Always Another Side Read online

  Always Another Side

  By

  Annabelle Jacobs

  Copyright

  Cover artist: Natasha Snow

  Editor: Sue Adams

  Always Another Side © 2016 Annabelle Jacobs

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED:

  This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or business establishments, events or locales is coincidental.

  The Licensed Art Material is being used for illustrative purposes only.

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  WARNING

  This book contains material that maybe offensive to some and is intended for a mature, adult audience. It contains graphic language, explicit sexual content and adult situations.

  Table Of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  “No.” Jack opened the front door to his flat and wished he could shut it before Zena followed him inside, but she already had her foot on the threshold. “Absolutely no way.”

  “But Jack, it’s been eight months since—”

  “I’m aware how long it’s been, thank you very much.” The thought of Simon still hurt, not like it had in the beginning when the mere mention of his name made his heart ache. Now it was more of a dull pain, rather than that raw gaping wound.

  He preferred not to talk about it at all, but Zena began to push a little more.

  “You turned forty almost three weeks ago—”

  “I’m aware of that too.”

  She threw her hands in the air. “Oh my God, would you let me finish a bloody sentence, please?”

  With a sigh, he took his coat off, slung it over the back of the sofa, and motioned for her to continue.

  “As I was saying.” She eyed him as though expecting him to interrupt at any second, but slowly relaxed as he kept his mouth shut. “You turned forty almost three weeks ago. A milestone in life that should be celebrated. And what did you do?”

  “I celebrated.”

  “You invited me here, where we proceeded to order a curry and watch the latest James Bond film on Sky.”

  She rolled her eyes when he shrugged in response.

  “I like Daniel Craig.”

  “Me too, but for fuck’s sake, Jack. You can’t hide in this bloody flat forever. Before you and Simon split, you’d have been—”

  And that was enough. Jack held up his hand and sat down on the sofa, not interested in where she was going with the conversation. “We’ve been through this. I know it’s been eight months since Simon and I split. I know you think I should get back out there, and I know you’re only trying to help. But Jesus Christ, Zena, we were together for fifteen years! Eight months might seem a long time to you, but not to me. I’m not even ready to think about meeting someone new, let alone going on a date. And definitely not a blind date.” Even the thought of it made his insides curl up and die. “Why on earth would I want to go out and talk to some stranger?”

  Zena looked at him as though she was seconds away from reaching out and strangling him. She was his best friend, they’d known each other since secondary school, and she knew him better than anyone else. But for some reason, she refused to see he wasn’t interested in meeting someone new. Not now, not—

  Fuck.

  Jack put his head in his hands. Did he want to be on his own for the rest of his life? The thought was depressing, and one he intended to avoid.

  With a heavy sigh, she sat down next to him and put a hand on his knee. “I’m sorry to keep pushing this. I know you’re still getting over Simon.” She patted his thigh and rested her head against his shoulder, her blonde hair a riotous mess from the wind. “I just hate seeing you so lonely and miserable.”

  “I’m not miserable.”

  She looked up at him, her blue eyes soft with understanding but not pity. “But you are lonely.”

  It was a statement and not a question. Jack didn’t have the energy to deny it. Besides, she knew him far too well to believe him if he did. He’d always hated being on his own. “Yeah, I am.”

  God, he was probably going to regret this—no scratch that, he was definitely going to regret it, but… “Okay, fine.”

  To her credit, Zena kept her face straight, although there was no hiding the way her mouth curved up as she glanced up at him. “Don’t look so worried. It’s a dinner with friends, not a trip to the gallows.” She shifted back a little so they faced each other, and her words slowly sank in.

  Jack frowned. He’d been under the impression it was only going to be the two of them. Jack and whoever this other guy was. “Friends?”

  “What? You thought I was suggesting you and Tyler go out on your own?” She rolled her eyes, smothering her laugh with a hand. “I’m not stupid. I want the two of you to get on, hopefully.”

  Jack glared at her, affronted. “What the hell does that mean?”

  She smiled and reached for his hand, which he grudgingly let her take. “Jack. You’re my best friend and I love you deeply, but I know what you’re like meeting new people. If I let you meet Tyler on your own, you’ll panic and run out of conversation in two minutes. Just imagining the awkwardness is making me squirm.”

  “I’m not that bad.” He might be a little socially awkward, but she made him sound like an idiot.

  “I may be exaggerating a little, sorry. But seriously, this will be the first time you’ve been out other than for work since Simon left. I know how hard it’s going to be, and I wanted to make it as easy as possible for you.”

  When she put it that way, Jack found it difficult to be offended. And exaggeration or not, she had a point. He’d been shit at meeting people before, so who knew what he’d be like after eight months hiding out in his flat. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad with a group of people. “So, who’s going?”

  She grinned in triumph. “I think Tyler’s bringing a couple of friends. Then there’s me and you, obviously, and Mark wants to come too.”

