Page 112 of Be More Lucy

Mark led Lucy to the bar.

‘I’ll get this,’ he said. ‘Your usual?’

‘Yes, please.’

‘A vodka and slimline tonic with lemon, no ice, please,’ he said to the barman. Lucy looked pleased that he’d remembered.

He glanced over towards the sofas. Caroline was sitting next to her mother now, but staring directly at him. Lucy must’ve noticed, too. She slipped her hand around his waist and moved in closer. It felt good. Too good.

‘Mark!’

Caroline’s voice came from behind him. How had she got that close to him so quickly without him noticing? She moved with the speed of a vampire.

‘Are you going to introduce me?’ Caroline asked.

‘Lucy, this is Jack’s cousin, Caroline.’

‘Nice to meet you, Caroline. Please excuse us, Mark’s promised to show me his train set.’

What was Lucy talking about? He hadn’t had a train set since he was ten. The barman offered him the card machine. He tapped his credit card.

‘Mark? Your train set?’ Lucy asked.

Just play along.‘Oh yes, my train set. I think you’ll find the tunnel is particularly interesting.’

‘You better show me then,’ Lucy said, grabbing her drink and leading him out of the marquee.

‘What was all that about train sets?’ Mark asked as they walked into his bedroom.

‘It was the only excuse I could think of to get away from Caroline. What’s so interesting about your tunnel?’

‘I’ve no idea. It was the first thing that came into my head.’

‘I’m sure a psychiatrist would have a field day with us,’ Lucy said, trying to lighten the mood. He smiled slightly.

She tried a different approach. ‘So how long do we have to stay here to convince Caroline we’re lovers? Five minutes?’

Old Mark would have given her a sarky reply. New Mark sat down on the bed and said, ‘Probably.’

What did she expect? He’d had a massive shock. Em had told Lucy to be patient. But she needed him to know that she was there for him when he was ready.

She sat next to him. ‘Do you want to talk?’

He moved slightly away from her. ‘Yes and no.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘Yes, I’d love to talk like we used to. God knows I need someone to talk to. But you’re with someone else now or possibly two people.’

It was Lucy’s turn to look confused. ‘No, I’m not. Who told you that? There is no one else. I was so upset at losing you that I’ve not wanted another relationship.’

He looked confused. ‘But what about Harry?’

Harry? Of course! That’s why he was on edge. Em’s casual mention of Harry this morning had given him totally the wrong idea. How could she have been so stupid not to realise that’s what he would assume?

‘Harry’s a business partner, nothing else. And in any case, I’m not bisexual.’

He looked even more bemused now.

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