much game over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'll go make
that coffee eh?" Miles said, raising his eyebrows. I blushed as I remembered what had happened
last night. When Miles brought me home I'd
put the kettle on to boil, but I never got as far as actually making the drinks. The white porcelain mugs were still standing
empty on the worktop. Miles had proved
too much of a distraction as he kissed me so tenderly on the black leather sofa,
and I dragged him off to the bedroom, where we made love for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Coffee can
wait," I said, as I wrapped my arms around him. Miles ran his fingers along my arm. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck
begin to stand on end. I looked up again
into his brown eyes and thought I must still be dreaming, then my phone started
ringing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No rest for the
wicked!" laughed Miles as I dragged myself away from him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Me,
wicked?" I asked, pretending to be all innocent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You were last
night!" he said, as he reached across, gently slapping my backside. I skipped out of the way and answered my
phone. It was Joolz, just checking in
and reminding me of the work we had to do this morning. We had to clear all our gear out of the venue
by noon so I told her I'd meet her there at 10.
I gazed longingly at Miles stretched out between the sheets. I wanted nothing more than to lay there all
day with, him but this was no holiday, there was work to be done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Sorry babe,
we've to get a move on. I'd better jump
in the shower, my hair stinks of stale beer." Miles looked a little disappointed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'll go make
that coffee then, oh and save some hot water for me would you?" he called
after me. I laughed. We'd been together less than 24 hours and
already we were acting like an old married couple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">When I got out of the
shower I found Miles in the kitchen making toast. I couldn't help but think how damn sexy he
looked, standing there in his bare feet, trousers and no shirt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I made you
breakfast, Angel."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Cheers
babe!" I said kissing him on the cheek and picking up a hot buttered slice
of toast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh, you don't
have a spare t-shirt do you?" asked Miles, "Mine is still damp and
all my clothes are back at the hotel."
I wasn't surprised, Cassandra had given us both a good soaking as she
threw a pint of lager over us last night.
I guess it was only to be expected, she had just found out that I had
stolen her boyfriend and I probably would have done the same thing in her
position. My clothes were still damp too,
but by the time Miles and I got back to my flat, laundry was the last thing on
our minds! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I might have
something," I said, as I turned and went back into the bedroom. I opened the wardrobe and just as I remembered
there was a pile of plain black t-shirts on the shelf. There were clean socks and boxer shorts on
the shelf below too. They had belonged
to Simon. I had cleared his things out
of my wardrobe at home months ago but I'd forgotten that he kept a few clothes
here too. For a moment I got a little
choked up, but I told myself not to be so silly. Simon was dead, he wouldn't be needing them
again and I'm sure he would have loaned them to Miles anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I made the bed, laid
out the clothes and left out a couple of clean towels too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You're in luck,
I found a shirt and some clean underwear for you." Miles looked puzzled for a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Simon's?"
he guessed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah," I
said, turning away. I didn't want him to
see me sad, not when everything had been so perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Angel, are you
sure?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, of course
I am." I turned to Miles and tried
to smile. "I hope they fit, you're
a bit bigger than he was."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh am I?"
Miles said smirking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You have a
filthy mind!" I said, giggling too.
I went over and kissed him.
