Kimberley Chambers 3-Book Collection: The Schemer, The Trap, Payback. Kimberley Chambers

screamed with laughter.

      ‘Don’t drive Barry mad, Danni,’ Steph said, sternly.

      ‘She’s fine. I love kids and am hoping to start a family of my own soon,’ Barry replied, looking Stephanie in the eyes.

      Stephanie ignored Barry’s comment and walked to the front door with Tammy and Richard. ‘I wish you didn’t have to bloody go so soon. I’m gonna feel a right plum now,’ Steph whispered in her pal’s ear.

      Tammy’s earlier jovial expression suddenly turned serious. ‘Barry still fancies you, I can tell by the way he keeps looking at you. Be very, very careful. I don’t trust him one little bit,’ she whispered back.

      Stephanie nodded fearfully, then watched Tammy and Richard hold hands as they walked up the driveway. ‘Enjoy your evening. I’ll bell you tomorrow, Tam,’ Steph shouted as she shut the front door. Tammy had been fine with Barry’s presence earlier. She had been laughing and joking with him all evening, so what on earth had changed her mind?

      Wayne and Barry were deep in discussions about the old days when Stephanie walked back into the room. Tyler was asleep on the floor and Dannielle’s eyes were shutting as she sat next to Barry with her head leaning on his arm. ‘I’m going to put the kids to bed, Wayne. They’re knackered, bless ’em.’

      Wayne stood up. ‘I’ll take ’em up. You have a chat with Barry.’

      ‘No, I’ll take them up,’ Stephanie insisted, glaring at her fiancé.

      Wayne had been necking the champagne as though it was going out of style and took no notice of Stephanie’s look of hatred. ‘Don’t be rude, babe. Bazza’s our guest and you’ve barely spoken to him yet. You’ve been so busy with the dinner and stuff,’ Wayne said, lifting Tyler off the carpet. ‘Come on Danni, bed,’ he said, prodding his daughter’s arm.

      Dannielle stood up and rubbed her tired eyes. ‘Will you come to visit us again?’ she asked Barry.

      Barry smiled at her. ‘Hopefully, but I’m not sure when. I live in another country, you see.’

      ‘You’ll see Barry again, don’t worry,’ Wayne said, as he ushered his daughter out of the room.

      Stephanie felt incredibly uncomfortable as she sat in the armchair opposite her ex-boyfriend. Should she apologize about betraying him in the past? Or should she just let sleeping dogs lie? ‘I’m sorry to hear about Jake the Snake. How is your mum?’ she asked, saying the only other thing she could think of.

      Barry stared at Stephanie intensely. ‘You know my mum, Steph. I think she’s more worried about what Jake’s left her in his will rather than his actual death.’

      ‘Wayne said that you’ve done well for yourself in Spain. What exactly do you do?’

      ‘I rent out properties. I bought my first one at eighteen and I now own a dozen or so. What about you? Did you ever get that good job up town that you always used to bang on about? You talk posher now, so I guess you did.’

      ‘I worked in a bank for a couple of years. But very soon I will be setting up my own beauty salon, and I can’t wait. I’ve done all the training, passed all my exams and Wayne is buying me the salon as a wedding present. I’ve chosen that instead of a honeymoon,’ Stephanie replied, proudly.

      Barry raised his eyebrows. How the hell was Wayne going to afford a beauty salon if he was as boracic as he proclaimed to be? Not wanting to piss on Stephanie’s parade just yet, Barry grinned at her. ‘I wish you all the luck in the world with that, girl. You always had a good brain on you, so I’m sure it will be a roaring success.’

      ‘Wayne said that you’re engaged now. Do you and your girlfriend live together?’ Stephanie asked, genuinely interested.

      ‘No, we don’t live together yet, but she stays round mine most weekends. Jolene, her name is, and she still lives with her parents in the week. Do you wanna see a photo of her?’

      Stephanie nodded, then sat next to Barry on the sofa so she could look at it. ‘Wow, she’s really gorgeous.’

      ‘Cheers. She’s a good girl actually.’

      ‘So, when you getting married?’

      ‘I don’t know yet. We’ve not long got engaged. Jolene’s only eighteen, so we’ll probably wait a year or two,’ Barry explained.

      ‘Well, I’m glad you’ve met the girl of your dreams. She is seriously pretty.’

      ‘She ain’t as pretty as you though, is she?’ Barry said, winking at Steph just to make her feel awkward.

      Feeling unnerved by Barry’s cheeky comment, Stephanie stood up. ‘Let me get you another drink, your glass is empty.’

      Barry grinned as Stephanie topped him up with champagne. He was determined to make her feel as uncomfortable in her own home as he possibly could. It appealed to his warped sense of humour. ‘Ere, do you remember when we used to hop over all them back gardens to get to my muvver’s house? I know we weren’t together long, but we did have a laugh, didn’t we, Steph?’

      Stephanie didn’t know how to reply. Reminiscing about her past relationship with Barry somehow seemed entirely inappropriate, although she had no idea why. Nothing sexual had happened between them, so what was her problem? ‘Yeah, we did have some giggles, but we were only kids, Barry. Times change and people move on, don’t they?’ she replied, coldly.

      Barry smirked. Steph’s reluctance to elaborate over their relationship only proved one thing to him. She was too frightened to reminisce, in case she awoke feelings inside herself. ‘So, how’s your mum and her sister? I know they’re still living over the road to Chantelle, but I ain’t clapped eyes on ’em since I’ve been home.’

      ‘My mum’s fine and she still works in that baker’s. Lin’s hardly there now; she’s got herself a serious boyfriend, believe it or not.’

      ‘And what about the lovely Angela?’ Barry asked, chuckling.

      ‘Angie don’t change. Did you know she had a son with that Jason O’Brien?’

      Barry had been kept up to date with everything that had happened in Stephanie’s family over the years, but he wasn’t going to admit it. ‘No, I didn’t,’ he lied.

      ‘Aidan’s eight now and he’s a lovely little boy. Angie rarely sees him. She’s an awful mother.’

      ‘Now, why doesn’t that surprise me? Does she graft?’ Barry asked, knowing full well that Angela was a stripper.

      ‘Yeah, she works in Stringfellows as a lap dancer. How’s your dad? Wayne said that he got locked up again.’

      ‘My old man loves a bit of porridge,’ Barry replied, laughing. ‘He’s due out again soon – though how long for is anyone’s guess. Do you remember when we used to sneak up that Bishop Bonner to have a drink with him instead of going to school?’

      ‘Yeah, course I do.’

      ‘We would have made a sound couple, me and you, you know. If things had turned out differently, little Dannielle could have been mine and yours,’ Barry said, trying to keep a straight face.

      Feeling herself blush, Stephanie was relieved when Wayne reappeared. ‘Tyler never woke up and Danni fell asleep after three lines of her bedtime story,’ he said, laughing.

      ‘They’re beautiful kids, both of ’em. Yous two must be really proud of yourselves,’ Barry said, looking at Stephanie rather than Wayne.

      ‘Oh, we are, ain’t we, babe?’ Wayne replied, sitting down next to Steph and squeezing her hand lovingly.

      Stephanie was feeling more ill at ease by the second. Was Barry taking the piss? Or was he just being too nice and sickly?

      ‘Do you know what? I’ve really fucking enjoyed tonight. How long you in England for, Bal? I’d be