Vicki was enjoying the new-found attention she was getting off Mick O’Dowd these last few weeks. Although she didn’t really know much about him, because he’d clam up whenever she asked, people were saying that he was just out of prison for a nasty attack on his ex-girlfriend and that he’d previously assaulted his wife. But this was probably bollocks. Vicki knew he was on licence, because they often went to the probation office together, but Mick told her he’d been caught with a large amount of weed he’d been holding for a mate. She had no reason to think he was lying; he’d not so much as raised an eyebrow at her, let alone a hand, so why should she think otherwise?
Even Shell was warning Vicki to stay away from Mick. Now Vicki liked Shell, but she could be full-on when she had a bee in her bonnet. She thought back to their last conversation at the pub. Shell leaning in and shouting into her ear.
‘I’m telling you, Vicki, he is bad news. He has those cold eyes and I do believe all the rumours going around about him. Don’t you remember when he first met you? Think about it. He never talks about his past. He tells you some bullshit story about being on licence for cannabis … why would they put him in a bail hostel here? Why didn’t they find one in London for him? Huh!? Just be careful, OK.’ Vicki had swayed and put her drink down, promised Shell that the first sign of trouble and she’d break it off.
But now in her flat, thinking about Mick, she knew she hadn’t felt so wanted in a long time. She had even cut down her drinking, with help from her probation officer and the substance misuse team, because she didn’t want to be pissed every time they were together. This was the longest time she’d managed to stay out of prison and she wasn’t about to throw that away.
Mick was coming around to her flat in half an hour. She had just enough time to run to the shops and get a few cans in. She’d wanted to go and see his new place, but he made some excuse about it being a mess. He’d just secured a flat of his own through the probation hostel. He obviously wanted to make a good impression.
Mick arrived not long after she got back from the shop, and when she opened the door, he had a single red rose in his hand.
‘Aww, wow. No one has ever given me a flower, let alone a rose before.’ Vicki could feel herself blushing.
‘I’m surprised at that, babe. You deserve the finest.’
Vicki grabbed him by the collar and pulled him inside. Giving him a passionate kiss, she took his hands, and dragged him towards the bedroom.
A while later, she climbed happily from the bed. Grabbed Mick a cold beer, herself a cider, and joined him in the living room. Plonking herself down on the couch beside him, she took a deep breath, turned to him and asked about his time in London. ‘How come you never want to talk about it? Did something bad happen?’
‘Babe, I told you before, don’t push me on this. I just don’t want to talk about it. I’m here now. New start, new life. Why can’t you just leave it at that?’
Vicki didn’t like his tone. If it had been lighter in the room she might have seen the look in his eyes and she might have stopped there. But she carried on. ‘I was just asking, all right. You don’t have to get so fucking arsy about it. Maybe the rumours are right …’ She regretted the words the moment they left her lips.
Mick turned to her and through gritted teeth replied, ‘What fucking rumours?’
It was at that moment that Vicki saw the cold look that Shell had told her about. Mick’s face seemed to change, an icy calm came over him, and his body locked up with rage.
‘No rumours, hon. I just said that out of anger. I feel like you’re shutting me out. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.’ Mick rolled his shoulders and within seconds, he’d changed back to his old self. Now that was a side of Mick she did not want to see again.
‘Let’s go back to mine in a bit, darlin’.’
‘Sure thing. Anything you like.’
She snuggled into him hoping that all was forgiven.