A Dog's Life

Rhian knocked gently on the master bedroom, waiting patiently for a sign it was ok to come in.
“Sarah?” She heard footsteps and finally the door cracked open. “It’s just me,”

“Hi,” Sarah bit down her lip, embarrassment of what Rhian had just seen and heard flooding through her. It felt awkward. These people were Zack’s best friends, she was an intruder in their lives.

“I saved your bacon from Matt,” Rhian smirked. “Can I come in?”

“You’’re holding bacon of course,” Sarah tried to sound a little calmer than she felt. Rhian stepped into the room passing the bacon sandwich to Sarah who faked her smile.

“So I guess you got the Jenny hate down there,” Sarah nodded watching the red head walk towards the window and stare out into the back garden. “She wasn’t like me or Niki, Brian’s wife, she hated that,” Sarah plopped herself down on the end of the bed, taking another bite from the sandwich. “You’ll like Niki,” Rhian added with a smile. “We’ve known the boys a while now, Niki longer, but she introduced me to them, and I realised they weren’t the rockstars I thought they’d be,” Sarah wasn’t sure where this story was going but she was interested. “They are best friends, with a love for music, hot women and a good party,”

To Sarah that sounded like a normal stereotypical rockstar.

“However, the boys have lethal business minds, completely loyal to the family, friends and in particular their girls,” Rhian was staring at Sarah. “Jimmy and Brian complete whores, but not anymore, I know that is the same for all the boys, they are loyal Sarah,” She kept her gaze with Rhian, she knew what she was saying. Zacky had made a mistake but it still hurt to hear.

“He loves her,”

“Of course he did, she was his fiancée, for some mad reason,” Rhian shrugged. “I can’t understand their relationship, I think it was just safe and with all his mates getting with girls and going steady, he felt he had to! Zacky is a good guy, one of the best, and he would never ever string a girl along, not one he really cared for, he made a mistake.” She moved away from the window and came to sit by Sarah.

“Brian told us there was someone new, the boys tend to be a bit secretive about girls if the girl is someone really special, we’ve all heard about Johnny’s whores, but when they really care for the girl they get protective, and Sarah he really cares about you!”

“He said it,”

“You and him are new, give it time, give him a chance, Zacky is one of the good guys,”

“Why isn’t he up here?”

“Because he’s so scared he’s fucked up, I beat him to it,” As if on cue Rhian heard a soft knock on the door. “I’ve never seen him look that scared, that means something,”

“Thanks,” Sarah whispered back finishing the last of her sandwich, knowing she needed to face Zacky.

“Stay for the BBQ this afternoon, please?”

“Oh I-“

“You’re staying!” Rhian smiled with wink. “Right Baker get in here,” She called knowing he was still waiting outside. Rhian opened the door with a smirk. Zacky looked straight at her and noticed the smile on her face.

“What?” He muttered as Rhian just smiled. Before he realised what she’d done he was holding the back of his head in pain.

“You hit me!” He glared at her. Rhian shrugged.

“I like her, don’t fuck it up Baker,” She warned him. “Or there will be more violence to come! She’s cool,” Sarah couldn’t help but smile over Rhian’s shoulder as she saw Zacky nod his head, still rubbing

“I don’t fucking plan on,” He replied as Rhian walked away and left him standing facing Sarah. “Hey,” His voice was low, his hand went to the back of his neck and he rubbed his skin nervously. “I know I already fucked up, and I’m sorry!”

Sarah just nodded taking in everything about Zacky. He was taller than her, with thick black hair, and gorgeous green eyes. He wasn’t smiling, instead he was solemn with the rings on his soft lips glinting in the sunlight. He had a vengeance university vest on, showing off his brightly coloured arms, the leopard print tattoo stuck out the most in her mind; she loved it. His legs were clad in ripped, black, denim jeans, but his feet were bare. He was one of the most gorgeous men she had ever laid eyes on.

And here he was looking for her forgiveness.

“Sarah it was a slip, it means nothing, fuck I’m glad she’s gone, she fucked my life up!” He paused and shook his head. “I fucked my life up staying with her, we weren’t meant to be together,” He walked round and sat at the head of the bed, pushing up the pillows behind him. Sarah turned to face him, but he patted the bit of the bed next to him, encouraging her to sit with him.

