Free Broke by Mandasue Heller

behind him, then ran to the window and watched as he walked away. She felt physically sick at the thought of him going home to Amy. The bitch would probably make him grovel, and then they would probably end up in bed having great make-up sex.
    Unable to bear the thought, she shook it out of her head and climbed back into bed. She had loved Mark since the first time she’d ever laid eyes on him, but she’d never dreamed she stood a chance with him, because boys like him didn’t go for girls like her, they went for girls like Amy . . . pretty, popular Amy, with her perfect blonde hair and her sickening self-confidence. That was why she’d been so shocked when Mark had taken her down the alley on his wedding night – and even more so when he’d called round later that same night to pick up where they had left off. When he’d told her that he wouldn’t be coming back, she’d refused to believe that it was over and had started hanging around at the corner of his mum’s road in the hopes of catching him on his own. But Amy and that stupid baby of theirs had always been with him whenever he came out, so she hadn’t been able to approach him. And then they had moved into their own place, and Jenny hadn’t known any of his friends well enough to ask for the address without raising suspicion, so she’d been forced to give up and accept that she had lost him.
    But now, beyond her wildest dreams, he was back in her life. And this time Jenny was determined to make sure that he stayed.
    Mark got no answer when he knocked on Steve’s door a short time later. Assuming that he and his new bird were still in bed, Mark switched his mobile back on and rang him.
    ‘Shit, man, I’m sorry,’ Steve apologised. ‘I totally forgot you were coming round. I’m in town with Layla.’
    ‘Oh, cheers,’ Mark muttered, miffed that his friend had so easily forgotten him when they had only just made up after their argument. Showed how much he cared.
    ‘Look, the match starts at five, so why don’t you come round then?’ Steve suggested. ‘I’ll get those beers and treat you to a takeaway. Oh, and sorry I didn’t answer your call last night, by the way.’
    ‘My call?’
    ‘Yeah, your name came up, but we were in the middle of dinner and I thought it’d be rude, so I switched my phone off.’
    Mark guessed that it must have been Amy calling from the house phone, and said a silent thank-you to God that she hadn’t got through.
    ‘Couldn’t do us a massive favour, could you?’ he asked. ‘Only me and Amy had a bust-up last night and I didn’t go home. If she asks, can you tell her I stopped at yours?’
    ‘Oh, mate,’ Steve groaned. ‘I’m a shit liar. She’ll know as soon as I open my mouth.’
    ‘ Please ,’ Mark pleaded. ‘She probably won’t ask, but I just need to know you’re gonna back me up if she does.’
    Steve went quiet for a moment. Then, sighing, he said, ‘Right, fine. But don’t ask me to do it again, ’cos I like Amy and I don’t want to get involved in whatever’s going on.’
    ‘Nothing’s going on.’
    ‘So why don’t you just tell her where you really were instead of dropping me in it?’
    ‘It’s complicated,’ Mark said evasively. ‘Look, I’d best go. See you later. And cheers for that.’
    Relieved to have an alibi, Mark sauntered out of the flats and set off for home with the money that Jenny had lent him weighing heavy in his pocket. Amy was doing her best, but he felt guilty every time she cried because she couldn’t afford to give the kids a treat, or go to the launderette, or put the lights or heating on. One hundred quid was all well and good, but how much happier would she be if he handed her two hundred . . . or three, or four?
    As an excitement that he hadn’t felt in weeks began to stir in his gut, Mark turned on his heel and headed back to the bus stop. Lady Luck was an elusive lover, and only a fool would turn his back on her when she came a-calling. And whatever