I might not be again.
For all I knew, he had moved on and we were just the friends we’d said we’d be when what we had ran its course.
The conversation moved on from husbands and fiancés and boyfriends with their annoying habits and instead changed to periods and lubricant for anal sex and other things that became louder and more detailed as time went on.
“How was the food?” The man mountain named Jack appeared stealth-like at Simone’s side which was a feat given how huge he was.
“Really good,” she said. “I liked the extra coriander you used.”
He smiled, clearly pleased at her compliment. “Anything you want done differently?”
“I’d like you to be bossier in the kitchen. But we’ve had that conversation.”
“That wasn’t a conversation,” he said. “That was you yelling at me while I prepped for the following day and pretended to listen to what you were saying. If, and I mean if, the staff aren’t doing what they should be, I will start shouting.”
“Good to know,” Simone said, giving him a half-drunk nod.
“And for your information there’s only one place I’m always bossy and no woman tells me what to do…” He gave her a cheeky wink and walked away, removing his apron.
Several catcalls automatically rose from the table and Simone blushed from the roots of her black hair down to her cleavage.
“Fucker,” she said. “How dare he…”
“Give over, Si,” Vanessa said. “He’s worth breaking a few rules in the staff code of conduct for.”
“Absolutely not,” she said. “Never going to happen.”
I walked back to Claire’s before her, as she was continuing her night out with Simone and Victoria, heading to a bar for more drinks and an inevitable hangover. I was going to Oxford in the morning with Callum for the night, a chance to see Mum and Dad before they headed to Toronto and the winery they’d bought last year. My mum had been anxious over the last few weeks about how I was doing, but she’d done her best to not crowd me and to carry on like normal.
I took out my phone to check the time, my watch away for the weekend and saw I had a message from Eli.
Eli:How was your evening? Did Simone get thrown out of her own restaurant?
Me:