On Friday night, she walked into Green and passed straight through to Blue. She walked with purpose, her head up, her new persona in place. Tonight, she’d had no trouble getting herself mentally ready for a visit to the club. Tonight, she’d disappeared into a cold, unemotional place that she found frighteningly easy to inhabit. Tonight, she’d strapped on before leaving the house, fitting the dildo snuggly into her faded blue jeans, the ones that fit over it best, and she’d slipped a couple of condoms into her left back pocket and small sachets of lube into her back right.

She rarely used a dildo, but tonight it was necessary. Tonight, she couldn’t face the emotional intimacy of having her fingers buried inside a woman or her tongue on their clit. Forget about having them do the same to her.

Tonight, she was ready to fuck anyone who wanted it, any which way they wanted it. It didn’t matter who as long as they helped her forget.

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 10

Manchester, 2013

Mandy pushed open the door to the cafe and spotted Rebecca sitting at one of the small tables in the corner. She looked as beautiful as ever, but even from this distance, Mandy could see something was wrong. Rebecca’s face was clouded, her eyes looking dull and red-rimmed. She ordered a latte and marched across to Rebecca. They were meeting in Rebecca’s local coffee shop, just round the corner from where she lived off Cheetham Hill Road. It was uber-trendy, and Rebecca had often spoken of its chic appeal. Mandy had barely a glance for the place today as it was clear her friend needed her full attention.

“Hey,” she said, tilting her head to one side. “What’s up, babes?”

Rebecca sighed and smiled weakly. “Hey, you. Thanks for coming.”

“Any time, you know that. So, tell me, what’s going on? You sounded pretty upset on the phone, and you look it now.”

Rebecca sighed and looked away for a few moments. When she looked back, her eyes were misted with tears.

“James…left me. Three days ago. It seems he and his secretary have been getting…close…for some time now. He’s decided that his future is with her, not me, so we’re over. Just like that.”

“Oh shit,” whispered Mandy, reaching across the table to take Rebecca’s hand. The tears fell then, and Rebecca tried not to sob out loud but failed. Mandy released Rebecca’s hand long enough to dive into her bag for tissues. Rebecca took one and blew her nose. Mandy held her hand and squeezed it tight, patiently waiting for Rebecca to speak again.

“I know we hadn’t been together that long, but I thought things were going pretty good. Seems like I was always just a means for him to try and stop thinking about his secretary, only it clearly didn’t work.”