Page 44 of Just Like That

‘I’m just saying. There’s something big between the two of you. The sooner you see that, the sooner you can start having amazing sex – and perhaps more.’

‘OK, this conversation is over.’ I scoff and start to walk away, but she grabs my hand to stop me.

‘Jess, you do realise that I can see exactly what’s going on. It’s so obvious. It’s killing me watching you lust over him and do precisely jack shit about it. Talk to me, please.’

Nick’s words about me being overly professional and not letting my guard down ring in my mind and I give in.

‘Fine. You’re right, I’m attracted to him. Although I’m not totally sure if I like him, if that makes any sense. We get on well and then suddenly we don’t. I think I might be starting to understand him a bit better, but it’s still confusing and infuriating, and none of that actually matters, because he doesn’t like me back.’

‘Yeah, I’m calling bullshit on that one.’ Lauren hoots with laughter. ‘Where’s your evidence?’

I reel off all the things that have happened and what Nick has said, and I see Lauren falter, but she recovers quickly.

‘All circumstantial, my lord.’ She waves away my concerns. ‘You couldn’t build a court case on that.’

‘Nor would you throw yourself at someone with it in the mix.’

‘Fair enough. But I’m still convinced I’m right. You’ll see.’

‘Whatever.’ I sigh and pat her on the back. ‘Now, I have to go because I’m really late.’

‘Of course. See you next week. We can iron out the wrinkles before the official launch and maybe get Nick to help us with the logistics?’ Lauren’s voice is simultaneously loaded with smugness and laced with a touch of conspiracy as I walk away.

Refusing to entertain any more of her nonsense and not wanting to encourage her any more than I already have, I simply give her a wave over my shoulder.

Walking to my car, my mind involuntarily plays back the conversation with Lauren. She may be totally convinced there’s something between Nick and I, but he couldn’t have been clearer. That comment about me being part of the park family surely wasn’t made without intent. Then there are the previous comments he’s made about me not being his type, and how he told me he gives people like me a wide berth when we had our spat in the elephant enclosure. Even if I wanted Lauren’s assertions to be true – purely to satiate the part of me driven by lust – it’s clear that my feelings for Nick are not reciprocated. And as I’ve already told myself in consolation, that’s very much for the best.

On reaching the car park, I unlock my car while still lost in thought, and it’s only when I’m about to get into the driver’s side that I hear someone calling my name. Looking up, I see Nick jogging towards me.

‘Is everything OK?’ My first reaction is one of concern. ‘Has something gone wrong?’

He stops in front of me, trying to catch his breath, which tells me he’s run all the way here.

‘I’ve just been speaking to Lauren.’

‘Oh shit, I knew I shouldn’t have left early. What’s happened? I’ll come back with you.’

‘No, it’s not that.’ He bends over, still puffed.

I stand there, perplexed. ‘Either you’re badly unfit or you’ve just attempted a four hundred metre sprint with no training.’

‘The latter.’ Nick coughs and then stands up.

‘So what’s going on? You have me on tenterhooks here.’

Having finally recovered, he looks me straight in the eye. ‘Thisis what’s going on.’

Stepping forward confidently, he cups my face gently with his hands, then hesitates, looking suddenly uncertain. I give an instinctive nod and he follows through with the most delicious kiss I’ve experienced in a long time. It happens so fast, I barely have time to register what’s going on, but as the feeling of his touch reaches every part of me, my heart quickens, my stomach leaps and my legs turn to mush. Allowing myself to melt into him, our bodies almost as one, all I know is that I don’t want this to stop. His kiss and his touch match his brusque but caring demeanour: hungry and raw, but with a gentleness that oozes respect.

Eventually, we pull apart and start to laugh. It’s that nervous ‘what have we just done’ type of laughter. Nick threads his fingers through mine, while I look at him coyly, almost unable to believe what’s just happened.

‘Well, that was a surprise. When you say you were speaking to Lauren, was that about this?’ I gesture back and forth between our lips with my index finger.

‘Might have been.’ Nick looks shifty all of a sudden.

‘She’s such a little meddler.’

‘Is that such a bad thing?’

---