the wrong kind of love #30

Chapter 30Brian kept a close eye on Mandy all day. Every now and then he saw her wiping her eyes, possibly getting rid of a few tears. He wanted to go up to her and hold he in his arms, telling her that everything would be ok, but he didn’t want to seem too pushy. He knew she needed her space. When the day was over, he watched her as she tidied up her desk. He switched off his computer, grabbed his jacket and walked over towards her.“Hey. How are you feeling?” he asked, putting a sympathetic arm around her shoulder.“Very nervous about confronting him tonight!” she frowned.Brian squeezed her shoulder slightly as a form of encouragement and support.“This is so hard!” she whined, “I don’t know if I can do it!”“Of course you can. You’re a strong woman Mandy. Even I know that!” he smiled encouragingly.“My stomach is in knots. I feel physically sick!” she moaned.Brian stared at her, “Sam and I are going to the pub for a few drinks. Her bloke is coming too. Why don’t you join us?” he asked.“Oh, I don’t think I am in the mood Brian, but thanks!” she sighed.“Oh come on. A bit of Dutch courage!” he nudged her with a smile, “And I don’t wanna play gooseberry to Sam and Shane. Come on. I’ll get the drinks!”Mandy looked at him and sighed, “I really cannot face it!”“And what are you going to do? Go home and worry yourself sick? Come on, take your mind off it for an hour or so. You said yourself you need to keep yourself busy. Being at home will only make you think!” he insisted.Mandy stared at him and sighed without saying anything.“I’ll buy you a packet of dry roasted peanuts!” he jokingly bribed.Mandy laughed weakly, “Ok, ok. But I won’t stay long, alright?”“Good girl!” he grinned, hugging her tightly. Mandy rested her head against his chest and sighed deeply.“Ok Bri. Are you ready?” smile Sam, standing beside him, putting her long suede jacket on.Brian smiled at her and nodded as he let go of Mandy, “Mandy is joining us if that’s ok!”Sam looked at Mandy and smiled, “That’s great. Shane will be meeting us there!”Mandy grabbed her bag and walked out with them. Brian kept the conversation going throughout the whole journey. He did not want Mandy to think about Nicky.“So she just put the papers on the table and told him to get stuffed!” chuckled Brian, “I tell ya, she has balls of steel this girl!”“Well, he was really pissing me off!” laughed Sam, “I hate people who think they are better than everyone else!”“He is your boss!” shrieked Brian with laughter.“Doesn’t make him God does it?” she smirked.They walked into the pub and sat down.Mandy smiled, joining in, “And he didn’t fire you?”“Oh, he cannot fire me! He knows what he stands to lose if he does.” She grinned.“Yeah, don’t be shy Sam! Whatever happened to modesty?” cackled Brian.“Oh come on Brian. Apart from you, Mark, and me noone else works as hard as us. IN fact, I am starting to question you now!” she grinned cheekily. She looked around the pub, “God, where is that boyfriend of mine?” she added with a groan.“Oh come on. I work my bollocks off and you know it!” laughed Brian.The waitress came and took their orders, after which they continued talking.“Look at Mike. All he does is play solitaire on the computer, the sad fuck! Linda, she files her nails and brushes her hair all day long, and oh my god, Larry might as well bring his bed to work!” laughed Sam, “Simon knows I work hard and he knew I had a good enough reason not to have done that assignment that day!”“So instead he got muggings here to do it!” said Brian, pointing to himself and looking at Mandy, who just giggled softly as she sipped her drink.“Hi, sorry I am late!” came a voice from above them. Everyone looked up to see Shane standing there all flustered.“Well, he finally decides to join us. About bloody time too babe!” Sam laughed.Shane smiled, took his jacket off and sat down. He looked a Mandy and grinned.“Shane. This is Mandy. She’s just started working with us! Mandy, this is my boyfriend Shane!” introduced Sam.“Hi Mandy. nice to meet you!” smiled Shane, extending his hand towards her.“Likewise!” smiled Mandy, grabbing his hand and shaking it politely.Brian looked at he when she let go, “Are you ok?” he whispered.Mandy sipped her drink and nodded.“Want another drink?” he offered, noticing her glass was empty.“Yes please!” she smiled.The drink was increasing her confidence and the thought of facing Nicky later on was not as daunting anymore. Brian got up and returned moments later with another round of drinks and a packet of dry roasted peanuts. Mandy laughed when he handed them to her.“I promised you a packet, didn’t I?” he grinned.Mandy laughed and opened them, offering them to the others. She softly felt her bag vibrating and fished out her mobile phone from her bag. She read the message.Hey babe. Where are you? Nicky xxxMandy sighed and looked at Brian, who was just staring at her.“Is it him?” he asked.Mandy swallowed and nodded, “He is wondering where I am!”“Ah, just tell him you are in the company of a really gorgeous male and about to shag him!” he winked teasingly.Mandy giggled and clicked on reply on her phone, “You’re mad!”At the pub with my work mates. Needed a few drinks. Back soon!A few minutes later she got another reply, Ok. Don’t be long. We need to talk!!!Mandy sighed and put the phone away. Noticing her worried look, Brian edged closer to he, grabbing her hand.“He wants to talk!” she sighed, looking at their fingers, which were now laced around each others.“I am assuming he is going to come clean!” he guessed.Mandy nodded, “I suppose I’d better go!”“Aren’t you going to finish your drink first?” he asked, wanting her to stay a bit longer.Mandy shook her head, “I don’t think I can. I just want to get this over and done with!”Brian sighed and nodded, “I’ll walk you out!”“No need, Bri. I’ll be fine!” she sighed.“It’s ok. I don’t mind!” smiled Brian, “I’ll give these two lovebirds some time alone too!”Mandy grinned. She got up and put her jacket on. She put her bag on her shoulder and looked at Sam, “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow then!”“Sure thing Mandy. Safe journey home!” she smiled, leaning her head against Shane’s chest. Shane smiled and kissed the top of her head.“Nice to meet you Mandy. Take care!” smiled Shane.Mandy smiled and nodded, “Thanks. You too!”Brian out his hand on her back and let her out. When they got to her car, they stopped and looked at each other.“Are you sure you’re gonna be alright?” he checked.Mandy bit her lip and shrugged, “Probably not. But I’ll cope…somehow!”Brian looked at her in pity, “Want me to go with you?” he whispered, lowering his head slightly to meet her eyes with his.Mandy shook her head, “NO. This is something I have to do alone. But thanks!”Brian nodded.“God I am so nervous!” she shivered.Brian put his hands on her arms and rubbed them up and down, “Be strong Mandz. You show him that you’re made of much better stuff. I have faith in you. Don’t take any shit from him! You’ll be fine!”Mandy sighed and nodded, “I wish I shared your confidence!”Brian pulled her in for a tight embrace, staying like that for a while, “Believe in yourself babe. You’re so much better than he’ll ever be! Chin up chick!” he smiled.Mandy pulled away and looked at him, “Thanks for this Bri. I certainly do not deserve you after the way I have treated you!”Brian shrugged “You were in denial babe! I don’t blame you for not wanting to believe it was true. But you got annoyed with me coz deep down you knew I was right. I understand totally, honey!” he smiled.Mandy smiled and hugged him tightly, “Thank you for not giving up on me!” she whispered with tears in her eyes.“You’re far too good a person to give up on hun! And don’t you ever forget that!” he smiled.Mandy pulled away and smiled at him. She kissed him lightly on the lips and then got into her car. She opened the window and looked at Brian as she started the car.“Wish me luck!” she sighed.“You’ll be ok sweetheart! Call me if you need anything ok? Let me know how it goes. Good luck darling!” he smiled.Mandy nodded and started driving off, “See ya!”“I am here for you all the way!” he called out after her.Mandy put her hand out of the window as an indication that she had heard him and then sped off into the distance. Brian lifted his arm to wave goodbye to her. When she was just a dot on the horizon, he sighed, stuffed his hands in his pocket and walked back to the pub to join Sam and Shane!