“Zacky its ok, it just hurt a bit,” Sarah smiled at him running her finger tips down that inked skin and pushing them softly into his palm.

“A bit?” Zacky raised his eyebrows. “No lies,”

“A lot, I thought I was being messed around for a second there it all hit me, I thought I was pushing you away from the girl you loved,”

“That’s fucking mad-“

“I have a few issues, self-confidence being one of them,” Sarah whispered, closing her eyes. She felt his arm go around her shoulder and him pull her closer.

“My sisters partner, he was a dick,” Sarah whispered. “He-“She paused deciding that they might as well go all out now for the truth. “He tried it on with me,” Zack’s eyes shot up to hers, his hand tightening around hers. “He blamed it all on me, she hates me!” Although she never dreamed of breaking up Cliff and Louise that was how it felt, she felt like she was the one to blame.

“Fucking cocksucker,” Zacky growled moving away from Sarah, but she grabbed his arm.

“My own sister blames me, Shell my other sister, she phoned me yesterday morning told me Cliff,”

“Cliff?” Zack tried to hide the smirk.

“Yeah cocksucker has a name,”

“A gay name!” Zacky’s laughter was contagious. Sarah couldn’t help giggle as Zack attempted a few Cliff Richard numbers. This was why she was him, he made her smile, he made her laugh, and he was someone she could relax around.

“Sar, I don’t love her anymore,” He whispered as the singing stopped and Sarah relaxed into his body. “I’ve fallen for this incredible girl, she lights up my life and makes me realise how fucking awesome life is,” Sarah smiled twisting her head to face Zacky. She didn’t need an “I love you”, she didn’t need to know how he felt, she just needed to know he wasn’t playing her. “Come here,” He pressed his lips hard against hers, the snake bite rings pushing against her lips, begging to be allowed back. Sarah felt the rush of excitement every time he was close to her, and this moment was no different. He kissed her with passion, his hand cupping her cheek, fingers stroking her soft skin.

“Are we good?” He whispered letting their lips break apart, but not allowing her to move.

“I need just one more kiss to decide,” She whispered a flirtatious smile breaking across her swollen lips.

“Fuck,” Zacky whispered running his thumb across her lips. “That can be sorted, but on one condition,” Sarah nodded. “You stay here today, come to the BBQ this afternoon, hang out with us today, let me show you off to everyone as my girlfriend?” Sarah bit down on the pad of his thumb as it skirted across his lips.

“Girlfriend?” She smiled with a nod. “Zacky Bakers girlfriend,”

“Sounds fucking good,” He smirked pulling her onto his lap. “Now how about that kiss,”

Sarah stretched out on the cushioned sun lounger, curling her toes and taking in a deep breath. This was the perfect way to spend her afternoon. To her right was a table of iced drinks and snacks. To her left Rhian was stretched out on another sun lounger, sun glasses covering her eyes, soaking up as much of the summer sun as possible.

The guys were dotted around, Jimmy was mixing cocktails, Johnny was stretched out on another sun lounger, while Zacky and Matt were trying to light to huge BBQ on the patio. Rhian had said Niki, Brian’s wife, would be turning up later with the food and rest of the guys. That had given the girls a good few hours to relax and enjoy the Californian sun.

Zack had taken her back to her flat, giving her the chance to grab more clothes and Spike. Zack had suggested a bikini and Sarah had spent a good 15minutes debating if she could wear one in front of his friends. The bruising was fading slowly on her body, but it was still there for all to see. She’d finally decided on the bikini with a cover up.

“Hey beautiful,” Sarah slipped her glasses down her nose when she heard Zacky’s voice so close to her, he knelt down by the side of the lounger, his hand resting her stomach as she smiled back at him. “Enjoying yourself?”

“Of course, you have such a lovely place,” She added gazing around. “Can’t wait to try the pool, as soon as this is off!”

“I recommend the hot tub,” Rhian added, not moving from her sunbathing position.

“There’s a hot tub?” Sarah gazed round trying to spot it.

“Over there,” Zack smirked pointing to the tub she’d managed to miss. “You’ll love it, Je-everyone does,” He quickly corrected himself but Sarah had noticed, she just tried not to. “I came over to offer you a drink?”

“Ooo yes please, not one of Jimmy’s cocktails though,” She added in a quick whisper, earning a snort of laughter from Rhian.

