Trust Me (Beggar's Choice #2) Read Free

enough money and in time, if
this doesn’t pan out. The thing about this job was that it fell into my lap
like an answer from heaven.
    “Any last words for us?” comes
the low voice from Sid, and I look down at him with his blue eyes shining full
of attitude and I just think fuck it.
    I’m still feeling the joy that
always courses through me when I sing and so grinning at him saucily I say.
“Please don’t call me Nelly, Mr Hudson, and as to whether you call me again–
whatever!” and then I waltz out of the room to the sound of his laughter which
is both rusty and contagious. It makes my heart hurt because it sounds
underused, while at the same time is so infectious that it makes me want to
laugh too. Looking back I see Bram staring at him in what looks very much like
amazement. Yes, this job could be more trouble than it’s worth.
    Sid
    When Nell leaves the room silence
falls for a second between Bram and I, and then he stirs and I smile because
he’s never, ever been comfortable with silences. If there’s a quiet patch you
can guarantee that Bram will fill it. “Fucking hell she could sing,” he
mutters, and I look at him and nod. Her voice was amazing. It was so strong and
had the purity and warmth of Karen Carpenter with a slight raspy undertone.
Coupled with her looks and the way that she dressed it made her an unusual and
mesmerising singer.
    I hadn’t paid her any attention
when she first walked in, beyond being irritated. We’d had a shit day and both
Bram and I had been amazed at the amount of people that come to these things
and can’t actually sing. It had been like spending eight hours in the audition
process of The X Factor, without any light at the end of the tunnel. The amount
of groupies that had turned up on the other hand didn’t actually shock us at
all. So, when she’d come in I’d ignored her, hoping that she’d go away just as
quickly as she’d come, while I focused on yet another fucking text from Leah.
The bitch just doesn’t know when to quit, and as normal whenever her name pops
up on my phone I feel the usual mix of concentrated anxiety and affection that
I’ve always had for her, and don’t want to feel anymore.
    Nell’s defiance and smart
attitude had distracted me instantly, but it was when she started singing that
all the angst drained out of me and I was transfixed instantly. When I looked
up and actually saw her I was hypnotised. She was utterly beautiful, with a
small, compelling face on which every feeling was telegraphed. Her expressions
and the way she moved that slight body made her someone that you couldn’t draw
your attention away from. She’d had a gamine quality to her and a sense of
innocence that drew me as much as it repelled me. I’d instantly resolved to
stay well away from her because the last time I felt like this was when I met
Leah, and I couldn’t do that again. It might kill me this time. Still I sigh,
because she’s fucking perfect for us.
    “Her voice would mesh perfectly
with Charlie’s,” I say, thinking of my brother’s gravelly voice which would
underscore the purity of hers.
    “I know,” Bram replies. “I think
she’s it don’t you?”
    “You know she is. Not sure why
you peddled that bullshit about consulting the others. You know they’ll take
what we say.”
    He stares at me for a second. “I
thought you might have objections.”
    “Why?” I ask defensively.
    He holds up his hands. “No reason
mate. Just the fact that you got a major hard on when she sang today, and it
might make it a bit embarrassing for you in the future when you’re on stage
with her, and you’re amongst real men that have actually learnt to control
themselves.”
    “Fuck off,” I return pleasantly
and he laughs out loud.
    Nell
    Two hours later I’m still riding
on the feelings from the audition as I bang my way into our fourteenth floor
flat, gulping in air and smelling the strong smell of menthol which over the
last three years has become the