Another Side of My Life
Chapter 10
By Julie D Cole

We finished getting ready and I did my best to be discreet avoiding staring at Sarah parading around the room in bra and panties. For such a quiet girl she wasn’t as shy as I’d thought. She seemed completely at ease walking around half naked whilst she sought my opinion on what she should wear. I’d almost choked on my morning tea.

I’d dressed discreetly in the bathroom and ensured I had enough make-up on to be able to pass undetected in daylight. I was almost confident enough to apply it without a mirror by now so that didn’t take long. Sarah didn’t seem interested in glamming up. A touch of lippy now and then.

We were first to the breakfast room and neither of us expected to see Laura and Jane anyway thank goodness. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see Laura ever again since she was so rude and jealous of my friendship with Jack. If they did turn up for breakfast and the boys had stayed all night I doubted that they would be in any state to eat or go out. If they did turn up I’d decided to give find an excuse to give hanging out together a miss. I just needed a polite excuse.

We selected a table for six people anyway and we sat side by side eating our fruit and cereal. Then Debbie and Maggie appeared and they joined us. They looked fresh since they’d been out for a walk before breakfast. I wish I’d done the same since it was a beautiful day. They were both very polite and they came around our side of the table to greet us both with a kiss. I liked the opportunity to feel like a friend rather than a stranger who’d never met any of them before.

Maggie spoke ‘Have you guys any thought on what you’d like to do today?’

Sarah responded to say we hadn’t discussed it and we were open to suggestions. Then Debs looked over my shoulder and smiled. ‘Here is a friend of yours Jules. I’ve never known him to be an early riser.’

I turned to see Jack who greeted everybody and asked if he could join us since he was just passing. Debs insisted he sat alongside me and gave up the seat she’d taken. Jack bent down before I could stand up and gave me a light kiss on the lips.

‘Er, Morning Jack this is a surprise. I was just expecting a message not you in person.’

‘Well don’t be so disappointed. I woke up early thinking about you. I know I was going to text but I realised I was starving and I should make an effort to see my sister.’

Debs was quick.’ Oh yeah like you expect us to believe such a story.’

Jack just smiled and took my hand under the table squeezing it slightly. Then he moved it to my knee thigh and left it there for a few moments until the waitress took coffee and tea orders. I whispered to him.

‘Thanks for coming. I’m sure Debs is happy but I am so now I can relax.’

‘You’re welcome. I feel responsible for Lauras behaviour and I though you needed saving again.’

I took his hand and squeezed it and I he was so thoughtful and kind that I didn’t want to let go. What on earth was happening to me? This was the first time I’d ever felt like this about another person. I was scared of getting too close to anybody, boy or girl at school and it was the same at work. It wasn’t like I needed protection because I wasn’t scared of Laura. I’d faced bigger bullies than her growing up and just ignored them. In the end it was them that showed themselves up both boys and girls. At work I had a female supervisor who hated men but somehow I’d won her round.

As far as Laura was concerned and her obvious jealousy it wasn’t like Jack and I were any more than friends although I didn’t know what she’d think about him turning up out of the blue and sitting close to me for breakfast. Still she might be past breakfast if she’d carried on drinking and enjoying a night of passion. I didn’t know what Jack ever saw in her and anyway it wasn’t like anything could happen between us. I’d be a distant memory in a weeks time and it wasn’t like I was likely to fall in love with him.

The girls came back with huge plates of English breakfast and Maggie and Debs had fruit and yoghurts as well just to be healthy. The chefs seemed to be extra generous because Jack was with us so he and I took our turns after I poured tea for both of us. It’s amazing what can be done with one hand.

Jack introduced me to all the serving staff as his new assistant from up North who was interested in a job in the hospitality industry. He winked of course and then said he was doing a favour for a friend of his who was my fiancé. I just managed to kick him but not too hard.

I resisted the Full Monty of fried food since it looked too much and I ordered the Classic Eggs Benedict. I don’t get chance for English Muffins very often and I told Jack that my ambition was to sample this breakfast in New York one day.

‘Sounds a great idea. I hope I will get invited. New York is on my Bucket List along with Chicago and Boston.’

I smiled at him and said it was my idea for a honeymoon but Chris wouldn’t be happy.

‘Chris who? By the way where is your ring today?’

‘OMG I’ve left it in our room at the side of the bed I took it off last night to remove my make-up.’

‘I suppose I can take it as a sign. Girl finds her dream man and removes the shackles that hold her back,’

‘Funny Mr Barman. I just hope it’s there when I go back upstairs.’

‘Don’t worry this is the Rules Hotel in Kensington not some shady B&B down a backstreet in East London. We are very careful who we employ. We tend to handpick our staff. You did tick all the right boxes for an assist behind the bar.’

‘You mean I can wash beer glasses?’

‘No we have a machine for that. You have a nice smile and beautiful legs.’

‘That’s sexist isn’t it? Nobody can see my legs anyway when I’m behind the bar.’