"Now go on and get in the shower, you stink!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Charming! That's the last time I make you
breakfast!" he said laughing as he headed towards the bathroom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I hope
not!" I called after him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I picked up my
breakfast and went to sit on the black leather sofa. As I put my coffee cup down I noticed my
wedding ring on the glass table, right where I'd left it last night. I picked it up and turned it over in my
hands. I almost slipped it back on my
finger but I thought better of it. I was
still technically Mrs. Wetherall but it had been almost a year since Simon had
died and it felt wrong to be wearing it now I was with Miles. I had made the point of taking it off last
night to prove how serious I was about our relationship, I'd be giving mixed
signals if I put it back on now. I
grabbed my handbag and put the ring safely away in my purse. I wasn't going to wear it anymore, but I
didn't want to lose it either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I drank my coffee and
checked my phone. There were lots of
messages of congratulations after the gig last night. It had been my idea to organise a benefit
concert in memory of Simon, but it was the bands and the staff at Angel Blue
Records who deserved all the credit. Unknown
Pleasures had stolen the show with their headline set. I smiled to myself as I remembered the song
Miles had dedicated to me, and I blushed as I remember how he kissed me in
front of everyone when they came off stage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I drained my cup and
I was about to go back into the bedroom to finish packing when Miles stepped
through the door, drying his dirty blonde hair on a towel. He was wearing Simon's t-shirt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"What do you
reckon?" he said, turning around in a circle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I think you'll
get away with it," I said, smiling.
As I expected the shirt was a little too small for Miles. The fabric was stretched tight over his muscular
frame and I felt myself getting turned on all over again. I had to resist though, I didn't want to seem
too eager and anyway we had work to do. "Come
on, we have to meet Joolz in 20 minutes."
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I was a bit nervous
in the cab going over to the venue. I
didn't know what to expect of everyone after last night, but I shouldn't have
worried. When we got there everyone was
too busy to gossip. We only just got the
vans loaded up in time, but we did our best to be professional. The venue manager said he'd be glad to have
us back again, which was another small victory for Angel Blue Records.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Angel, we're
getting off now," said Jamie, tapping me on the shoulder. "Thanks for everything, one of our best
gigs I think."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah it was,
you played a blinder," I said looking over his shoulder, trying to spot Miles. "And thanks for being so understanding,
you know, about me and Miles." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"That's OK. I had a long talk with my sister this morning
and she's admitted she needs help with the drugs and everything. Dad came down first thing this morning and
picked her up so she won't be causing any more trouble for a while at
least."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I saw what she
posted on Facebook last night," I said, feeling a little guilty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"She was angry,
but she knows it was her own fault. I
guess it was partially my fault too. I
put Miles in a terrible position, making him responsible for her. I didn't want to face up to what she was
really like. I should never have done
that, and I'm sorry." I really
appreciated what Jamie said, it must have been very hard for him to admit the
blame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hey, it all
worked out in the end," I said. My
eyes lit up as I saw Miles heading towards us.
He gave me a big hug and kissed me on the lips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"We're going now,
I'll call you when we get back," Miles said. I was sad to see him go but we needed to give
each other a little space, just to figure things out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Have a safe
journey!" I said as I kissed him back.
I watched as he climbed into the van and then they drove off into the
city. I stood there grinning to myself,
lost in my own little world when Lora came up to me, waving her hand in front
of my eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Come on Angel,
we'd best get going too if we're doing to catch that train." I picked up my bags and we headed out onto
the street to hail a cab to the station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">On the train I set up
my laptop pretending to work, but that wasn't enough to stop Lora asking
questions. When Spyder and Joolz went to
get coffee she squeezed into the seat next to me. She laughed so hard when she caught me
staring intently at a blank screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You going to
tell us what happened then?" she asked eagerly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I have no idea
what you mean," I replied, trying to keep a straight face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Only Miles
never came down to breakfast this morning," Lora said in a sing song
voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Didn't
he?" I said pretending to be surprised, but it was no use. I could feel my cheeks glowing and there was
no way I could hide how I felt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Angel? Where's your wedding ring?" Lora said grabbing
my left hand and waving it under my nose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I took it off
last night, just before I dragged Miles off to the bedroom."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh my God
Angel! You didn't!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I did!" I
admitted, blushing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"And?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"It was wonderful!" I said blushing even more. Lora squealed and I covered my face with my
hands as everyone on the train turned around to stare at us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Shut up
Lora! I don't want the whole world to
know"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Why not? I think it's brilliant you two finally got it
on."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah!" I
sighed, "I think it's serious Lora.
