Who Needs Men Anyway?. Victoria Cooke
glanced up. Catching me staring, she shook her head. ‘It’s Mike.’ Her voice trembled while I focused intently, ready to catch the pieces she was about to splinter into.
‘I caught him cheating on me!’ Her floodgates opened as I gasped and clasped my hand to my mouth for effect.
I furrowed my brows. ‘What? Are you sure?’ I asked, trying my best to appear shocked.
She nodded. ‘That’s why I left the other night at the hotel. I saw them at the bar and I didn’t know what to do. I just ran off and caught a bus home. I’m so sorry for leaving you there, Charlotte.’
She wrapped her arms around herself as I felt a pang in my chest. I wasn’t sure if the root cause was guilt or profound sadness, but I felt a sense of responsibility to Megan to make sure she got through it. Without speaking, I walked over to her and wrapped her in a hug, not caring that her tears soaked through my T-shirt, dampening my shoulder.
‘Oh, Megan, don’t worry about me. I just can’t believe it. I don’t know what to say.’ I patted her back.
She sniffled. ‘There’s nothing to say – he’s a bastard and that’s it. I can’t believe I was going to marry him.’ Her face was haunting, and my stomach churned seeing her in that state. A small niggling voice in the back of my head was questioning whether I should have stayed out of it in the first place. The affair could have fizzled out and they could have had a long and happy marriage had I not interfered.
‘I’m just glad I found out now and not a few years down the line when . . . well, if we’d have started a family, it would’ve been even worse.’ My body sagged slightly with relief. She was right there – I couldn’t imagine having children with someone who had cheated on me.
I rubbed her back. ‘Definitely.’
Once she’d sipped her tea, she calmed enough to be able to talk. ‘I’m so sorry for landing on your doorstep in this state unannounced. It’s just, well, my close friends and family never liked Mike, and a bunch of I told you so’s weren’t what I needed today.’
I smiled to reassure her that it was okay. To be honest, I might have turned to her if, God forbid, I ever found myself in that situation. My only other choice would be Kate and she isn’t usually overgenerous with her sympathy.
‘All my friends who do like Mike are his friends too, and I don’t want them involved in taking sides. Yet.’
‘I understand. Stay as long as you need. Has Mike left?’ I asked cautiously.
She nodded. ‘Yes, he’s apparently gone to a hotel. He said the whole thing was a mistake and I was the one he wanted.’ She let out a humourless laugh and allowed her shoulders to flop. ‘But he could be staying with her for all I know. Do you know the worst part of all of this? I know who she is. She comes to my Pilates class and we’ve chatted a few times. Can you believe that? She’s younger, prettier, it’s such a cliché.’ She shook her head in disgust.
I sat on the stool next to her and asked her softly what she was planning to do.
‘I don’t know. We had plans, and it’s like my whole future has been shattered.’ Her voice cracked as she spoke. ‘We were going to start a family and he’s thrown that away for some waitress with incredible core strength and flexibility.’ She shook her head. ‘One thing I know for sure is that I won’t be taking him back – he’s not the type of man who’d make a good father.’
She lifted her head and her watery eyes met mine. ‘You’re so lucky to have a partner like James. Someone who respects you and shares your life goals. Hang on to him.’
She was right: I was lucky to have a man like James, and it made me feel her pain all the more. I couldn’t imagine him ever doing anything like that – he didn’t have the time for starters but he loved me.
She left a short while after, saying she needed to be at home to sort out her next move, and I felt satisfied she’d be okay after letting out some emotion. Once she’d gone, I started to think about my relationship with James and what Megan had said about him being a great man and one to hang on to. I didn’t expect Megan would be coming back for my training session so decided to make an effort, and since Kate’s comments about my underwear the other day had been playing on my mind, I got in the car and drove to the Trafford Centre, heading straight for Selfridges when I arrived.
When I reached the Agent Provocateur concession, I froze, bewildered for a moment. It was a brand that people always talked about but none of the garments on display seemed to make much sense. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks.
‘Can I help you?’ the immaculate assistant asked as I turned to leave but my words were stuck. I could’ve just ordered online, I scolded myself. It was unlike me to lack composure, and I hated myself for coming over all feeble and pathetic. In an attempt to appear more confident, I quickly scanned the rail next to me and picked up a small black playsuit that looked sultry yet classy.
‘I was just after one of these.’
‘Ahh, the Gloria basque. It’s a popular item.’ She smiled, taking it from me. She looked at the tag then looked me over. ‘I don’t think this is your size. ‘What bust size are you?’
‘Er . . . 34C,’ I replied.
She nodded and said she’d be back in a moment. I relaxed a little as I waited and started to browse, idly flicking through the delicate fabrics. The assistant soon returned with my garment.
‘We had one in stock,’ she said, ‘and I’ve brought out the matching knickers and some stockings to complete the outfit. Would you like to try them on?’
I shook my head. ‘No, they’ll be fine, thank you. Where can I pay?’
‘Please, follow me.’
Thankfully it was an unusually quiet day but that didn’t stop my eyes darting about frantically as I followed her to the counter, but before I knew it, she’d carefully wrapped the items and placed them in a bright yellow bag. Just as I was tapping my four-digit PIN into the card machine a familiar voice caught my attention and I spun around to see the back of a woman called Ginny who was part of the golf club clique. ‘Emmy, hi,’ she wailed into her phone. ‘Yes, of course I am . . . No idea, I’m out shopping for something now . . . seven I thought . . . yes she’ll be there – Lauren was inviting all the WAGs.’ She chuckled as if she’d made a joke.
The assistant handed me my bag just as I caught the tail end of the conversation: ‘See you tonight.’
I scurried off before she saw me. Once I was safely back in my car, I couldn’t help myself, I had to check my phone for an invitation to whatever the gathering was. I knew before I looked that I wouldn’t be invited, not after the way Emmy had blanked me. I didn’t really care anyway but that didn’t stop my curiosity. Pulling my phone out to see the blank screen only confirmed my suspicions. I let out an even sigh. It looked like I was definitely out of the group. I don’t know what Lauren had told them all and I didn’t care. Strangely, I was quite relieved.
At around 6.30 p.m. I took a shower and let my hair dry naturally wavy. I applied some natural-looking make-up with toned-down smoky eyes and a red lip-stain before slipping into my spoils of the day. I puffed my hair up at the roots, using a bit of hairspray to keep the volume, and put on my Valentino studded sandals before looking in the mirror.
The flattering lines of the basque pulled in my waist, and there was enough bust support to give an ample-looking cleavage. My bigger than usual hair made my body look smaller, and the high-heeled sandals my legs longer. I didn’t mind admitting it – I still had it. My black satin robe lay on the bed so I put it on and tied the waist before going down to the kitchen, where I poured two glasses of Argentinian Malbec – James’s favourite. Then I sat and waited.
Seven came and went, and by seven-forty I’d almost finished my second large glass when I heard the door open and a waft of aftershave hit me. On standing, I felt tipsier than I’d realised I was and