“Then he’ll come home. He’s absolutely smitten with her. God knows how much trouble I’ll have to help her stay out of when she’s a teenager. He’ll probably do security checks on every kid in her class. That’s if he decides not to home school.” Claire sighed, sitting down with a groan and fidgeting to get comfy. “Right, spill the details about the hot bookstore owner.”
“He’s really…fuck. He’s just like this living example of a perfect man. We should shoot him, stuff him and create an exhibition on just how perfect he is.” I twisted my hair round, something I did when I felt uncomfortable.
“No one’s perfect, Payton. Don’t tell Killian, but I think he’s as close to perfection as they come. That’s why I had his baby and I’m going to marry him, even though he drives me mad most of the time,” Claire said.
“You realise he’ll have this room bugged and will be listening to our conversation?”
She shook her head. “He’s more interested in the neighbours. He’s convinced they’re spies. I think he’s imagining things so he doesn’t catch baby brain from me. Back to Owen. Why’s he so perfect? He’s gorgeous in a geeky, body builder way and he seems pretty decent.”
“He is. He’s interesting and intelligent and he calls me on shit but defends me too. He says he’s happy being friends but he’s made it clear he’d like more if I was interested,” I said, knowing that my sister would pick straight up on the tone in my voice.
“And you’ve told him you’re not dating?”
“Yeah. I know.”
“So the first decent guy in forever comes along and you’re not dating because you think he’s too good for you?”
“Hole in one, Claire.”
She shook her head. Killian came in with a French press of coffee, cups and warm milk. Eliza was strapped to his chest, looking tiny against the hugeness of him. “I’ll come back with her in a bit,” he said. “Drink your coffee first.”
Claire rolled her eyes at his retreating back and waited until he’d cleared the room before saying, “I know. Overprotective daddy. It is very sweet though. He looks gorgeous with her.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You’re planning more?”
“Yes. Not right now, obviously, but there won’t be too big a gap between her and the next.” She smiled. “I am coming back to work though. At some point.”
“Good to know. I can’t wait to hold her.”
“Wait till she’s sick on you for the first time. Holding her will lose its novelty then. So what are you going to do about Owen?” Claire said, shifting forward so she could pour the coffee. I went to do it for her but she gestured me away. “I’m not a fucking invalid.”
“I don’t know. We’ve kissed. But…” I shrugged.
“Is there no chemistry?”
There was more chemistry than a fecking high school lab. “There’s plenty of chemistry.” I told her about the previous day, about how easy it had been, how we’d just clicked.
“I don’t understand why you’re not sleeping with him. It’s ages since you’ve had sex, Payts. Get it out of your system. It might be shit and you just stay friends or it might be a life changing event and that’s you off the dating scene forever, making happy with Owen Anders. Right, let’s discuss Ava. Something’s going on there which she’s not taking about. Thoughts.”
* * *
Friday nights out after work were something of a habit. More often than not, someone from the office was celebrating or commiserating something and an email would fly round about three to see who was interested in a couple of after work drinks. Some weekends most of us Callaghans would head over to Oxfordshire to see our parents, but Whisky Ginger—a cocktail bar near Tower Bridge—was generally populated by at least half a dozen people from our firm.
I sat with Ava and Victoria, Maxwell’s girlfriend, and nursed a glass of prosecco. Killian was on his first drink and had already checked his phone three times and called Claire once, which had resulted in his beer being spiked by Seph with a shot of vodka. Given that Killian rivalled Owen for size, I didn’t see it making much difference.
“How’ve you enjoyed your week off?” Ava said, looking like she’d just stepped out of Vogue in black leather trousers and a blouse that would’ve looked terrible on anyone that wasn’t her. Claire and I had come to the conclusion that she was seeing someone, someone we wouldn’t approve of, although we had no idea as to who it could be.
I smiled and looked at my drink; I wasn’t in the mood for drinking much and I wanted to avoid a hangover tomorrow. “It’s been better than I thought it would be. I actually haven’t missed work that much.”
“Good,” Ava said. “You need to take time out and get some balance and then the rest of us can stop worrying about you working yourself into oblivion. How’s Owen? I hear you’ve spent a lot of time with him this week. In fact, I heard you woke up in his house this morning.”
“But not his bed. We’re just friends.” Saying it made disappointment rise up into my chest and squeeze my heart. I was definitely interested, just afraid. I’d made bad choices in the past, ones that had worried my family and I didn’t want another.
“Good friends,” a voice behind me said. “As in a friend who goes through their friend’s drawers and cupboards.”
I turned around and gave Owen a huge megawatt smile, ignoring Ava and Victoria laughing. “It’s a really good way to get to know someone. You’re more than welcome to do the same at mine.”
“And what would I find, Payton Marie?” he said, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. He was wearing slacks and a shirt, which was untucked and the top couple of buttons were open. The sleeves were also rolled up, showing strong forearms and I remembered what it was like to be held by them.
