Meeting Mr Write: Mr Write Trilogy Book One (4 page)

As we pulled away I watched Matthew walk into the hotel with his head hanging, completely ashamed of his twin, and I felt the lump rise in my throat. My Dad wrapped his arm around me, pulling me in towards him as the floodgates opened. The realisation that I had just been dumped, in spectacular fashion, hit me and I sobbed into my Daddy’s chest, the one place that I have always felt safe and protected.
 

A ball bouncing at my feet brings me back to the present and a little girl runs to pick it up. She smiles an apologetic smile up at me and I give her a friendly grin back. She runs back to her family and I watch as they play happily together, reminding me of my own fantastic upbringing. I want that for myself one day.

I haven’t thought about my non-wedding day in so long and when I did in the weeks that followed it, I blamed myself. I told myself and those around me that I didn’t treat him well enough. I was always too busy, too shy, too boring.  But now, with my toes in the sand and the heat from the sun on my face, I realise that I was not to blame.

Michael never treated me well, not in the entire three years that we were together. He told me what to wear, what to do, how to speak. He put me down and kept me from my family and friends. I have no idea why I put up with it for so long but at last, I have finally realised that him not showing up that day, was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I smile as I stand and start to make my way back to Pippa, Thailand seems to be having the desired effect…maybe I’ll find my inspiration here after all.

Five

Jackson

Leaving Krabi airport I feel truly calm, but then, I’m a pretty chilled guy anyway these days. I try not to really get stressed out anymore, life is too short, but walking towards my friend Steve, who is standing holding a huge sign with ‘
Jacko’
painted on it in pink, I feel really good.

Steve and I have been friends since university.
He wasn’t on my course though. We met in a bar when we got into a fight over the same girl on a night out.  After being kicked out and separated by friends we found out that she was a lesbian. So we apologised to the bouncers, went back inside and bought each other a pint, we were each other’s wing man from then on.

Steve travelled with me after we left University and he just hated it when we went back to England. He ended up moving to Thailand two years ago to run a karaoke bar, and it’s going really well for him. He’s marrying a lovely Thai girl soon and he seems really happy.

Settling down isn’t for me though. For me, the bigger picture is that there are a lot of places to see and a lot of women to fuck.

“Where are you staying then Jacko? You sure you don’t want to stay with us?” Steve asks as we get into his car and turn on the air conditioning.

I’m staying in a hotel in Ao Nang. I decided I deserved a touch of luxury.

“No mate thanks. I’m all booked up so I’m good. I’m looking forward to seeing Annie again though.”
 

Annie is Steve’s fiancée. I’m pretty sure that’s not her given name but it’s what everyone calls her.
 Steve decides to call in at the bar before he drops me off, any excuse for a beer and a chance to show off his little empire.

“When are you going to settle down then mate? Waking up next to the same woman each day is actually quite refreshing you know!” I can’t imagine that’s true.

“You know me Steve. Life’s too short to spend it all in one bed. Not that I’m knocking your choice, Annie’s a star!”

As much as settling down is not for me, Annie is definitely the best thing to ever happen to Steve.

“JJ, I think the world of you mate, but you can’t sacrifice your own happiness for fear of getting hurt. She wouldn’t have left you all if she could have helped it. You know that.” Steve sips his beer,

“Mate,
it’s not about that. Monogamy is just not for me, but you know, what is the point?  I could choose one woman to spend my life with, just like my Dad did, but then end up alone in the end anyway.”

“JJ, I know you! You’re not the cold hearted man slag you make yourself out to be. One day, the right woman will come along and knock you off your feet. If you’re not careful, you’ll scare her off before you’ve even started.” He shakes his head as though he’s genuinely worried that I’m going to die alone, “Come on, let’s get you to base camp. I’ve got to get back to the missus.”

After a catch up and a lecture, Steve drops me off at the hotel. I’ve booked for nine nights before I head up north. It’s set away from the main hub of Ao Nang, but within walking distance of everything. I’ve hired a moped and it’s waiting for me when I arrive.

“Sawasdee Ka, Welcome.”