  Mark was Zena’s husband of ten years. He was funny and laid-back, and he and Jack had always got on well. He’d be good at keeping the conversation going if Zena ever ran out of things to say, which was unlikely. But Jack liked him, so he nodded encouragingly.

  “Did you want to ask anyone else?” Zena asked.

  Most of Jack’s other friends were people who Simon and he had met together, and although Jack was still friendly with them, he didn’t want them witnessing his first attempts at getting back in the saddle. All but two of them were still friends with Simon too, and not that Jack thought they’d rush to tell him, but people talked, and he was in no hurry for reports of his evening getting back to Simon. No matter how it turned out. Also, there would be six of them there; if he invited any more, there would be too many people for him to get a chance to talk to Tyler at all.

  And what sort of a name was Tyler
anyway? He sounded young, and Jack immediately felt stupid for not asking for more details before agreeing to go. “No, you and Mark are plenty.”

  He stood and headed over to the kitchen area. All of a sudden in need of a drink, he searched for the half-full bottle of red wine he knew was in there somewhere…. “Aha!” Holding the bottle aloft, he wiggled it at her. “Want a glass?”

  Zena raised her eyebrows. “Have you ever known me to refuse?”

  “Good point.” He poured two generous glasses and took them back over to the sofa, handing one to Zena and then sitting down again. “So. Tell me what you know about Tyler.”

  She grinned, then took a drink of her wine. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  As it turned out, Tyler Freeman—according to Zena—was tall, dark-haired, and geeky-looking. Although that was all hearsay as she’d never actually seen him. He was also thirty-six years old—younger than Jack would have liked, but nowhere near as young as he’d feared. “What do you mean by ‘geeky-looking,’ anyway? Isn’t that a little offensive?”

  “God, Jack. You’re forty, not eighty. How do you not know these things?” She reached for her bag, and fished her phone out. “When I say geeky-looking, I mean someone cute, a little rumpled, wears glasses, and is hot.” She tapped at the screen then brandished it at him. “Sort of like this.”

  “I know what geeky means, thanks. I was curious to know what you meant by it.”

  He took the phone off her and stared at the screen. The guy was obviously an actor; Zena had gone to his IMDb page, but no one Jack recognised. With his short dark hair, glasses, brown eyes, and a dirty smile, he was definitely hot, though. Clearly, Jack and Zena had different definitions of the word. Not that he expected his blind date to look anything like that, but he liked the general idea. And best of all, he was the total opposite to Simon. Still… “Isn’t thirty-six a little old to be classed as geeky?”

  The guy in the picture looked to be no more than mid-twenties, and Jack always pictured over-enthusiastic maths or computer students when he thought of the word. God, he was probably showing his age again. Zena seemed to be au fait with it all, and she was only six months younger than he was.

  “I don’t think it’s something you grow out of, and besides, Jen said he’s quite young-looking.”

  Ugh. Jack refrained from groaning, just about. Visions of an immature, clinging-to-his-youth partygoer sprung to mind. They were going to have nothing in common.

  Setting his glass down, Jack rubbed at his face and yawned, tired as he was most nights these days. He never used to be this way. The last few months had aged him. Finding out Simon wasn’t the man Jack thought he was, was akin to having the rug pulled out from under him. Their whole life together took on a tarnished quality, and over the months since their separation, Jack had caught himself looking back at everything with a veil of mistrust and suspicion. Instead of the vibrant, thirty-nine-year-old he’d been this time last year, full of life and happy, he now felt old, sluggish, and out of touch with life. He didn’t like this new version of him but wasn’t sure how to snap out of it. As much as the idea made him cringe, despite Zena’s assurances, maybe it could be the kick he needed to get back to his old self, or a close approximation thereof. Even if nothing came of it—and Jack wasn’t a big believer that blind dates worked—at least he was trying. It was a start. “Fine, whatever. Just tell me where and when.”

  “This Saturday, eight o’clock at The Lamb Inn. Try to be a little excited at the prospect.” Zena finished off the last of her wine, and poked him in the chest when he scoffed. “Me and Mark will be here at seven, so I can make sure you dress appropriately.”

  “I’m not a child.” As she grabbed her bag and headed for the door, he got up and followed.

  She stopped with one hand on the door handle and glanced back at him.

  “I know that, but you haven’t exactly been acting much like a grown-up lately either.” She shushed him when he went to protest. “It’s been a shit time. I’m not judging you. Christ, I would fall apart if Mark left me.” With a soft smile, she turned around and hugged him. “I think for the past eight months you’ve taken time off from life and forgotten how to live for anything outside of work and family, which is totally understandable.” He hummed into her hair—she might have a point. “You’re a wonderful man, and anyone would be lucky to have you.”

  Simon didn’t think so.

  Seeming to read his mind, she hugged him tighter. “Simon was an undeserving, slimy bastard and a cheating wanker. You can do so much better than his scrawny arse.”

  Jack laughed, unable to help himself. “No. Tell me what you really think of him.”

