Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes Read Free Book Online Page A

joy was like a heroin rush.
    ‘Come and dance with me,’ she invited cheekily, and took his hand. Even though Thomas’s dun-coloured clothing seemed to stay in the one place while the rest of him attempted to dance, Tara’s world instantly became a sparkling, magical place. An alternative future had opened up for her. Alasdair was going to marry someone else, but there were other men who liked her. Who cared more about her than she cared about them. Who might eventually marry her. Her pain had stopped and she’d thought it never would. Thomas was her saviour. ‘There’s a Chinese proverb,’ she murmured, ‘that says, if someone saves your life, they own you.’
    Thomas nodded blankly, then nudged his mate Eddie and said, ‘She’s more pissed than I thought. I’m on a winner tonight.’
    They spent from Friday night to Monday morning in Tara’sflat, mostly in bed, but occasionally they got up to watch telly, Tara draped all over Thomas, snogging passionately, as Katherine and Liv tried to watch
Ballykissangel
and tune out the slurping noises.
    ‘They keep making the sound of a horse’s hoof being levered out of thick mud,’ Katherine said, when she rang Fintan to complain.
    Liv grabbed the phone from her. ‘There’s a thing in the bathroom, that has suckers, and it sticks to the washbasin. It’s to keep soap on,’ she told Fintan. ‘When you pull the suckers off the basin,
that’s
the noise Tara and this man are doing. Can we come over to your flat?’
    But Tara was thrilled with Thomas. ‘I’m mad about him,’ she announced to everyone.
    ‘Mad is right,’ Katherine muttered, scathingly eyeing Thomas in all his brown glory.
    ‘She is on the refund,’ Liv said, sagely.
    ‘Rebound,’ Katherine corrected. ‘And you’re right.’

6
    The feelings that bubbled up after passing Alasdair’s house had Tara dying to see Thomas. She almost ran from the taxi to the front door, but between her enthusiasm and all the alcohol still washing around in her system, she found it difficult to get the key in the lock. It took four attempts before she finally managed to stumble into the hall. Righting herself, she called, ‘Thomas?’
    He was in the living room, four empty Newcastle Brown cans and a Fray Bentos steak and kidney pie tin on the floor beside the sofa. ‘About bludeh time,’ he grumbled good-naturedly.
    ‘Have you missed me?’ Tara asked, hopefully. She was so glad to see him.
    ‘Maybe I have.’ He gave a tantalizing, crinkle-eyed smile. ‘And maybe I haven’t. But I’ve had Beryl for company.’
    Beryl was Thomas’s cat, upon whom he lavished attention, affection and admiration. Tara was wildly jealous of her and of the slinky, careless, ungrateful way Beryl received Thomas’s love, draping herself along him, then, on a whim, abandoning him as though it cost her nothing.
    ‘Good night?’ Thomas asked.
    ‘Yes.’ She didn’t say it was a pity he hadn’t come. Her friends and her boyfriend just didn’t get on, it was a common enough situation, only exacerbated when people tried to force it. ‘Ididn’t have a starter and wait till I show you my presents! Look at my lipstick, isn’t it magnificent?’
    ‘’S all right.’ He shrugged.
    She noticed something on the coffee table. ‘Oh, Thomas, you’ve filled in my car insurance forms. Thanks. You know how much I hate doing it.’
    ‘Don’t say I never do owt for you.’ He grinned. ‘And while we’re on the subject I booked the flicks for tomorrow night.’
    ‘What film?’
    ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
. About gangsters. Looks good.’
    ‘Oh.’ Her face fell. ‘I said I wanted to go to
The Horse Whisperer
.’
    ‘I’m not going to that bludeh girly weepy.’
    ‘But…’
    Thomas looked hurt and before he did one of his quick about-turns of mood, Tara said quickly, ‘Well, never mind. I’m sure the other thing will be good.’
    Thomas was terribly sensitive. It all went back to one Sunday morning when he was