All About Them Read online

  This is so fucked up. I have been trying to understand this whole time, to deal with my life, my emotions. God, we should have talked much sooner. We’ve wasted so many years apart.

  I’m holding myself still, trying to process it somehow, but deep down, I want her more than I can hate her.

  Instead of pushing her away, screaming at her that it’s too late, that she had her chance to make it right, I bring her mouth to mine. I’m no longer in control of myself. This is it. She has finally explained everything and I can only hope that this isn’t one of her tricks.

  We kiss fast, and with so much passion that the electricity crackles between us. Our skin connects, burning with heat and liquid desire. I grab her face and back her up to the wall, not even knowing what I’m doing. Utter euphoria overpowers me and I know this can’t end any other way. We are meant to be, we were always meant to be.

  “I love you, Dora, so fucking much … so much,” I rasp, stopping for a second, only for a moment so she can hear me.

  “I love you too, but just stop talking and fuck me. I can’t bloody wait any longer,” she says, panting. I laugh and start removing her clothes, kissing her at the same time. She fights with my T-shirt, but when my mouth nibbles her neck, she lets go of that sexy moan. After that I nearly rip the rest of her clothes off. Everything is happening quickly, and I can’t wait to be inside her.

  I run my hands down her body, touching her silken skin, kissing her breasts, arms and belly. I need her more than anything. She is my Dora and I won’t let her out of my sight ever again.

  Then it’s just us and our naked bodies, skin to skin, lips to lips. We are lost in each other, and the problems disappear. The fear is pushed back, because it’s finally just us.

  Epilogue

  Dora

  We are on our way to Gargle, to visit old friends and remind ourselves that once in a while it’s good to slow down and have some time away from our busy life in London.

  India and Oliver decided to move back to their hometown, Gargle, very recently. When Jacob told me that Oliver invited him for a barbecue, I was skeptical and slightly scared. It was all my fault anyway. After so many years I didn’t even bother to keep in touch with India. The day that I started working for Dad, I decided to cut all the ties with that part of my old life. I wanted to erase Jacob out of my memory and India became part of the cut.

  We had been friends for years, but after my breakup with Jacob I buried my past deep inside me, sacrificed the years of friendship and kept believing that people from the past didn’t deserve being part of my new life.

  Now I feel ashamed. India had always pushed for me to be happy, so it’s going to be difficult seeing her after so many years.

  “Are you sure that they won’t mind us coming over? It’s been five years,” I say to Jacob, trying not to show him that I’m tense. He must be pretty tired already, driving and trying to concentrate on the road. We’ve talked about this for a while, but he doesn’t believe there is an issue.

  India had tried to keep in touch. She called, texted and emailed, but I never bothered to respond. She was happily in love, married Oliver a year later, and I couldn’t swallow the fact that everyone around me was moving on with their lives, and I was still in that deep dark hole.

  “Dora, chill out. They are excited, and India can’t wait to see you,” Jacob mutters, repeating the same thing once again, and I sink back into my seat, feeling guilty.

  A moment later Jacob pulls in front of a large detached house in a quiet secluded street. My stomach contracts slowly. Things are going well for us and I don’t want to spoil this now by pulling skeletons out of the closet. A few months ago I moved into Jacob’s apartment in Chelsea and I have never been happier.

  Jacob is getting on well in the new team and things with his mother are sort of back on track. They are talking. After the apology article came out, Jacob called her and they had a long heart-to-heart conversation. It’s still kind of a work in progress, but Jacob seems positive about the future.

  Jacob leans over and kisses me for very long time, and the butterflies in my stomach are suddenly alive; the sexual heat automatically melts the toxic thoughts away. My body demands more, but this is not the time or the place. He pulls away, breathing hard.

  “Come on then, let’s do this,” he says, winking at me.

  Gargle brings a lot of good memories to me, so I really need to get a grip. India won’t hold a grudge against me. She will understand that I went through a bad phase. We both get out of the car and moments later Jacob knocks on the door of their superb home. We don’t have to wait long. Oliver Morgan opens the door eyeing me and Jacob with that cracking smile on his face.

  “Bro, hey, how you doing? Long time no see,” he cheers and embraces Jacob into a tight hug.

  “Dora? Oh my God, is that really you? I can’t believe it.” I hear a squeaky voice behind Oliver and a second later I’m being swept off my feet. India literally jumps on me, hugging me enthusiastically, talking loudly, incoherently. She is squeezing me so hard I can’t breathe properly. She must have put a bit of weight on over the years, because there is much more skin on her now than there’s ever been.

