Page 60 of Just Like That

‘Yes, fine. I obviously get distracted easily. What was I saying? Ah, yes, Seth. I was so grateful to Seth and his friends for absorbing me into their group the way they have. It’s been great to join them whenever I need a good night out or to let off some steam.’

‘That is good.’ Nick’s eyes linger on mine, and for a second, I think I can read something in them, as if he’s not entirely convinced by my story.

‘So, yeah, that’s me.’ I wind up that part of the conversation quickly and shift my concentration to my pasta al limone, which is getting colder by the minute, but is still exquisite. ‘How about the park? Are things looking up now there’s some money coming in for the first events? Gwen and I don’t tend to talk financials on that level.’

‘She’s cautiously optimistic, I think. Maybe it will take a while for her to feel like things are more secure. Let’s call it a hopeful start.’

‘That seems like the right word for it. I’m “hopeful” that it’ll also help turn my ailing career around.’

‘Want to talk about it? I know you told me your boss had lost confidence in your ability to deliver, but you never said why.’ He shrugs in a way that tells me he’s not putting any pressure on me, but he could be a listening ear.

I hesitate again, desperate to share everything with Nick, but still holding back because that will open Pandora’s box. With all that’s been said this evening, I’m not sure our fledgling relationship can handle it – and suddenly, I want that relationship more than anything.

‘To be honest, there’s not that much to it,’ I say, after landing on a response I’m comfortable enough with sharing. ‘I knew Craig was commercially minded, but I never had him down as ruthless. Turns out he’s that and more. I was his cash cow until I asked to reduce my hours and he realised his company wasn’t the single most important thing in my life. Now I’m as good as dead in his eyes.’

‘What a dick.’ Nick shakes his head, though he seems pleased that I’ve shared this with him. ‘It’s sad when people can’t see past money and success.’

‘It is. Which is why I prefer people who can.’ I smile at him and he smiles back, our eyes continuing to communicate unsaid messages, and, if I’m not mistaken, rather primal thoughts and urges. With such a charged atmosphere between us, I’m starting to wonder if I’ll to be able to hold back on getting it on with him until I’ve spoken to Craig – or even much beyond the doors of this restaurant. Did Nick not say he lived nearby? If not, that’s a pretty roomy-looking four-by-four.

Chapter 27

Despite our animalistic urges, Nick and I just about manage to contain ourselves. Instead of getting steamy in the back of his car after dinner, we share a moonlit walk around the charming North Berwick seafront, with its sandstone harbour walls, tethered sail boats bobbing in the water and sandy beaches stretching out on either side. Then we drive back to the wildlife park where he drops me off at my own car around ten p.m. Driving home with my music blaring, replaying the highlights of the evening in my head over and over, I feel completely invigorated.

Needing someone to share in my euphoria, I hit the button on the steering wheel to activate the in-car speech recognition system, and command it to ‘call Amelia’. It’s getting late, but I’ve never known my best friend to hit the sack before midnight – tonight being no exception.

‘Hi, sugar mouse, I was just thinking about you,’ she greets me after three rings. ‘What’s new?’

‘Does something have to be “new”?’ I smile to myself, knowing full well I’m about to share something not just new, but also juicy, and Amelia’s going to love it.

‘Uh, yahuh, with you it does.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry, Meels.’ My smugness is immediately replaced by guilt. ‘I’m really crap at keeping in touch, even more so now. I’ve just had so much—’

‘Nooo, no no no,’ she cuts me off. ‘I’m sorry, that came out all pixilated. I feel like I’ve been put through a sieve today. What I mean is I want to hear your juice, because I know there’s juice. It’s a guy, isn’t it?’

‘Might be.’ I’m suddenly all coy.

‘OK, I’m comfortable. Dish it, vixen.’

I quickly fill Amelia in on the Nick situation, including a blow-by-blow account of our date, which she laps up with relish. I’m on such a high chatting away to her, it doesn’t even occur to me to share Nick’s previous situation with his wife and what he said about not wanting anything complicated in his life in the future.

‘He sounds like a right peach cobbler. Delicious or what?!’

‘I certainly think so.’ I’m grinning from ear to ear. ‘So that’s me, how are things with you? Anyone exciting on the go?’

‘Ah, you know me. I like to explore, try out new things.’

‘By “things” you mean people?’

‘Yah, though I have heard that VR dating is going to be big in the future. For me, that’s like hot chocolate with creamandmarshmallows.’

I grimace. ‘I think it sounds like pure hell, but I know you’re not one for tradition – or boundaries of any sort really.’

‘No.’ She pauses. ‘But I’ll make an exception for your wedding if you want me as bridesmaid. As long as I can have two “plus ones” if circumstances create a need for that.’

‘You can have as many “plus ones” as you want. Though I think you’re getting a little carried away. It’s only been one date.’

‘We’ll see.’ Amelia’s voice adopts a sing-song tone. ‘I can sense things, you know.’

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