the wrong kind of love #13

Chapter 13
Brian could hardly sleep that night. He kept thinking about what Kian had advised him and he pondered on that thought for a while. However, he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t break her heart. Besides, he didn’t even know if it was true that Nicky and Charlene were going away together. He didn’t even know if Nicky was going at all. He looked at the time on his radio alarm and sighed. 4:32 am.“Good job it’s Saturday tomorrow!” he sighed to himself, turning around in bed for what seemed like the hundred and third time that night. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep. Only trouble was, he couldn’t. He kicked his covers back in frustration and tried again. But every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Mandy reacting to the bad news. When he finally did fall asleep, an hour later, he instantly woke up from a nightmare, where he told Mandy all about Charlene and Nicky, but it backfired as it was all false anyway and Mandy accused him of trying to split them up. He sat up in bed in heavy perspiration and panting heavily. He put his boxers on, grabbed his phone and walked down to the kitchen to make himself a cup of hot chocolate. When he finished making it, he sat in the living room and switched the telly on to watch some late night TV. Not that he watched much of it. He mind was constamtly on Mandy. All of a sudden, he felt his phone vibrate. He looked at it, wondering who on earth would be sending him a message at this time of night. He picked it up and pressed the read button, surprised to discover it was from Mandy.Hi Brian. Sorry t text you so late. How’s things? M xxxBrian smiled as he read it and decided to reply.You cannot sleep either I take it? B xxxHe waited and three minutes later he heard it again.Nope! I just keep tossing and turning! * Sigh * What’s on your mind to make you do so?” B xxxIt took her a while to answer , and he had began to give up any hope of getting a reply. He figured she had managed to fall asleep, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. She was wide awake in the living room, trying to do exactly the same thing as him, trying to watch telly and take her mind off him. Brian flicked through all the channels, trying to find something decent to watch until he heard the phone again.Can we meet tomorrow? I really need to talk to you! M xxxBrian smiled and arranged to meet her at Starbucks at 10 o’clock.They both finished texting each other and attempted to get some sleep again.Early next morning, Nicky found Mandy getting ready.“What are you doing all dressed up at this time of day?” he smiled, attaching his tie. Mandy sighed, stood in front of him and helped him with his tie. He was never good at doing ties. When she was done, she sat back down to apply her mascara.“I am just going to town!” she shrugged, now doing her other eye.Nicky just stayed staring at her, “Since when do you get all dolled up to go to town?” he shrieked.“Nothing wrong with making an effort is there?” she looked at him as she screwed the top back on the mascara bottle and placed it back in her make up bag.“Well no. nothing wrong with that at all. Only you never get so made up!” he replied, clearly confused, and somewhat suspicious, “Who are you trying to impress?”Mandy froze and stared at him, “Noone!” she gasped.Nicky laughed, “I was only messing babe. Anyway I have to get going now. You have a nice day in town ok?”He kissed her and left. Mandy continued getting ready and then left herself. She decided on getting the bus, as she knew what town was like on a Saturday and it would take a miracle for her to find a parking. She didn’t have to wait long for the bus. She hopped on it and then got out in the town centre. She finally made it into Starbucks with ten minutes to spare. She grabbed a seat and ordered herself a café latte. Not long after, she saw Brian walking in. Already she got all those butterflies in her stomach. He smiled at her from afar and then sat opposite her.“Top of the morning to ye?” he grinned.Mandy almost melted at the sound of his sexy Irish accent. She was used to hearing Nicky’s Irish accent, but somehow Brian’s sounded a lot sexier.“Morning Bri. Thanks for coming!” she smiled nervously.“Well, what seems to be the problem?” he asked, after giving his order to the waiter.Mandy hesitated for a while, not actually knowing what to tell him. In fact, she wasn’t even sure why she had suggested on meeting up. Brian just stared at her curiously.“I feel really bad asking this, because it feels like I am betraying my husband, but he is going on a business trip soon and I just wanted to ask…is there actually a trip schedules? Some kind of conference in London?” she asked.“When?” he gulped.“Sunday!” she sighed, “AT least, he is leaving Sunday and coming back Tuesday!”Brian stared at her, “I know a couple of lads at work are going!”He stared at her. She couldn’t know about Charlene. Surely. He cleared his throat and played with the serviette in front of him. She probably would have let it rest at that if he had maintained eye contact with her, or if his voice wasn’t so shaky. He couldn’t lie to her though. He bowed her head down and sighed.“You’re lying!” she gasped.Brian just rolled his eyes at her and tried again, “Why would I lie to you?”“Because you know something and you don’t want to tell me! So there is no business trip scheduled then?” she questioned.“Oh yes. There is a trip organised!” he nodded.“Then what is it you are keeping from me?” she questioned.They stopped talking when the waiter came over and placed their coffees in front of them. Mandy sipped on her latte as Brian stared at his.“What is it then?” she asked, determined to get a straight answer from him.Brian’s mouth twitched, “What is what?” he asked, trying to buy some time.“What is it you know and won’t tell me!” she asked exasperatedly, looking straight into his clear blue orbs. Brian just stared at her, trying to look as blank as possible.“Brian!” she whined, “I thought we were mates!”“We are!” he gasped.“Then fucking tell me, will ya?” she answered impatiently.Brian sighed, took a sip of his latte and put it back down, with his hands still wrapped around the ceramic mug, “I don’t know anything for certain!”“Then just tell me!” she almost screamed out.“Charlene is also going on the trip!” he sighed, looking away, not wanting to see the reaction on her face.