The receptionist ‘wais’ me, and I return the gesture. After checking my details, she smiles and she hands me a room key, then directs me to follow the boy that has arrived to carry my bags. I’ve gone all out and treated myself to the penthouse suite. It has its own sun terrace balcony, which gives me an amazing panoramic view out over the bay, and of the ladies sunbathing around the pool. I can’t complain. I might as well make the most of my money while I have it, writing travel guides doesn’t pay exceptionally well, but the BBC series on South America that I made last year certainly did. I’m not really a splurger. I travel on Gold Square expenses and save most of the money I make so I can afford to go crazy every now and again.

Technically, I’m in Thailand to work, but it would be rude to not spend at least one day doing nothing, so I get my trunks on and it’s time to chill out. For the hell of it, I decide to take Miss Rosie Alvez with me and see what this romance thing is all about.

I grab a cold beer from the mini fridge and get comfortable on a sun bed. I prop myself up and switch on my iPod. Jack Johnson’s velvet tones fill my ears and I open the paperback.

Introduction

“Cassidy Lovell is a fucking whore”

“Tara, watch your language will you!” Sandford is conscious that there are children at the next table,

“Sandy,” I lower my voice “Seriously, it’s not enough that she fucked you over, now she has to do the same to me? We were supposed to be friends. I’m going to ruin her! The bitch will regret crossing me, I promise you that!”

Well, that’s not the start I expected…Miss Alvez has a potty mouth!

I read on and by the time I realise that I’m hungry, I’m on chapter ten. This isn’t exactly what I expected from a ‘romance’ novel. It’s funny, and the sex is pretty adventurous even by my standards. It’s the story of two girls who were best friends at university, but grew apart when they found themselves rivals for the same job, and the same man.

It’s witty, really witty actually, and I can’t help but think that I underestimated Rosetta Alvez. Of course, I know it’ll all work out in the end. Sandford will get his promotion and Tara will defeat Cassidy and will live happily ever after with Jonathan, but despite the inevitable ending, I am gripped by the writing. It’s refreshing.

Despite wanting to read on, I decide to head out for some lunch. I throw on a t-shirt & grab my iPad on the way out, never one to miss an opportunity for research. Sunset is about an hour away so I head up towards the main beach area and find a seafood restaurant with a beach terrace, perfect to enjoy the view.

***
 

Rosie

“Alvez, you rocked my freaking world last night!” Pippa declares from under her pillow and I smile.

“We aim to please Carvalho. I had a great time actually.”

“I know you did girl! I thought the days of Rosetta Alvez dancing on a table and on a stripper pole in one night were long gone. You were wicked!” She props her head up on her bent arm and grins at me “I’ve missed the real you Rosie, I haven’t seen you let loose in years. It was great.”

I’m embarrassed, not because of last night, but I feel so guilty for allowing Michael to rule me the way that he did. I’m lucky that Pippa is so oblivious to everyone around her. She never noticed that he didn’t want her around. Either that or she just didn’t care...I suspect it may actually be the latter.

“Come on Pip. I need food.”

We’re going out today so we’re up earlier than I’d like after the night we had last night, but I’m excited for the trip. We’ve booked to go on a four islands tour. First stop is Pranang beach then on to Tup Island, Chicken Island for some snorkelling and then Poda Island, with lunch provided somewhere in between. Of course, until a few days ago, I’d never heard of any of these places, but as we’re welcomed onto the speedboat by our guide I can’t keep the smile from my face.

In the days since the club sandwich I have tried to be more open to Thai food. I have had spring rolls and chicken fried rice in the hotel, green curry and even tried barbecued squid last night from a street food cart and surprisingly I really liked it. I’ve liked it all.

The lunch provided on Poda Island is fried rice in a polystyrene box, with chicken and prawns mixed in and a small bag of what looks like chilli and garlic in some sort of oil. It’s delicious and I find that the more I let go and give in to the experiences of Thailand, the more senses awaken within me. I feel happy and alive and to be honest, I never want to leave.

Pippa and I climb up on the front of the speed boat on the way back to Ao Nang. It’s exhilarating having the warm air rush past us while we zoom across the calm sea, passing the painted on rocks close up while flying fish shoot across the water on both sides of the boat. Pippa of course has been talking to a guy on the boat, a Canadian. He told her about a ‘great’ karaoke bar in town. Karaoke and great are not two words that I would normally put together, add Pippa to that mix and it’s a recipe for disaster, but once she has made her mind up about something, it’s very hard to change it.

“Ooh Rosie, I love karaoke, can’t beat a good sing song!”

“Carvalho, you know you’re tone deaf right?”

