“You just answered your own question, I said no because he’s a boy. Way younger than me.” Why was it that nobody was getting it?
“Not by that much. Kate is fifteen years older than you so he can’t be that much younger,” Laura said before taking a long drink of her pink coloured cocktail.
“Five years!”
“That’s not too bad. Come on, give him a go. I need to live vicariously through you.” Lauren giggled.
I laughed. “I don’t think so. He’s not my type,” I lied. Betty and Lauren burst out laughing. I glared at them in the mirror. “What?”
“Well, remember just after you came home, and we were at that pool hall?” Lauren asked with a huge grin on her face. Her hands moved in circles as if trying to help my memory along.
“Yeah?” I shrugged and went back to my makeup.
“Oh yeah,” Betty added, “and there was that guy, tall, dark hair, nice arse, playing pool with his friends and you said”—Betty bounced up and down on my bed.
“That he would be the perfect fuck buddy?” Lauren finished.
I thought back, it was my first proper night back home. The girls had taken me out for drinks as a welcome home and we’d ended up in the pool hall whilst we waited for the pubs to fill up a bit. There was a group of five men playing pool not far from where we sat. There was one that had stood out, towering over the rest of his group—jet-black hair, wide shoulders, and a perfect arse.
“Yeah, he was so hot. Maybe we should swing by the pool hall and see if he’s there tonight?”
“Or you could just pick up your phone and call Morgan, because that was him.” Lauren cracked up laughing. “That’s why we told you not to go for it. We knew that you would be working with Kate, Nolan, and him.” She held her stomach as her laughter died down.
“Oh, shit.” I shrugged, but thinking back, I wondered how I didn’t realise that was him. It seemed I had been drawn to him from the start.
“Did you at least let him down gently?” Lauren asked.
“Well, I explained why I couldn’t then I kind of ran out. Kate called earlier to say he’s disappointed and confused.”
“So, what’s the real reason?” Lauren narrowed her eyes at me in the mirror, she knew me too well.
“The age is a big thing, but he’s just too nice; too put together. He’s so lovely, kind, and sweet.” I looked up to see them looking at me with knowing grins.
“You like him!” Betty teased, clapping her hands together excitedly.
“You really like him. You can see it in your face when you talk about him.” Lauren nodded in agreement.
“Shut up you two! Like I said he’s too…”
“Young and nice. Yeah, you said.” Lauren gave me an exaggerated eye roll and sighed.
“Well, you know me, I like a bad boy…badman.” I put the emphasis on man.
“We know that hunny, but what number divorce are you on now? Maybe bad boys aren’t working for you and you need a good guy?” Laura said, suddenly serious.
I didn’t have an answer for that. Lauren had a point. My heart had been broken by a bad boy and an expensive divorce was in progress.
The doorbell rang, signalling that our car had arrived to take us to the club. I quickly let my hair down and fluffed it up a little with my hands.One final check of my makeup before I grabbed my bag, and we were out the door.
During the ride the girls were excitedly chatting about the night that lay before us, but my mind kept returning to Morgan. We had become good friends, and he deserved a proper explanation so that we could move on from it.
I texted him.
A: Hey it’s me. I feel I need to explain my answer better. Let me know when you’re free and we can meet up, Andie x
M: Hey, I’m free tonight?
A: I’m just on my way to the club, sorry. Rain check?
