Page 10 of Tempting the Player
Amanda’s blonde, too, she's a little chunkier than we are, something that she complains about quite a bit. She's the quietest one of us, she likes to have a good time, but never gets blotto, so she's on a mission tonight. I love them both, I don’t know what I would do without them. They’re my family. When Patrick told me he was gay, they were amazing, there for me every day, Karen making me laugh and Amanda being my shoulder to cry on - I’ve been there for them when they needed me too…we’re an excellent team.
I'm dying to talk about Nathan, so after a few drinks, my tongue gets loose and I tell them about him. I haven’t been able to get him out of my head for the last two weeks since that kiss, and Ineedto talk about him before I explode. I've replayed the scene so many times. Sometimes, I take it further, and we have sex on the kitchen counter (in my head, of course!). My vibrator has been getting a lot of action, it’s worrying me that I want him so much – or my body does - my head is saying no, no, no!
After I’ve told them the whole story, they both stare at me, shocked.
“What?” I ask them.
“You like him.” Karen states.
I snort, “Huh, I do not.”
Amanda joins in, “Oh, I think you do, Kathryn!” using my full name. Which she does when she wants to make a point.
“I can’t go there, he's everything I don’t want. He’ll want a quick shag, get what he wants, then I have to see him every day at school and hate myself. You guys remember how much I liked him the first time around - how shitty he made me feel - so why would I want to go there again? I admit he’s bloody attractive now - he always was anyway - but with maturity and ruggedness, and being a brilliant dad? Yes, he’s appealing, very appealing, but I cannot let myself go down that route.”
“Maybe he’s changed.” Amanda, ever the optimist.
“Yeah, or maybe he remembers Kate’s easy, a good lay and gorgeous and wants his fill… literally. Sorry, sweetie.” Karen smirks.
“Thanks a lot!” I say, horrified.
“Just saying…” Karen shrugs.
“But if you never agree to a date, how will you ever know?” Amanda grins at me.
I don’t want to get hurt like last time, but I don’t want to admit that he has that power over me. These stupid sex stories that I'm imagining about him are clouding my judgment.
“I suppose. I don’t know what to do about him. Anyway…” I shrug. “Let’s phone for a taxi and get out before I sober up – there’s a Jaegerbomb with my name on it out there.”
“Woo Hoo!” Karen shouts, “I’m up for shots.”
We do our pub crawl, getting tipsier in each pub. I’m on my way to a monster hangover in the morning when we get to the club, Bounce - it’s had many, many names over the years, but it's still the same dingy, dodgy club that it always has been - it has all you need though, a bar, a DJ and a dance floor.
We pay our entry fee and head to the bar for another drink before hitting the dance floor. “Jesus, it’s busy in here tonight. Imight be getting too old for this.” I shout to the girls as I jostle to get to the bar.
“Shut up, wench, thirty-three is not old, you don’t get your arse out enough, so you’re not used to it anymore,” Karen shouts.
I sigh. I do need to get out more. I’m getting tired of acting grown-up all the time. I’m the responsible mother when Jess is around, and I wouldn’t have it any other way, but when she’s with her dad, what’s stopping me from going out and having fun? I should make the most of it. I’m going to let loose tonight. Sod being sensible. I ordered us all a bottle of lager and a Jaegerbomb - my shot of choice. Once we’ve downed them, we go upstairs where we can stand on the balcony to watch everyone dance.
We people-watch and gossip. I need a wee, so I tell the girls that I’ll be right back. As I step out of the ladies' room, my eyes meet a familiar pair that burn straight into mine, and my heartbeat quickens. It’s like going back ten years in time. Nathan is leaning back against a pillar with his arms folded, but holding a bottle of beer in one hand. He is the epitome of cool - he screams sex in dark jeans and a fitted black t-shirt, seeming as though he hasn’t made an effort, but he has. His hair is getting a little too long, the wave in it starts to show, I have to brace my hands at my side so that I don’t reach out and touch it - that woulddefinitelygive him the wrong idea – but my hands think it’s a great idea - especially as the alcohol running around my system likes what it sees and is encouraging me! His lips tip into a ghost of a smile; his eyes dance as I look back at him. He’s stunning. No man should be allowed to be this attractive. Especially one that is no good for me, but isn’t that always the case? He seems like he’s waiting for someone. Someone issqueezing on my heart – why does it hurt to think he's waiting for a girl? I shouldn’t be bothered.
I walk to him. “Hi Nathan, fancy seeing you here.” Very original, Kate. I smile politely at him, presuming he’s with a girl and waiting for her.
“I fucking love hearing you say my name.” He says, his eyes flash with something resembling lust.
I almost stop breathing at his comment, “Are you waiting for someone?”
He nods, “Yeah.. you.”
He must see the confusion on my face, but he carries on. “I saw you go in there. I’ve been waiting for you to come out so that I can talk to you.”
The butterflies start up again. Excitement. Shit . . . I wish I weren’t attracted to him, and why, oh why, do I have to have such a thing for rugby players? My eyes travel down his body, taking in his broad shoulders and the bulging biceps on display in the fitted t-shirt, accentuated by his folded arms. He has a tattoo from his shoulder to his elbow, but I can’t tell what it is. That’s new as far as I can remember, well, within the last ten years, anyway. Tattoos awaken the bad boy magnet within me. The years have been kind to Nathan Harris.
I realise I’ve been leering, I meet his eyes, which appear to be laughing at me.
“See anything you fancy?” He asks.
Cocky bastard. “Yeah, maybe, but been there, done that.”
