Page 17 of Be More Lucy

‘I don’t want someone loudly snoring beside me in bed every night. Adam’s heavy breathing was irritating enough.’

‘Snoring is what you get in the long run, so you may as well get used to it now.’

‘I don’t see you practising what you preach on that score. Your boyfriend is barely legal.’

‘He’s 21. He’s only six years younger than me. I’m not in the market for a long-term relationship just yet. I prefer a man who’s closer to his sexual peak.’

Lucy smiled. That was exactly how she’d been until recently. But since she’d turned thirty, she just wanted to settle down. That’s why she’d chosen Adam. She thought a sensible-looking man with qualifications and a career was the safe option. So much for that.

‘How about our postman, Paul?’ Kizzy was still trying to find Lucy her next date.

‘He’s nowhere near his sexual peak. He must be at least 20 years older than me. How do you know his name?’

‘I’ve got this amazing technique for getting information out of him: I talk to him.’

Lucy rolled her eyes.

Kizzy continued. ‘He’s widowed, so he’s not someone else’s cast-off. He’s very fit, a bit of a silver fox, and he’s always happy. Postmen usually are. I think it’s all that fresh air. Human beings weren’t meant to be stuck in offices. We should be out in nature.’ Kizzy waved her arms in the direction of the window, with its view of several large office blocks and not a lot else.

Lucy took in Kizzy’s long acrylic nails, perfectly contoured makeup, false eyelashes and four-inch stiletto heels. She couldn’t imagine her surviving for five minutes in the great outdoors. ‘All human beings?’

‘Well, some of us have evolved to manage better in an indoor environment. But I do love the outdoors, as long as it’s at least 25 degrees and I’ve got access to a sun lounger and a swimming pool with a swim-up bar. Anyway, Paul is attracted to you. He said you reminded him of his late wife. Hopefully before the accident.’ Kizzy sat down at her desk. ‘You should give him a try. Do you want me to ask him? He usually turns up around 11.30.’

As lovely as she was sure Paul was, he hadn’t made enough of an impression on Lucy to feature on her list of fuckable men.

‘No, thanks. I’m giving up dating. It’s the single life for me from now on.’

10

Jack usually looked forward to getting home, but today’s trip to London to meet with his production company hadn’t gone to plan and Em wasn’t going to like the outcome.

She opened their front door before he could get his key in the lock.

‘Hello, you,’ he said nervously.

She beamed at him with that fantastic smile of hers. Perhaps he could charm her into bed. She might be more receptive to his news afterwards.

‘You’re back early. I’d have had dinner ready if I’d known,’ she said while he put down his laptop bag and hung up his jacket.

‘My fault. I should’ve texted you.’ He kissed her.

‘Are you sure it wasn’t deliberate?’

He tried not to look guilty. He had remembered that there was a couple of good steaks in the fridge, and he didn’t want Em to have a go at cooking them. Steaks weren’t her forte.

‘I was distracted.’ Which was true. ‘Do you want me to start cooking, or do you want to do something else first?’ He gave her his best ‘I want to fuck you now’ look.

She looked at him quizzically. ‘Is something wrong?’

Em was too good at reading his mood. ‘Not exactly,’ he said.

‘Oh god. They haven’t sacked you, have they?’

’It’s not that bad. I’ll tell you later.’

‘I’m imagining all sorts. Put me out of my misery. What happened?’

Jack sighed. He better get it over and done with. He led her into the living room. They sat down together on the sofa.

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