Page 15 of The Wedding Game

‘Oh,’ I reply, still looking at Josh.

‘That’s a shame,’ he says, still looking at me.

Oblivious to what’s happened, and obviously assuming I’d never do what I just did, Scarlet announces that she’s going to grab another drink and offers, ‘Do you guys want one?’

‘Sure,’ we both say as she disappears.

Josh drinks the rest of his Guinness and then laughs. ‘That was unexpected.’

‘What do you mean,that was unexpected?You literallygoadedme into kissing you.’

‘I didn’t actually think you were going to do it,’ he confesses. ‘It was hot, though,’ he adds.

‘Maybe,’ I say.

‘Maybe? Don’t lie.’

‘Yeah, it was hot.’ I’m so embarrassed I can’t even look at him.

We’re both quiet, both smiling, both avoiding eye contact. ‘So now what?’ he asks.

‘I don’t know,’ I answer, forcing my eyes to connect with his.

‘Can I get your number?’ he asks.

‘You move fast,’ I declare.

‘Look who’s talking. You justkissedme.’

‘It depends. Do you live in New York or somewhere that involves a plane ride?’ I ask warily.

‘What? No,’ he replies, as confusion finds a path to his face. ‘Is there like a postcode criteria or something, if I want to take you on a date?’

‘You want to take me on a date?’ It must have been about six months since I last went out with a guy, and that was a swipe in the wrong direction.

‘Yeah. Is that OK?’ Josh asks, suddenly shy.

That kiss.‘Yes.’

‘That was a fast response,’ he says. ‘Something to do with how well I kiss?’ he teases, no longer shy.

Heisa good kisser. Once he’d got over the initial surprise, it was inappropriately hot. I give him a look as helaughs, pulls out his phone, unlocks it and hands it to me. I haven’t given a man my number in ages and incredibly, for the second time tonight, I enter it into a second man’s phone, add my name, hit save and hand it back. Josh’s hand touches mine as he takes the phone from me and, as if I needed any more proof that there is something there, a charge of sexual energy passes back and forth.

Scarlet returns with our drinks. Josh takes his from her, says thank you and offers her some money, which she politely declines.

‘So I’m going to head back inside to catch up with the guys now,’ he tells us. ‘But it was very nice to meet you both. Lexie,’ he says turning to me, ‘if I don’t catch you later on, I’ll message you?’

I nod, smile.

‘Oh and, Scarlet,’ Josh says as she looks up at him curiously and he gives her a jubilant look, ‘your friend won the bingo.’

CHAPTER FIVE

‘I still can’t believe you actually did it!’ Scarlet says, not for the first time, as we arrive home to our badly-in-need-of-a-refurb rented first-floor flat in North London the next afternoon.

‘Neither can I,’ I mutter yet again, sifting through the post that came while we were away.

I feel kind of strange for doing it – for kissing a man I’d only just met, directly after I’d experienced such a strong connection with another man. It was kind of risky, but also kind of exhilarating. It was a good kiss – so good I gave Josh my number. I gave Chris my number too. But the connection between us was less sexual, more … deep, conversational.

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