He said 'I love you' and I think he meant it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Then he's
definitely serious! Did you say it
back?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yes!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"So when's the
wedding?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Lora! I'm not going to marry him! I only just started seeing him last
night! I'm going to take things a bit
slower this time I think, although it's not going to be easy. He has got one hell of a body!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Angel!" Lora squealed as the colour came to her
cheeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"What are you
two giggling about?" asked Spyder, setting the paper coffee cups down on
the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh
nothing," I said, but I wasn't fooling anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'm guessing
Angel's new boyfriend," said Joolz.
Lora and I couldn't help but giggle again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Come on give us
a break!" I begged them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"OK, OK, but I
will say one thing. I haven't seen you
this happy in a long time," said Joolz.
"Miles is good for you, Angel.
He's a keeper."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Too
right!" said Lora in agreement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, I think
he might be," I said smiling. I
leaned back in my seat, drinking my coffee and watching the countryside pass us
by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I felt like a
different person coming home. In the
grand entrance of my mansion house I was greeted by Martha, the housekeeper,
and my Irish setter, Blue. I hauled my
bags up the wide staircase, closed the apartment door behind me and crashed
down on the sofa as Blue excitedly jumped up and licked my hands. Martha had taken good care of her while I was
away but Blue was always glad to have me home.
I sat up and fussed her, and I let her jump on the sofa next to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Blue, you like
Miles don't you?" Blue tried to
lick my face, which I took as a yes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Me too Blue, me
too." I cuddled up with Blue and I
was almost dropping off to sleep when my phone rang. It was Miles.
Instantly I was awake. I was so
eager to see him again but I knew I had to play it cool, I didn't want to put
him off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hi Angel, did
you get back OK?" he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, Lora was
fishing for details about last night though." Miles laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"The lads were
pretty much the same, teasing me about sleeping with the boss."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You told them
we slept together?" I asked, a little shocked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Not in so many
words, but they pretty much figured what happened when I didn't go back to the
hotel last night. Anyway, I wondered
what you were doing tonight?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'm shattered,
I was going to crash and watch a bit of telly." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh," said
Miles, sounding disappointed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"But I wouldn't
mind some company if you want to come over," I said, hoping I didn't sound
too desperate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"That would be
good. See you in about half an
hour." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Half an hour? I started to panic. Miles was coming over in half an hour and I
was a mess. I hadn't even unpacked my
bags yet. I dashed into the bathroom, brushed
my teeth and tried to make myself look presentable. I couldn't believe how nervous I felt. I tried to tell myself it was just Miles
coming over to hang out for a while, but I was too excited to see him
again. I was determined to play it cool,
things had moved pretty quickly with Simon but this time there wasn't any rush.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">25 minutes later I
went downstairs with Blue and let her into the garden. Right on time Miles drove his battered blue Ford
Escort up the driveway and parked it by the front steps. It looked so out of place, a knackered old
banger parked on the driveway of a mansion house, but I didn't care. It was the man inside the car I wanted. I stood by the door and watched him as he got
out of the car. He looked sexy as hell as
he walked towards me. All thoughts of
playing it cool went right out the window, we didn't even have chance to say
hello before we threw our arms around each other. I called Blue inside as I eagerly lead Miles
up to my apartment. We barely made it
through the door before we started tearing each other's clothes off. I wasn't complaining one little bit as Miles
kissed me so deeply and we stumbled into the bedroom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I'm not sure what
came over me, I'd never felt lust like this before. I couldn't keep my hands off Miles, and the
feeling was mutual. The only time he took
his hands off me was to put a condom on, and that didn't exactly take a long
time. It was crazy but it felt so right
as he held me so tight and fucked me so hard.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Breathless and naked,
Miles left me reeling. I stared at the ceiling and couldn't help but laugh out
loud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"What's so
funny?" asked Miles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh nothing,"
I giggled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Something I
did?" Miles asked, sounding a little paranoid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well, kind
of. I did a lot of thinking on the train
and I sort of promised myself I'd take things slowly, but we've been together
for less than 24 hours and we've spent most of that time in bed!" I
laughed. Miles pulled a guilty face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'm sorry
Angel, you should have said..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh no! I don't regret a second of it! I guess I never realised how badly I wanted
you." Miles smiled at me, his brown
eyes so bright. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I wanted you
too, Angel, ever since I first laid eyes on you." I blushed.
