In Pieces Read Online Free PDF Page B

been?’ Jimmy grinned broadly. ‘Yeah, I’d love a drink. You’re a good man, Si. How about you, baby? By the way, this is my oldest mate, Si Simpson.’
    â€˜I can’t drink,’ moaned the girl. ‘It’ll make me fat and ruin my figure, and you know how difficult it is to stay at the top when you’re a supermodel.’
    Si sighed and Jimmy guffawed. ‘You look like you could put on a bit of weight.’ The model looked askance at Jimmy. Maybe she’d noticed that his Texan bar drawl had faded and crossed theAtlantic—a slight twang now underlay each coarse vowel. But Jimmy seemed impervious. ‘Well, I’ll have a beer and Daisy here will have a carrot juice.’
    â€˜Maisy, my name’s Maisy, not Daisy.’
    Jimmy roared with laughter again, drowning out the waif’s protests. ‘Oh baby,’ soothed Jimmy recovering his misplaced drawl, ‘what’s in a name? It’s the real you underneath I’m interested in.’
    Maisy poked him in the chest with a bony finger. ‘If you think you’ve got any chance of sleeping with me, then you’d better learn my name pronto, buster.’
    Si got the drinks in. He’d seen, and heard, it all so many times before.
    When he returned five minutes later, Jimmy and Maisy had disappeared.
    After a few moments, Si gave up waiting for them to return. With all that story-telling, the bugger’s probably scored his hat trick by now, he reflected; best leave him to it. Tired, Si pushed his way through the gyrating throng. God, he felt sober. This was no longer his idea of fun. Was it ever? he wondered.
    At the door he paused to recover from the effort of walking ten paces. A hand stretched out and touched his forearm. Si turned in surprise. ‘Hi, you had enough?’
    â€˜Uh huh.’ Si made to leave.
    â€˜No, don’t go yet. Let’s have a drink. Come on, don’t be shy. I don’t know anyone here and somehow I think we’d get on.’
    Si hesitated but, seeing the proffered can, he took a closer look at the girl. Finding himself transfixed by a pair of large, almond eyes, he accepted. ‘Yeah, okay. Why not? What’s your name?’
    â€˜Roberta. What’s yours?’
    â€˜Si.’
    â€˜Hi, Si.’ She smiled winningly.
    Si hated small talk, although he could manage passably well when necessary. There seemed to be no alternative, so, summoning his scant, remaining energy, he launched in. ‘Do you know who that guy over there is? The one with the bizarre bow tie? I hate bow ties. Something lacking and inadequate about them. Like wearing one’s insecurities on one’s sleeve.’
    The girl wasn’t responding. She looked at him from under hooded lids and smiled as if slightly amused by what he was saying.
    Si gave up on the small talk.
    â€˜Don’t you think this party’s awful?’
    â€˜A party from hell,’ Si agreed.
    The girl laughed attractively. ‘Yes… Exactly.’ She had a musical, soft voice, not local. He looked at her suspiciously. Was she taking the mick?
    Someone bumped into Si. ‘Are you leaving or not?’ slurred a voice. Si stood back to let them past.
    â€˜Come on. I know somewhere quieter.‘ Roberta led him to a door which slid back. Taking him by the hand, she led him into a dimly lit room. Si followed the tall, slim girl obediently and, despite promising himself that after one final drink he’d go home, his mind raced ahead. Roberta sat cross-legged on the floor and gestured for him to sit down opposite her.
    Intrigued by the stranger’s compelling presence, he did so, leaning back against the wall, legs stretched out in front. ‘So, Roberta, what are you doing here?’
    â€˜Well, I’m a student and I’ve been living in London for four months.’
    â€˜Where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking. I mean you’ve got great English,