  “India has been eagerly anticipating this evening for the past week,” Oliver says, shaking his head when India finally lets me go. I can finally take a good look at her, and oh boy she looks stunning and oh … huge.

  “Pregnant? You’re expecting!” I shout, completely stunned, noticing her beautifully swelled belly. She is blooming, her hair glowing, shiny and long. Jacob is grinning from ear to ear, not looking surprised at all.

  “Yes, a girl. We found out a couple of weeks ago.” India beams, rubbing her bump. “Anyway, why are we all standing here? Let’s go to the back. Oliver has a barbecue going and we have so much that we have to catch up on.”

  Then she grabs me by my elbow and starts dragging me through her hallway. The boys are right behind us. I’m overwhelmed with emotions, thoughts racing through my head.

  “I’m so glad that you guys decided to come. Oliver has been trying to keep it a secret, but I knew that something was going on, if you know what I mean,” she keeps saying.

  “Yeah, I was pretty stunned too, you know, since we didn’t really keep in touch,” I admit.

  “Well, don’t worry about it. Oliver and I are thrilled that you guys are back together. We always knew that you loved each other. Don’t worry, we won’t lose touch this time around. My baby girl will need a godmother,” she says casually, as we walk into the back garden.

  I stop abruptly and look at her, like I’ve been struck by lightning.

  “Godmother? Are you serious?”

  She beams and looks at Oliver, who is slapping Jacob on the back, laughing about something. Ever since he proposed to her during the rugby match they probably haven’t spent a day apart. My mind is going through a total overload.

  “Dora, I love you and I never forgot how close we were before. And if you are Lilli’s godmother then you will have no excuse but to keep in touch,” India says.

  I look at Jacob and when I see that pride in his eyes my heart starts beating exceptionally fast. This whole thing feels surreal. There is a tiny human in India’s belly, my India that I haven’t seen for years.

  I don’t do emotional, but right now I can’t hold myself back any longer, and tears fill my eyes. I wasn’t expecting such a warm welcome, or even a smile. I bring my palms to my face, trying to keep it together. Everyone is staring at me, looking surprised.

  “I would be privileged to be your baby girl’s godmother, India,” I manage to choke out. She starts hugging me again, and then I let go of a happy sob. My heart hammers between my ribs way too quickly. Jacob is pulling me into his arms, kissing my forehead.

  “Amazing. I think it’s time to open the champagne,” Oliver states.

  “Dora, I’m sorry, is this too much? I have been so hormonal lately. We should have sat down first.”

  “No,” I say, wiping my t
ears away. “I’m only emotional and so happy. You just took me by surprise,” I say, my voice vibrating. Then we all hear that unmistakable pop and Oliver starts pouring champagne into the glasses set on the table. Our old friends look so happy. Everything worked out well for them, and now that I have Jacob things are looking up for us too.

  “To friends,” Oliver announces, lifting his glass up for a toast.

  “Yes, to amazing friends and your baby girl, bro,” Jacob says, wrapping his arm around my waist. When we all toast, I feel like nothing can be as perfect as this. I’m surrounded by my old friends and a man that never stopped loving me. I’m finally happy.

  The end

  Author’s note

  Thank you for reading “All About Them (Love & Hate series #2.5)”

  If you enjoyed this first instalment, please leave a review.

  Other books by Joanna Mazurkiewicz:

  Cutter (Contemporary romance)

  When the clock strikes (Paranormal Personnel Saga # 0.5)

  £6.19 per Witching hour (Paranormal Personnel Saga #1)

  Past the Witching hour (Paranormal Personnel Saga #2)

  Half Past the Witching hour (Paranormal Personnel Saga #3)

  Quarter to the Witching Hour ((Paranormal Personnel Saga #4)

  The Darkest Hour (Paranormal Personnel Saga #5)

  The Whispers of the Sprite (The Whispers Series #1) (Currently free)

  The Dark Night Whispers (The Whispers Series #2)

  Her Secret Whispers (The Whispers Series #3)

  My Last Whispers (The Whispers Series #4)

  The Whispers Series, book 1,2,3

  All about you (Love & Hate series #1)

  All about me (Love & Hate series #2)

  In Too Deep (Love & Hate series #3)

  Skimming the Surface (Love & Hate #4)