I couldn't forget the first time we met.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Unknown Pleasures
at the Old Ship. That was the first gig
I went to with Simon."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Really?"
said Miles, surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, I was
just a sweet and innocent school girl before I met him." Miles sniggered. "Seriously! I was pretty boring, I never went out, I'd never
even had a boyfriend before. In fact
that was the night I lost my virginity," I said, blushing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Wow, there is
so much I don't know about you, Angel," he said stroking my hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"So what about
you? Who was the first girl you slept
with?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Ah, now that
would be Chloe," Miles said with a troubled look on his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Go on..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"That was a bit
of a mistake actually." Miles
didn't seem to want to talk about it but I pressed him further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Come on, I told
you!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"OK, OK. Chloe lived next door to us, she was 15 and I
was just 16. I wasn't really seeing her
or anything but her parents had gone away for the weekend on some darts trip
from the pub, and they'd left her at home with her big sister, Michelle. Anyway Michelle went out clubbing so Chloe
decided to have a party. She invited me
and some kids from school, we ended up raiding the drinks cabinet. We all got a bit wasted and this lad, Steve,
was trying it on with her, but she got all upset and ran off upstairs. I went to try and calm her down, but when I
gave her a hug she kissed me and, well, we didn't stop."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh wow, so did
you start going out with her then?" Miles pulled a face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Not really, it got
sort of complicated. Shit! The ice cream!" Miles said jumping up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"What?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I left the ice
cream in the car! You said you wanted to
watch telly right? So I brought ice
cream."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh you are too
good to be true! I'm sure it will be OK." Miles kissed me and then started to get
dressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'll be right
back," he said as he dashed out of the door. I smiled.
I couldn't believe my luck. Here
I was with a gorgeous new boyfriend, he had an amazing body, he was fantastic
in bed, he was totally in love with me, and he brought me ice cream! What could be more perfect than that? I threw on some clothes, turned on the TV and
sat waiting for Miles on the sofa with 2 spoons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Miles must have run
all the way back up the stairs because he was out of breath when he let himself
back into my apartment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Cookie dough OK
with you?" he said holding out a family sized tub of Ben and Jerry's. My face lit up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"My favourite!"
I said grinning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"It's gone a bit
soft though," he said squeezing the tub.
I giggled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I kind of like
it that way," I smirked. So we
settled down for an evening of trashy telly, messily feeding each other half
melted ice cream. We didn't stop until
the whole tub was empty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I can't believe
we ate all that! Are you trying to make
me fat?" Miles wrapped his arms
around me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No, you're
perfect just the way you are Angel, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to get
off. My mum hates it when I get in late
on a work night."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Your mum?"
I asked puzzled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, I know
it's sad, but I still live at home with her."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No way! I thought you had your own place or
something?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Nah, can't
afford to move out. You'll have to come
over and meet her, she'll love you. Tell
you what, how about I pick you up at 6 tomorrow?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Tomorrow? Yeah, I suppose," I said. I suddenly felt a little scared about meeting
Miles's mum but I couldn't miss out on a chance to seeing him and I was a
little curious as to where he lived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"It's a date
then!" said Miles kissing me goodbye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I decided to get an
early night myself, it had been one hell of a weekend and there would be a lot
to do down in the record company office in the morning. I lay in bed thinking of Miles, he really
must be serious if he wanted to introduce me to his mum, then I thought about
my family. I'd have to tell them about
him sometime, but there was no rush. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">© Clair Louise Coult 2012</span></div>
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