“Now - slowly put your foot down.”

The back of my seat juddered briefly against my spine as I caused my third stall. I just couldn’t get the hang of using the clutch. Zach sighed, an agitated look twitching the features of his face. He had been patient with me, but I think he was beginning to reach the end of his fuse with me. I released my hands from the wheel and folded my arms in defeat. Thankfully, I had stalled against the curb, but although I was not in the middle of the road, it was another solid blow to my confidence.

“I give up.”

“I never took you for a quitter.” He mused.

Unclipping my seatbelt, I pushed air through my nose with a small huff and threw a glance his way. He was clothed in some designer jeans and a fitted grey t-shirt, the sleeves of the material stretching tightly over his biceps and across his chest perfectly as if had been specifically moulded for him - it was hard to concentrate with a man such as him sat beside me. The neutral car smell had slowly faded away, almost completely replaced by the heady aftershave that was being softly emitted from its source in the passenger seat. His presence was making my mind swirl with inappropriate thoughts and it impossible to even think about driving, never mind practice it.

“I’m not quitting.” I protested. “I need a break.”

“A break? We’ve only drove a few streets away from your flat.” He laughed. “And I thought you wanted to pull up at The Pegasus to show off your new car?”

“Well, now I withdraw that idea. What if Lachlan is hanging out there?”

Zach instantly tensed and pushed out his chest as if he was Hercules. “So what if he is? If he tries to talk to you I’ll-“

“Act like a possessive caveman and embarrass me again?” I jibed, but the gritty memory of my mother walking in us the day before made my insides churn and we both grimaced.

“I am not a caveman.” He defended. “I shaved yesterday.”

“You already have stubble.” I remarked, pointing at the tiny bristles of hair already beginning to sprout across his jaw.

“I can’t help it if I have huge amounts of manly testosterone.” He quirked an eyebrow devilishly, a twinkle in the light brown flecks of his dark irises.

“You’re so full of yourse-“

Zach leaned over the gear stick to reach me, his mouth hitting mine before the rest of my sentence could be said. I hummed into his lips as he held a fistful of my hair through his fingers softly.

Hand on my thighs, he began to outline shapes on the fabric of my shorts before moving to touch the skin of my leg with agonisingly slow strokes. It was sweet torture as his tongue dipped into my mouth and flicked across my own before delving deeper. I was in another world. The rough texture of his stubble and the smoothness of his lips were a tantalizing combination and I could not get enough. I hooked my finger into his waistband and he let out a groan, but before he could close his hand over my wrist to halt my exploration, I had already removed my hand.

He touched his forehead with mine as he regained his breath and I smiled mischievously. His deep brown eyes stared back into mine with carnal desire.

            “I am going to drive us back to your flat, and we are going to finish what you just started, Lou.” He asserted, his voice heavy with lust and I could feel the quakes of anticipation shiver through my veins.

*          *          *

The weekend ended, and though I was not exactly a professional driver, I was gradually beginning to get the hang of it. Imogen had rang to tell me we had a short essay to do on a historic Greek play and interrogate me about the ‘insanely tall, Armani model’ that had swooped me out of my birthday party.

As for the rebel wannabe, I had not seen a peep out of Lachlan. It was as if he had decided to imitate Patrick from Spongebob Squarepants and live under a rock. He refused to answer my texts that I secretly tapped out from the bathroom when Zach was suffering Mike’s celebrity impressions, which he insisted were ‘comedy gold’ when it was in fact closer to ‘comedy old’ and I even called him a few times.

            “I’ll pick you up after your lecture. So meet me here at half past two when it finishes, okay?” Zach told me in the car, his eyes wandering to where my white vest top swooped down a few inches above my bust. “And do you have to wear something that revealing?”

“Sorry, Dad.” I scoffed, glancing over to Noah who was sprawled across the back seats of his car. Since no one but my mum and me was insured on my little Corsa, Zach had been using Noah’s car, and today, he had apparently slept in it.