“Yes, we can’t all be perfect, but after a few cocktails who cares?” She shrugs her shoulders and smiles.

I wish I could be that carefree. My mind flashes back to the previous evening and I giggle, I can be that free, I used to be like that.

“You know what you’re right, karaoke it is!”

Back at the hotel Pippa gets into the shower and singing starts, what have I let myself in for? I put my iPod on to drown out the cats dying in the bathroom.

What to wear tonight? I decide on a short fitted dress with a black and white Aztec print all over it. I wouldn’t normally have chosen something so bold but Pippa convinced me to buy it and I actually think it looks pretty good. It’s far too hot for hair dryers and straighteners so I brush my wet hair to smooth it down and then twist it into a bun on the top of my head.

“Wow! Rosie you’re rocking that look honey!” Pippa is standing in a towel, visibly impressed that I put ‘
a look’
together “What shall I wear? I need to match your hotness.”

“Not possible Pip, I wouldn’t bother!” I say with a straight face as he smacks my behind and pushes me out of the way of the wardrobe.

A bit of mascara, blusher and Vaseline and I’m ready to go. Pippa is wearing a black strapless fitted dress and heels, her signature poker straight black hair, eyeliner and red lips...she always looks sensational.

“Wait...
photo!” She holds the camera at arm’s length and snaps a quick shot of us. Some of the photos she’s taken of the scenery are amazing, and she always manages to catch my good side in the ones of us. It wasn’t a bad shout to come to Thailand with a photographer…

Before heading out for death by karaoke, we decide to try a seafood restaurant above the beach. It looks out over the evening sea and the sun is on its way to setting, it shocks me that an everyday occurrence can be so stunning. The menu is great, there’s so much choice and the restaurant’s own fishing boat sits bobbing away on the lapping waves in front of us, so we know the catch is fresh.

We order the Thai seafood sharing platter with steamed rice, two margaritas and some stir fried vegetables. The food is delicious. I could stay here all night listening to the relaxing music, the that sort you hear in elevators of plush hotels or beauty salon waiting rooms, but Pippa is as ever ready to party,

“Come on then Mariah, karaoke calls!”
 We pay the bill, leave a tip and stand to leave.

“Pippa, Miss Alvez, how lovely to see you both again.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention, Jackson James is in the same bloody restaurant. Something about that man arouses and infuriates me in an instant. What’s even more annoying is that I now feel the need to apologise for my rudeness on the plane.

“Mr James, it's nice to see you again. Please accept my apologies for being so curt on the flight. Tiredness and
I don’t get on too well.”

“No need to apologise, women generally react one of two ways to me. The other is quite different to yours, but still.”

I can’t even find words to respond to that, he really believes he is god’s gift. I just smile and say goodnight.

“Wait, you said you’re heading to karaoke right? At Presley’s? Maybe I’ll see you there.”

I grimace at the thought but Pippa is eager for an audience

“Great, come along, I will take requests! Bye Jackson.” She flashes her sultry grin and we leave the smug James behind.

Presley’s is run by an English guy called Steve and his Thai fiancée Annie. They greet us like we’re old friends, introducing themselves and hugging us the moment we walk in.  Steve doesn’t look much older than us, but he’s obviously absorbed that Thai hospitality in his time here.

Pippa orders two cold Singha beers while we talk to Steve about his move here. When Steve has to go and serve another customer, he smiles an apology at us
for ending our conversation, and we return the gesture as we go to get a table near the windows at the front of the bar.

“What shall I sing Rosie?” Pippa looks intently through the folder for the perfect song and I can’t help my sarcasm as I reply,

“Doesn’t really matter hun, nobody will be able to tell what you’re singing anyway.” I smile sweetly.

“HA! HA! HA! Hilarious Alvez! Come on then, are you giving us a tune?”

I shake my head and raise my bottle...I’m not planning on singing, just drinking! I’m here to have fun but I don’t think I’m quite ready for that, maybe after a few more beers.

Pippa waits patiently for her name to be called. She loves being the centre of attention, regardless of whether people are laughing with or at her.

“Pippa, where are you? You’re up next.” Steve has changed roles now from barman to DJ and Pippa excitedly jumps up and saunters towards the stage.

While Pippa is murdering ‘The Greatest Love of All,’ I look around at the bar full of people cheering and singing along. I can’t help but feel proud that she’s my friend.