‘I can so my job is to give you tasks that keep your calves in shape.’

‘Mm. Like working tables I suppose? Is that in the job description?’

‘No, I added that when I realised your potential. You’re being fast tracked to the top.’

‘Yes, Mr Barman you are a fast mover.’

‘A mover and a shaker of course. Remember that I have to be to prepare cocktails.’

‘Ha, ha. I must remember to keep a safe distance when you’re shaking all about.’

Breakfast was delicious and the good thing was that we were able to relax and chat with no deadlines to meet and nothing planned. It was fun listening to Debs and Jack reminiscing. They had a few stories to tell about their lives growing up together. Jack seemed like he was just as protective with Debs growing up as he had been with me to date. I had no siblings to look after me and just girls as cousins who I visited from time to time in school holidays. That was when I had my first experience of wearing girls clothes. Well it started with knickers one hot summer afternoon in their paddling pool. I had no costume with me and it had been my elder cousins suggestion. I couldn’t tell that story nor the others that followed as we did shows for our parents. It was a relief when Maggie interjected to make a few suggestions for the day that totally changed the subject.

The decision was unanimous and since Jack wasn’t on duty until 5-30 pm he could spend most of the day with us. I much preferred his company than that of Laura and hopefully she’d be too occupied to try to meet up until closer to showtime.

Since it was going to be warm the girls decided to change into shorts and Jack had some in his locker that he could wear. I hadn’t brought any but then Sarah said she had a spare pair that I could use if we went up to the room and changed. I accepted and luckily they were denim and I could match them with a top and wear sandals that I’d brought.

I tried them on after turning my back to Sarah and I was delighted to find that they fitted. I guess I was lucky that Sarah had boyish hips and wasn’t as broad across the butt as Maggie, Jane and Laura. Debs was slim like her brother but Sarah had benefited from athletics training in her school years. She had square shoulders wider than mine and a firm bust that had attracted my attention earlier.

The shorts fitted snugly and I decided I’d invest in a similar pair as soon as I had chance to go shopping again. Luckily I had a small bag to wear across my body that I’d brought to match the sandals so I transferred my money and my new phone plus some lippy and mascara. My perfume had to stay back due to lack of space although I had thought about putting my phone in a rear pocket but on second thoughts that would be asking for trouble. The strap of my bag rested nicely between my breasts and I liked the look.

Just before we left the room I had an extra squirt of perfume regretting it wasn’t an expensive brand or the one Jack had liked from the day before. Maybe we would visit a store later and I could persuade a salesgirl to let me try it again.

Just before we left the room I picked up my ring and as I put it on my finger I decided against it and put it in a pocket inside my bag. I didn’t want to wear it today since I was with friends and they’d all accepted me as Julie. I had no need to use it for protection or to stop quizzing eyes who might question my real gender. My confidence was now sky high.

I looked at my image in the tall mirror at the side of the lifts as we waited. Sarah said the shorts looked better on me than her and I turned around as best I could to get a view from the rear. She smiled so I thanked her for the complement and then she said I was welcome to keep them. I hugged her for her generosity and accepted.

I hoped that the good weather would last all week so I could tan my legs but they were OK I supposed and no different from the rest of the girls. At least here in London the sun shines most days through summer much like most parts of the continent. If it wasn’t so expensive to live here I’d like to take a job here and enjoy life. Events had already made me more cautious. Attacks and stabbings seemed to be reported every day and there had been a few terrorist incidents. The LGBT community seemed vulnerable so I couldn’t take the risk of living permanently as Julie unless I was absolutely certain I was devoid of any doubts about my sexuality.

Maggie, Debs and Jack were waiting on some sofas in the reception area as we exited the lift and they got to their feet as we approached.
Debs spoke up. ‘Nice outfit Jules. Down Jack down.’

Jack laughed and pretended to pant like a dog so we all ended up smiling. He winked at me to let me know he approved of the change of outfit and I said it was thanks to Sarah so I needed to treat her. Maggie had decided we should walk down the High Street towards the tube station and call for ‘coffees to go’ at a Swiss Coffee Shop on the way. We bought day rover tickets that gave us travel all around the central zone whilst Jack had his monthly travel card. We headed for Trafalgar Square and Oxford Street aiming to spend the afternoon in Covent Garden. We would leave Jack to let him go back to work and meet up with Laura and Jane for pre show nibbles close to the theatre.

As we went down the escalator Jack and I stood together and he put his arm around my waist to protect me from another attack. I appreciated the gesture and whispered my thanks. I wanted to snuggle up close but we reached the bottom before I had chance. The three girls walked ahead of us and Jack took hold of my hand.

‘No ring Jules. Did you forget again or was it stolen.’

‘It’s in my bag for safety. I didn’t want to risk anybody cutting off my finger to steal it.’

‘Well it suits you to go ‘au naturel’. Let your finger breathe a bit and avoid a sun line.’

‘ Well it is safe in my bag so as long as I hang onto that I suppose it’s the same as wearing it.’