Zach wrinkled his face with annoyance at my comment, but then rolled his eyes at the blonde who had his cheek pressed up against the window uncomfortably with his legs kicked out in random directions and his arms hanging off the car seats.

“What’s wrong with him?” I queried.

“Drinking competition with Phil.” Zach responded as he cracked open the glove compartment and rummaged around until he found a box of paracetamol to chuck at Noah, who groaned at being disturbed.

“I want to die. Why is it so bright?” Noah whined, curling into a foetal position as he popped out a couple of tablets. “I need some water.”

Zach picked up the Starbucks cup and shook it a little to see if there was any of his coffee left before he passed it to Noah. “It’s not water, but it’ll get the tablets down.”

Noah sat up, his hair flat on one side and wild on the other. He took a gulp of the coffee and swallowed the tablets with a sour look on his face. “That was disgusting. Your coffee was ice cold! How long has it been sitting there?”

“Since we drove down here. You know, when you wanted to stop off for a caramel frappuccino before we came to The Pegasus?” Zach enlightened evilly, much to Noah’s disgust.

“You gave me a three-day-old coffee?” Noah choked. “What kind of friend are you? I want to be sick.”

I burst out laughing and the familiar jingle of Family Guy’s theme song tinkled through the car. Noah slipped out his phone and answered It, a serious look on his face as soon as the person on the other line answered. It was tense as Zach and I sat in silence, awaiting an explanation for the phone call until Noah finally hung up.

            “It’s Karen, she’s found out you’re here.”

“I told you to tell her I was visiting Scarlett!” Zach hissed.

“Please, do you really think she would believe that? I said you were determined to drink at every pub in the North East so you were taking the week off. The way you’ve been recently, that was much more believable.” He retorted.

I frowned. “Drink at every pub? Why would you want to do that?”

Noah looked like he wanted to leap out of the car window and never return. I had clearly hit a sour subject between them and I wanted to know exactly what it was.

“He’s just being an idiot. I think the drink went to his head.” Zach babbled, glancing at his watch. “Your lecture is going to start, you should go before you’re late.”

He leaned forward and kissed me quickly on the lips before bending over to pop the car door open on my side. It was clear he was trying to get rid of me, but instead of demanding an explanation, I just nodded and got out of the car. I’ll badger him about it later.

“I’ll meet you here at half two then.” I smiled and Zach smiled back, but his eyes were frantic and as soon as I said goodbye and began to walk away I could see him quarrelling with Noah in the car.

They’re definitely up to something, and I’m going to find out what.

*          *          *

“Are you fucking insane?” I barked at Noah, who was chewing on a Starburst he had found on the backseat of the car. He winced at the loudness of my tone, but I was past caring about his hangover. “I only just got her back! Do you want me to lose her?”

He sat up, a serious look on his face. “Lou loves you, Zach. She waited four years to see you. Why can’t you tell her you had a rough time with alcohol? She’ll understand it was hard for you too.”

“Look, I’ve been thinking; what if she realises she doesn’t want someone who’s seven years older than her? I want to get married, and I want kids Noah but I can’t just expect her to settle down when she’s so young. I don’t want to scare her off, which is exactly why I don’t want to tell her I’m an alcoholic.” I sighed. “Please, promise me you won’t tell her?”

Noah pressed his lips together before nodding slowly. “I won’t tell her, but I don’t like it. If you love her, you’d tell her. She deserves to know.”

“I feel guilty enough without you helping you know.” I gritted my teeth as I felt the overwhelming dependency beginning to creep up through my gut.

I needed a drink, and I needed one now.

Hello!
It’s been a while, I know, and it’s a little short. I apologise for the really long wait. I have an acoustic gig and I really needed to prepare for that, so I had to miss out on updating. Again, I’m really sorry!

This chapter is only the beginning of what is to come. Lou can’t get the hang of driving! What do you think about Zach not telling Lou about his alcohol addiction? Is it the beginning of the end? Tell me what you think!

Thanks for reading as always!

I love you guys!

- R x