  Her answering laughter settled something deep in his chest, and he sighed. “I’ll see you here at seven o’clock, then. I should try and look my best, after all.”

  Pulling back and slapping him on the shoulder, Zena grinned up at him. “That’s the spirit.” She opened the front door and waved back at him over her shoulder as she walked down the hallway. “See you Saturday!”

  God, he hoped he wouldn’t live to regret it.

  Chapter Two

  Tyler fastened the last button on his black shirt and smoothed the fabric down over his hips. He tugged at the bottom of it and frowned. “Out or in?”

  Aaron rolled his eyes from where he sat propped up on Tyler’s bed. “Out, obviously.” He motioned with his hand for Tyler to turn round in a circle, and grinned when he grudgingly did so with a put-upon sigh. “I still can’t believe you agreed to this. You hate the idea of blind dates.”

  That was true. Unfortunately, Tyler’s other best mate had a girlfriend who was very persuasive. Turning full circle, Tyler stopped with his hands on his hips to face Aaron. He ignored Aaron’s comment. “Do I look okay or not?”

  Aaron was right, though, Tyler hated the awkwardness involved in a blind date, being forced to talk to someone when you both knew you were there to see if you were compatible. It lacked the easy flirting that came with meeting someone new, the excitement tinged with uncertainty as each person tried to ascertain whether there was interest or not. Tyler liked that part, usually. But after his last attempt at a relationship, he had serious doubts regarding his own judgement. He’d been so sure that—

  “Hey, Tyler.” Aaron snapped his fingers to get Tyler’s attention.

  Tyler blinked, happy to have that train of thought interrupted. “Sorry, what?” He focused on Aaron, who had shuffled to the end of the bed and now sat forward with his elbows resting on his knees. Aaron was one of his best friends, had been since they met at the start of uni, and Tyler told him everything, so he probably knew exactly where Tyler’s mind had gone.

  “I know Jen sort of pressured you into going tonight, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.” Aaron glanced up and smiled. “It wasn’t your fault that—”

  Tyler shook his head. “Don’t. Mentioning his name will jinx everything.”

  “I’m just saying—”

  “It’s fine, really. I want to go. And she didn’t pressure me.” He walked over and sat next to Aaron, nudging his shoulder.

  Tyler was tall at almost six foot two, but he was slim. Aaron only had an inch on him in height, but about a stone in muscle. Being friends with him was like having your own bodyguard—not that Aaron would hurt a fly, but he looked as though he could, and that meant they never had any trouble when they went out.

  “Besides,” Tyler said, “Jen assures me the guy, Jack, is hot, and if she was single—and male, obviously—she’d be all over that.”

  Aaron laughed and slapped him hard on the thigh, making him wince. “Well, in that case, let’s go and find out if she’s got good taste.”

  “Oh shit, just look who she’s dating.” Tyler mock cringed but couldn’t fight his smile. “We already know her taste in men is questionable.” He rubbed his leg as he stood, trying to soothe the sting.

  “That’s true.” Aaron stood too, but Tyler caught his arm before he rea
ched the door.

  “Hey, you never answered me.” He swept a hand down the length of his body. “Do I look okay?” Insecurity had never been an issue when he was younger, but after each failed attempt at a relationship, doubts crept in. By thirty-six, most of Tyler’s friends were either married or in long-term relationships. The longest he’d managed was two years. The last time had been the icing on the cake. Maybe he wasn’t what someone looked for in a partner?

  Aaron’s heavy sigh told Tyler he was wearing his emotions for all to see, and his cheeks heated with embarrassment. God, he hated people knowing how pathetic he was—even Aaron.

  “I’m only going to say this once, and if you tell anyone, I will end you.” Aaron turned and gripped Tyler by the shoulders, his big hands firm and heavy, holding him in place. “You look great. You are great. I don’t know why you haven’t found someone yet, but there’s nothing wrong with you. Okay? I won’t mention that fucker’s name, but if he’s the reason you feel like this, then you need to stop. He used you, Tyler, and that was his fault, not yours. Okay?”

  Tyler grinned, the nerves and anxiety fading enough for him to breathe more easily. “Thanks.”

  Aaron nodded. “You’re welcome.” He let go of Tyler’s shoulder and slung an arm around him instead. “But don’t let it go to your head. I still think you’re a bit of a knob.”

  “Of course.”

  Aaron squeezed him before letting him go and walked out of the bedroom, calling over his shoulder. “And you’re far too old to be nervous about meeting another old guy.”

  His laughter echoed down the hallway.

  “I’m three months younger than you!”

  “Yes, but I’m not primping in front of the mirror like a teenager, am I?” He handed Tyler a jacket as he joined him in the hallway. “Now come on, or we’ll be late.”

  The pub they were meeting at wasn’t one that Tyler knew well, he tended to stick closer to home these days, and The Lamb was a twenty-minute drive away. He noticed Jen’s car in the car park, the distinctive number plate easy to recognise. “She’s early for once.”