As she lay there reflecting on her decision, she glanced over at him, realising that he was starting to stir. ‘Oh hello, sleepyhead,’ she teased.
Kev managed a weak smile. ‘Jesus! How can you be so fuckin’ cheerful after what you drank last night? My head feels like someone’s hit it with a fuckin’ sledgehammer and I didn’t even start drinking till we got back here.’
She laughed. ‘You soon caught up though.’
‘Go and get us a coffee and some paracetamols, will yer?’
Amber began to protest. ‘But I don’t know where everything is.’
‘All the drink stuff is in the first cupboard on the left, milk’s in the fridge and there’s a box on the top shelf with medicines in it. Go on, get yourself a drink while you’re at it.’
The thought occurred to Amber that as she was a guest in his home, he should really have been making the drinks. She was about to say something further but then she saw the look on his face and thought better of it. The grimace had returned and, although she still felt attracted to him, the violence he had displayed last night made her wary too, so she did as he ordered.
Her mind was in conflict. On the one hand, he had been so nice to her and on the other he had this whole other side to him. But Amber had made her decision now. She was his girl and she reasoned to herself that it would be much safer to be involved with him than to risk walking away.
37
December 2015
It was several weeks later and Amber was sitting inside a tapas bar with Kev. She’d never had tapas before or any other type of international cuisine apart from the odd Chinese from the local takeaway. She couldn’t believe how tasty it was, especially the patatas bravas with various sauces, which she was tucking into with gusto.
When they’d arrived at the restaurant, she hadn’t had a clue what to order but Kev had taken care of everything, reading through the menu and telling her about the various dishes. Then he’d ordered a high-end rioja, which was delicious. The staff seemed to have a respect for him too and were quick to attend to his every wish. Apparently, from what he had told her, he was a regular.
Amber was really enjoying herself as she sat there eating the food and getting pleasantly tipsy. That day had started with him taking her clothes shopping. It was lovely to have a man fuss over her, and she’d enjoyed his comments on the various outfits she’d tried on, telling her how gorgeous she looked.
This particular night out was typical of others she’d had with Kev since she’d started seeing him and he didn’t seem to mind taking her out once or twice a week as long as she worked on the other nights. He knew some good restaurants and seemed switched on about the right wines to drink. Because of all the fine dining she’d put on a couple of pounds since they’d been together, but she looked better for it.
On the nights when they stayed in at Kev’s apartment, he was willing to share his coke supply with her. His generosity was just one of the things she liked about him. He was also witty at times and good fun to be with. He had a dominant side to his personality and would sometimes order her about when she was in his flat, but it was something she was coming to accept. She didn’t mind helping out around the flat when he was letting her stay for free.
But as the weeks had gone on, she was realising that Kev had a moody side too. When they were getting towards the end of the meal, Kev ordered some Prosecco and they stayed at the table chatting and getting to know each other better. The staff didn’t seem to mind that they were hogging the table.
‘What kind of mum was yours when you were growing up?’ asked Kev.
Amber was taken aback at first, wondering what had made him ask that question. Bad memories of her mother’s part in what she had been through flashed through her mind, but she didn’t want to spoil the meal by confiding in him about all the secrets of her past just yet.
‘Oh, she tried her best,’ she said. ‘She wasn’t perfect by any means but then, I suppose she had her problems.’
Amber deflected before he asked any more awkward questions about her childhood. ‘Why? What was your mum like?’
Kev smiled. ‘She was perfect. I often wish she were still here.’
‘Why, what happened to her?’
Kev looked as though he was about to speak but then she saw tears forming in his eyes, and he shook his head.
Amber was intrigued as to why it made him upset to talk about his mother so instead of backing off, she asked, ‘Was it really bad?’
Kev nodded and she reached out, putting her hand on top of his. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.’
He snatched his hand away. ‘Well you fuckin’ have so just leave it, will you?’
Amber was alarmed at this rapid change of mood. ‘OK, like I say, I’m sorry.’
For a few minutes they stayed silent, both lost in their own thoughts. The mention of Kev’s mother made Amber think of the recent killing of Cora. It was scary to think that one of her crowd had been strangled to death and Amber shuddered subconsciously. If she was honest with herself, she’d never really liked Cora, but she still didn’t deserve what had happened to her. It could just as easily have happened to any one of them, and Amber considered herself lucky that at least she now had Kev to watch over her.
After a while Kev spoke. ‘Y’know, Amber, you’re really special to me. In fact,
