Page 70 of A Manny for Christmas

It turns out I don’t need to use my words this evening, becausewanton sex goddessis apparently written all over my face. As far as Sadie’s concerned, anyway. She turns to me as I laughingly thank the delicious Theo for my wine refill. He really is gorgeous, with those Mediterranean looks and a grin so dirty he makes Max look like a choir boy.

‘Welcome,’ he says as he winks at me. Nora rolls her eyes.

‘What’s up with her?’ Sadie asks, pointing at me with narrowed eyes.

‘What? Me?’ I ask innocently.

‘Yes, you. You’re usually all quiet and coy when we have these things, but you. Are.Glowing.’

Theo grins down at me, one shapely eyebrow raised. ‘Affirmative. You getting some, Molly?’

‘Oh my God.’ I sit ramrod straight, clutching my wine glass like Theo might take it away. ‘Is it that obvious?’

‘Yep,’ Sadie announces. ‘It really is. Did you shag Paul?’

Clara, already sitting next to me, scoots even further towards me. ‘Bloody hell. Did you?’

‘No,’ I say, deflating for a second. ‘Sorry, ladies. That’s not happening. Even though he’s perfect.’

‘Soooo…’ Sadie prompts.

I sigh and glance at Theo. ‘I do have some news, but it’s not suitable for Theo.’

Pretty much everyone around the room snorts in amused disagreement. Theo’s snort is the loudest of all. ‘My beautiful fiancée will tell you that not only am I unshockable, but I’m also the kinkiest fucker she’s ever encountered.’ He puts the wine bottle on the coffee table and sits down on the sofa next to me, so close I have to practically climb onto Clara’s lap. He pats my jean-clad knee paternally. ‘So spill it, Molly. Tell Uncle Theo all about your hot, filthy sex. If a guy is lucky enough to be fucking you, I want to hear about it.’

‘You are literally the creepiest person I’ve ever met,’ Nora says in mock-disgust. These two make me laugh so much. According to Nora, Theo’s loosened her up a lot, but she still seems to find his behaviour outrageous most of the time. Even if a small part of me suspects she plays up her moral outrage just to encourage him.

‘Oh my God,’ Evelyn says. ‘You slept with Max. Didn’t you?’

‘Um.’ I look around the cluster of sofas at the dear faces of my friends. Evelyn looks horrified. Everyone else’s face is rapt. I risk a glance to my left. Theo’s gorgeous face is lit up, his grin Cheshire-Cat wide. I’ve been bursting to share my news, and now I feel self-conscious.

‘It was Max,’ I admit.

There’s a chorus ofoohsandahhsand sharp, shocked intakes of breath.

‘I bloody well warned him,’ Evelyn says, more to herself than anyone else. ‘I distinctly remember telling him not to shag you.’

This is news to me. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Deadly serious.’

Zoe puts a hand on Evelyn’s knee. ‘It’s okay, as long as Molly is happy? Not upset about it?’

I shake my head slowly as I try unsuccessfully to suppress a smirk. ‘Nope. Definitely not upset about it. More like in some kind of sex-fuelled coma that has me floating around like a teenager.’ I sneak a look at Theo. ‘Sorry, Theo.’

‘Don’t apologise. Nothing better than a sex-fuelled coma,’ he says, shooting his fiancée a grin so dirty that her pants must melt right off under that pretty black dress of hers. I’d say she’s going to get it tonight.

‘This is just excellent, excellent news,’ Sadie says, bottom-shuffling forward on the sofa opposite me so she can reach the bottle of wine. It seems our appointed wine waiter has given up on providing a refill service in favour of gossiping like an old woman. ‘Now, please proceed with full details.’

‘Yeah,’ Jess says. ‘How did it happen? Did he jump on you while you were watching TV together?’

‘Or did he just come out with it and say he still had feelings for you?’ Clara asks. ‘Or, you know, that he wanted to jump your bones, at any rate?’

I cock my head, considering. ‘Probably more like how Clara said it.’

‘Ooooh,’ they gasp collectively.

‘Run down, please.’ Jess’ voice is firm as she grabs the wine bottle. ‘Theo, you’re doing a shite job of filling us up. No.’ She holds out her hand as he opens his mouth. ‘I didnotmean that the way it came out, so don’t even go there, Montague. Right. Molly. You’re up. Everyone else—shut the fuck up and let her speak.’

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