“Of course, something safe coming up, Rhi?”

“Get me something Jimmy made,”

“Such a good girlfriend,” Zacky mocked her as she shrugged with a sweet smile. “Jen never went near his cocktails either, her and Niki would neck them back,” He pointed to Rhian who was still smiling but her eyeline had moved towards the backdoor.

“Niki’s here,” Mention of the “ex” called for a quick conversation change. Sarah turned to see a woman walking in with bags of shopping, a few men following her carrying the rest. Zack leant in and kissed Sarah softly before making his way around the pool towards Matt and the BBQ again.

“No one worry the party is here!” She called waving at the small group in the garden.

“You alright?” Rhian called with a wave, peering over her sunglasses at Niki. “That’s Niki, her husband Brian, JB and Matty, their twins, and Dan,” She pointed at each one for Sarah who was watching with interest.

“Put it in the kitchen, I’ll be there in 5,” Niki told the men, as she walked towards Sarah and Rhian. Sarah watched her with interest, she was at 5’6 with shoulder length black hair, and flashes of bright blue ran through it. She had a real rock chick attitude about her, her strappy top and ripped denim shorts showed off an array of ink covering her toned body. “Hey sug you alright?” Niki smiled pushing her sunglasses up her head. Rhian slowly stood up and hugged her friend before turning to Sarah.

“This is Sarah,”

“Hi,” Niki smiled broadly at her with a wave.

“She’s Zack’s new girl,”

“Oh!” Niki raised her eyebrows sharing a knowing smile. “You’re the fucking girl that’s got Vee all hot and bothered! You go girl!” Sarah couldn’t help but smile. “What’s the cast from?”

“Car accident,”

“Car accident?” Niki gazed over the girl again before looking to Rhian quizzically who just nodded with a smirk.. “Shit, you’re that girl! You know my man?” Sarah nodded.

“They pretty much saved my ass,” Niki nodded with a smile.

“You cook?”

“I can do bits,” She waved the cast around. “It gets in the way!”

“We can find you something to do sug, right ladies shall we get started?” Rhian nodded grabbing her t-shirt to put back on, tanning session over.
Sarah followed the girls to the patio, where the boys were starting up the grill and getting the drinks table sorted.

“Yeah me and Jen went there last year, it was fucking amazing man, best week I swear,” Sarah could hear Zacky talking about something. “Perfect beaches, white sand, clear blue water, all inclusive she wore a fucking bikini all week, ho-“

“Why have the clothes gone back on?” Jimmy suddenly screeched cutting Zack off mind flow. He’d spotted Sarah listening and knew talking about ex’s probably wasn’t the best idea right now. The boys turned round. “I expected better of you,” Jimmy muttered rolling his eye in fake disgust. He still handed his girlfriend a crazy colored drink with a kiss.

“Get over it,” Rhian laughed. “We’re off to make you lot food, so quit complaining,” Zack gazed towards Sarah who was still a lot more reserved than usual, he couldn’t decide if it was all the new people or the earlier episode.

“You again,” Sarah turned hearing a familiar voice. “Nice to see you without blood or vomit involved,”

“Brian!” Rhian screeched slapping him hard. The tall man, Sarah had come to know as Brian, just laughed and shook his head. His arm went around Niki’s waist as he gazed towards Sarah.

“How ya feeling?”

“Better, thank you, I’m sorry you seem to always see me at my worst,” Brian just chuckled and shook his head. Sarah took in the couple, who seemed perfectly matched in attitude and looks, and there was clearly a lot of love there. Just from the way Brian tilted his head to rest it on his girlfriends head, pressing a soft kiss against her hair before he did, showed the intimacy.

“You look much better, when does the cast come off?”

“Soon, few weeks away, I’m counting down the days, it’s such a drag,”

“Can you have sex with a cast on?” Everyone went silent as Johnny asked the question, ten sets of eyes fell on the shorter guy. Zacky elbowed him hard in the ribs, while Jimmy punched him in the arm.

“What the fuck is wrong with you short shit?” Niki rolled her eyes in disgust. “She’s new you’re fucking scare her off,”

“Oh it’s ok,” Sarah smiled at Johnny. “So what can I help your girls with in the kitchen?”
Niki smiled broadly and looked towards Zack.

“Her I like, she can stay,”