Page 60 of Another Lucky Number

‘Well, hopefully this is it.’ He smiles at me. ‘I know you’ve got a solid team in Amber and Cat, but I’m happy to help out in any way I can too. I went through my fair share of interviews before I happily waved the corporate world goodbye, and started my Masters course.’

‘In Astrophysics, you said?’

‘That’s the one.’

‘So, what will you do when you graduate?’

‘I’m not sure yet.’ James rubs his jaw and I can tell that he’s put a lot of thought into this exact question. ‘I’m tempted to go on and do a PHD. That would likely lead to becoming a research fellow at a University, but I’ll see what the job opportunities are like. I’m also interested in climatology. Or I could aim for something like a role in data science.’

‘I have no idea about any of those jobs.’ I shrug. ‘But they all sound impressive.’

There’s a comfortable silence between us, during which we sip at our drinks and James looks thoughtful.

‘Hey, Emma, after our drink at the airport, you messaged me and asked if I had planned to give you my number the first night we met in the shop. You said you’d fill me in on our next date – does this count? I’ve been curious about why you would ask that.’

‘Oh, um…’ I shift awkwardly.

I’d forgotten about that message and now I’m caughtoff guard. James obviously has no idea what it relates to – or that he’s inadvertently asked a very personal question. Am I ready to tell him about my lottery win? I still barely know him, but I did indicate (without thinking it through, I now realise) that I’d fill him in, and I don’t want to lie to him.

‘You OK?’ He gives me a little nudge. ‘Kind of lost you there.’

‘Sorry… I was… erm…’

What do I do? Should I put my trust in him? I mean, I’ve already met his parents, who are basically saints, and he was interested in me without knowing about the money, so it’s not like I need to second guess his intentions.Not right now anyway, a voice in my head unhelpfully chips in.

‘OK…’ I pull myself up out of the water to sit on the poolside and pat the ground beside me, signalling for James to join me. He obliges, his arm muscles flexing sexily as he practically springs out of the pool and makes himself comfortable next to me. ‘The reason I asked about your phone number was because something happened that night. Something big.’

‘Bigger than tanking a two-grand bottle of vintage red from your ex’s wine collection after he broke up with you?’

‘Yes. And I need you to promise me that this stays between us.’ I take his hand in mine in a gesture of seriousness.

‘One hundred per cent, Emma. I know we haven’t known each other long, but you can trust me.’

‘I sense that, which is why I’m telling you.’

‘Did something bad happen?’ James suddenly looks concerned. ‘Please tell me it wasn’t in The Meadows. IknewI should have come with you, regardless of the fact you didn’t want me to.’

‘It’s nothing like that, don’t worry,’ I reassure him. ‘And the way I was that night, you were better off well clear of me.’

I cringe at the memory of me sobbing on the park bench after Dave dumped me in sucha vicious way – it seems incomprehensible now that I could cry over him, knowing what a selfish arsehole he is.

‘So, what is it then?’ he asks. ‘You’re really making me wait for this.’

‘Sorry. I’ll get to the point, which is… that night, the shopkeeper talked me into buying a lottery ticket and two weeks later I discovered I’d had a sizeable win – of over seven-hundred-and-fifty grand.’

‘Wow.’ James lets out an impressed whistle. ‘That’s massive. Bet you’re glad that dickhead dumped you now.’

‘I sure am. But there’s more.’

‘How can there be more? Did you then win the jackpot the following week?’

‘No, silly.’ I giggle. ‘Are you not wondering where my message asking if you were going to give me your phone number comes in?’

I can almost see James’s brain ticking over. ‘I am now, but I’m coming up empty handed.’

‘Not surprising really. Did you know that when you ripped up your number that night, you dropped part of it on the floor?’

‘Nope. Wasn’t paying that much attention… wait, are you about to tell me that you used my phone number to pick your lottery numbers?’

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