M: Nope, no more rain checks. I’m in town with the boys. Can we come over?
My hands shook, but I didn’t know why. I’d never been nervous around a man before.
A: Yes of course, I’ll add you onto the VIP guest list. Just bypass the queue and give your name at the door xx
M: See you soon.
I swallowed hard but didn’t have chance to think on it more as we had arrived at the club, and it was time to get my game face on. Once inside, I smiled and waved to the hostess Heidi, and we made our way upstairs to the VIP section.
“Okay, you ladies order drinks and settle in. I shouldn’t be long,” I said before moving off to my office.
After filling out the orders for the following month and signing a bundle of paperwork, I made my way to my othermanager’s office. He and Lauren shared time as he had a young family.
I popped my head around Gareth’s door. “I’m in. Anything I should know?”
“Nope, all good. Did you get the purchase orders I left in your office?” He looked up at me from behind his desk, leaning back in his chair.
“Yeah, all signed and ready to go. Lauren is in, too, if you want to head out early, and we’ll lock up later?”
“That would be great, thanks.” Gareth’s phone rang and he picked it up. “Yep, she’s here. I’ll tell her.” He replaced the handset.
“That was Heidi, you have guests downstairs. Party of men.”
“Thanks.” I tried not show Gareth how the news had affected me, but I couldn’t stand still. I shifted from one foot to the other and smoothed down my dress. “Have a good night.”
My heart thundered in my chest and my legs felt like jelly as I made my way back down the corridor towards the VIP booths, and down the stairs that led to the main area. They had arrived quicker than I thought. I had hoped to have been one or five drinks in before he arrived.
CHAPTER 7
MORGAN
We’d been to a few pubs, but it was still early, and they were quiet. We decided to go over to the pool hall for an hour until the pubs livened up. It was my turn to play the winner, so I’d settled myself onto a stool with my pint and watched the boys, though my thoughts kept returning to Andie.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. Expecting it to be the other boys we’d lost in one of the earlier pubs, I picked it up and was happily surprised to see it was Andie. My heart pounded; this was another chance to persuade her to go out with me. The text said she wanted to explain her reasons. I wasn’t going to keep allowing her rain checks.
“Boys, we’re off to the club!” I called out, downing the rest of my pint in one.
I was eager to get there and see her. I didn’t want to waste another minute.
“What club?” they all turned to ask.
“AJ’s, Andie has put us on the VIP list.”
“Fuck yeah, no queuing and guaranteed a seat!” Baz replied.
I sent a quick text to the other boys to tell them where we would be and to give my name at the door, if they found theirway back to us. We walked to the club as it wasn’t that far from where we were. All the way there I ran through what I could say to change her mind.
“Hey mate, you okay?” Baz had slowed his walk to match mine as the others walked on ahead.
“Yeah, just a bit nervous.” I waited for him to mock me, but it never came.
“Listen, you’re a good guy. Just be yourself.”
I nodded but thought that being myself hadn’t worked out well the first time. I needed something more.
Baz, seeing that I was again lost in thought, added, “And if that doesn’t work, be a bad boy. My missus says that ladies love a bad boy. Come on, we’ll never get to the club at this pace.” He clapped me on the shoulder.
I picked up speed and thought about what Baz had said. Was that it? Did Andie just see me as too good? A mummy’s boy? If that was it, I would have to show her I could be a bad boy, too.
