Page 24 of The Worst Guy Ever
“Sometimes, but never the stuff you’d really want,” I say for the millionth time.
“So how long have you been on the apps, then?” They always ask this, too.
I pull my mouth into a tight smile and act all coy, the way I know they like. They don’t want to think you’ve been on there for years. They don’t like to imagine you’re using it for hookups, even if that’s exactly what they’re doing. The hypocrites.
“Just a few months,” I lie, not giving a shit whether or not he believes me. I’m halfway through my pint already and need to slow down. I take a small sip and feel that shift in the air that I’ve not felt often enough lately.
Rob Beautiful Bastard Morgan. Alone, and making his way to the bar.
I keep looking at Matt but tilt my head slightly so I can glance past him. The barman takes Rob’s order right away, and they chat like old friends. He leans against the counter and takes a sip of his beer, while he scans the room. I snap my eyes back to Matt and scoot down in my seat.
So this is what he does. He just turns up and waits for the women to flock to him. I hate that it works, and I hate that a table of women between us are already melting into mush while they loudly whisper‘don’t make it obvious’while then making it incredibly obvious by all taking turns to look round at him.
Underneath the table, I slide my phone from my pocket and check my messages, but I’m disappointed. There’s nothing from Rob. If he wanted to go out tonight, why didn’t he text me?
Except, why would he? What would I have said?Fuck off, Knob.Even though I desperately wanted to text him myself, I know I would have told him to get lost. I’d never have given into him that easily.
I could text him now, but what would I say? It’s a point of pride that I never contact him first, though I’d love to see the look on his face when he gets a message from me. I open my camera gallery and have a quick scroll through for a photo of me he hasn’t seen before, but nothing fits the mood. I want him to lust over me, but all my recent photos were meant to take the piss out of him.
One of the women, a beautiful blonde in a red dress and skyscraper heels, has made her way over, and she’s currently leaning into the bar, while he stands with his back to me. She flips her hair back over her shoulder and laughs loud enough for me to hear it all the way down here. God only knows what line he’s fed her.
I watch, the room slowing as he lifts his hand, stroking down her back as he leans in to whisper in her ear. Cue more hysterical laughing and her slapping a hand against his chest as though she’s scandalised. She’s so obvious, and he’s so pathetic that he falls for such moves.
I’m going to text him. I need to text him.
“I think I’m going to head off,” Matt says, pulling my attention back to the table as he drains his pint. Shit.
“No, why?”Yes, please go.
“You seem great, Hattie, but I don’t think your head’s really in it. And you keep looking at your phone.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry. I am kind of distracted. It’s a work thing.” How many times have I lied to this man already, and why does this one feel worse than the others?
“It’s cool,” he says, standing to leave. “Hit me up another time if you like.”
I nod. That will never happen. “Thanks Matt.”
“It’s Mark.”
“Shit,” I cringe, sinking lower into my chair. “Sorry.”
And with that, he’s gone.
Fucking Rob.Yet another night ruined by him getting in my head, and this time he’s not even trying. I hate his stupid bastard face. I down the last of my drink, adjust my jewellery, wiggle my dress down to show more cleavage, and head over his way. With his back to me, he doesn’t see me coming. He has no idea I’m here until I thread my hand through his. In his initial shock, he tries to pull away, but I grip it so tight it hurts. It probably hurts me more than it hurts him, but I’m not letting go.
If I’m not getting laid tonight, then neither is he.
“There you are darling,” I say, looking up at him, my voice all prim and plummy. “Listen, I’ve just had a call from the babysitter and she says the twins have the most awful vomiting bug, diarrhoea everywhere.”
“Twins?” the woman in the red dress asks, incredulous, looking back and forth between us. “You have twins?”
“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” I say, tilting my head. “Little Margo and…”Shit, think...“And Robbie. Our angels. The poor darlings. And on our wedding anniversary too, what terrible luck.” I turn back to Rob and pout. “And the worst part? It’s all over your side of the bed. We’d really better go, honey.”
“You’re married?” Blondie shrieks and I have to bite my lip so I don’t burst out laughing.
“Gosh, I hope it isn’t norovirus again,” I rub his bicep while smiling sweetly at her. “Last time we had it, this guy filled the toilet while puking in the sink at the same time. Honestly, it was the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I wouldn’t wish it on my enemy.”
She does the understandable thing, stepping slowly away, a look of repulsion written all over her face. I am the very essence of smug, batting my eyelashes at Rob like a woman in love. His face is frozen in shock as he looks back and forth between the two of us and for a second I expect him to shout at me, but what he does is even worse.
