Page 15 of Slow Burn

Mum and Dad looked lovingly at each other – yes, I reckoned they were the only two people still madly in love with each other after thirty-two years of marriage.

I’d never even seen them bicker, let alone full-on argue.

Whatever it was they connected over, it had been constant and unwavering – Mum fired Dad up and Dad kept Mum grounded.

And they both liked to do exactly what they wanted – and who was there to stop them?

Not their children, and definitely not me.

‘We’re going on a six-month cruise,’ said Dad, beaming. ‘Remember that’s how your mum and I met?’

‘How could we forget? We’ve heard the story about a hundred and fifty times,’ said Sedi.

‘So, what, it’s like a world cruise?’ asked Nolo.

‘Exactly,’ said Mum excitedly. ‘Although it’s not all pleasure – we’ll be working, too.

Your father and I will be executive entertainment directors on a brand-new high-spec cruise ship.

The money is excellent, so we thought we could put it into the studio when we get back – maybe give it the revamp we’ve been meaning to for a while? ’

‘Great,’ I said, trying to summon up enthusiasm from somewhere. While this was wonderful news for them, and coming from a good place on their part, it was, of course, terrible news for me.

‘We are so excited,’ gushed Mum, going all dewy-eyed as she pictured her trip.

‘We get to visit my home in South Africa, plus Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, so many places we have always wanted to see. And it will make things so much nicer for me if I know you’re all safe, and that Lira is looking out for you like she always does.

You can still do that for us all, can’t you, Lerato? ’

I swallowed hard, feeling as though I might start sobbing on the spot. Really? Me in charge? Again?

‘Lira doesn’t exactly look happy with the idea,’ said Sedi, narrowing her eyes at me.

‘You’re twenty-nine years old. Why exactly do you need taking care of, again?’ I asked, trying desperately to keep my cool, although I could feel my temper begin to flare.

Because here my parents went again, essentially saying that they would be out of contact for six whole months.

If there was an emergency, sure, they’d want to know, but otherwise I was on my own as far as they were concerned.

I should be used to it by now, and yet I didn’t see why I should have to be. Sedi and Nolo were grown adults.

I surreptitiously pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent a hasty message to Jack.

This was bad, bad, bad and if I didn’t get out of here immediately, I was going to tell everyone what I really thought of them, and that definitely wouldn’t help my case in the long run.

Perhaps they didn’t realize how long they’d been taking me for granted, assuming I’d be here at their beck and call forever, ready to step in whenever they needed me.

What about my hopes and dreams? Had a single one of them even thought of that?

Can you fit in a session?

I watched as Jack read the message and began typing immediately.

I’m at home. Come over.

I didn’t need asking twice, and pushed back my chair, leaving my unfinished meal on the plate. I was acutely aware of everyone’s eyes on me as I left the room without a word.

Jack opened the door to his apartment and pulled me inside, pushing me up against the door once he’d closed it.

‘To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?’ he asked, taking my head in his hands and kissing me hard before I could answer.

When we paused to take a breath, I answered him. ‘Awful family dinner. Needed to get out of there.’

He nodded. ‘Fancy a glass of wine? You can tell me all about it.’

I shook my head, taking his hand and leading him towards the bedroom.

‘Talking about it won’t help, but I think I know what will,’ I said, laughing.

I glanced over my shoulder at him, expecting him to join in, but he wasn’t smiling at all.

In fact, he looked all serious and a bit pissed off.

I hesitated – did he feel like I was using him, or something?

And in a way I was, if I was honest with myself.

But that was how it had always been between us – just sex.

No commitment, no drama. Had he expected me to change my mind?

Had he changed his? I’d assumed I wasn’t the only PT client he gave extra attention to, but what if I’d got it all wrong?

‘You okay?’ I asked.

‘Sure,’ he said, laying down on the bed, watching me as I began removing my clothes.

Whatever he’d been feeling when I skipped his offer of his drink seemed to have passed, but I made a mental note to ask him about it. Just not right now.

Letting my jeans fall to the floor, I crawled coquettishly on top of him, trying to ignore the memory of the shouts of ‘ Come back, Lira! ’ and ‘ What are we supposed to have done?! ’ ringing in my ears – I hadn’t been able to get out of there quick enough.

Clearly, my family had decided what I was and what my life would look like, and as far as they were concerned, it was convenient for them to keep it that way.

‘How can I help you forget about your dinner?’ asked Jack, looking me up and down appreciatively as I straddled him.

‘I’m sure you can think of something,’ I said, leaning forwards and taking my weight on my hands so that my breasts were brushing against his face. I knew he liked it when I did that.

‘Mmm, so good,’ he said, taking one nipple and then the other into his mouth.

And yet, as I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensations coursing through my body, gyrating on top of Jack to indicate how much I wanted him right now, it was Gabriele’s face that popped into my mind’s eye: his dark wavy hair that I suddenly wanted to feel between my fingers; his cool, brown eyes I wanted watching me.

I gasped, not in ecstasy like Jack probably imagined, but because I was shocked that I’d gone there, after all this time, after how hard I’d tried not to think of him in that way.

I popped my eyes open again, slid off the remaining underwear I had on and tried my absolute hardest to focus on Jack and only Jack.