Page 22 of Heart Match

I’m so going to regret this.

‘Maurice isn’t my father, he works with me, as does Daniel. Jules is my brother, I guess there’s no doubt in there considering he’s a younger version of me,’ he smirks, before continuing, ‘And no, they’re not going to be there. I won’t be cooking, I’m taking you to a place I like. Only you and me, if that’s ok.’

Oh God. The way he says only you and me already implies so much it shoots a thrill of anticipation through me. I’m definitely regretting this, eventually.

I fidget with my fingernails, because I don’t know how to feel comfortable in this situation. Why is it so hard to control myself when I’m standing in front of him?

‘When should I be ready?’ I ask.

I can’t even believe I’m doing this. So much for making him go away, so much for self-control.

‘Seven?’

‘Sounds good.’

I don’t accompany him to the door, I stay as far from him as I can just to be on the safe side.

Chapter Seven

I’m running and trying to push away any thoughts and expectations about tomorrow’s dinner with Luc, but my mind keeps going back to what I should wear, where he’s taking me, whether I should tell the girls or not. I’m so focused on trying not to think about him that I almost don’t notice that he’s running in the opposite direction, with his brother, Daniel and Maurice.

Both him and his brother are shirtless, wearing some kind of black elastic belt around their chests, like those that are used to measure your heart rate. When Luc sees me he smiles and nods at me, then keeps his focus on his run. It’s a vision of hell, or heaven, depending on your point of view. His torso is toned to perfection, his shorts are hanging low on his waist, and because he isn’t wearing a T-shirt, somehow his glutes are more displayed than usual.

Again I have trouble pushing my thoughts of him away. Almost an hour later I finish my run a few blocks before Fresh Me Up. When I’m about to open the door I see him there with his brother getting smoothies. Andi isn’t there today, Lesley is. She’s only there in the mornings when Andi has the day off. She’s ok, if I don’t consider the fact that she never remembers my usual order. I mean, really? I always order the same thing. But the problem is, what I see right now really bothers me. She’s all smiles and blushing while Luc’s writing something on a piece of paper, which he’s giving her back.

Oh for fuck’s sake.

The guy has a date with me tomorrow and needs to give his phone number to the girl at the café the first time he sees her?

Did I just say date? And since when am I the jealous type?

I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I decide to skip my smoothie routine today. I don’t remember the last time this happened. Oh, wait, of all the three years I’ve lived here it’s never happened unless I was travelling.

I go home as fast as I can and pretend I didn’t see anything.

As crazy as it may sound, this weird feeling I have inside of me—something comparable to rage and jealousy, which doesn’t even make any sense—makes me madly inspired. And so I drown myself in work. I basically create enough designs for two different collections, even though I know only two or three tops might be used. I skip all the meals that follow breakfast. This happens when I’m too focused on a project, or when I’m too anxious about something. I decide to have a glass of milk before falling hard on the bed before it’s even dark outside.

#

The next day I’m woken by the doorbell. I check my watch: 10:00 am. Why didn’t my alarm go off? Oh—because it’s Saturday. It must be Naomi and Lexi to take a look at the lingerie.

I look like a mess—I’m still in yesterday’s clothes, even my makeup’s still on. I press the button to open the front door downstairs and wait for them to reach my floor, still trying to fully wake up.

‘Were you still sleeping?’ asks Lexi, as if she’s just caught me doing something illicit.

‘I guess I was,’ I say, letting out a yawn.

‘Who are you? Where’s my friend?’ jokes Naomi as she gives me a hug. She smells so good, like honey and jasmine. I love her taste in fragrances.

I welcome them in and tell them to make themselves at home and get something to eat from the kitchen while I change into something fresh and brush my teeth.

When I get back to the kitchen feeling a bit more like myself, Naomi is making scrambled eggs while Lexi watches her, sharing today’s gossip.

‘I can’t handle the Hemsworth family,’ says Lexi. Yes, her gossip updates are usually about movie stars, or singers, or athletes; any famous person really.

‘Yeah, they’re hot. I like Chris best,’ says Naomi

‘Me too. I mean look at those abs and arms. I wonder what’s like to be Elsa Pataky and have children with him,’ says Lexi.

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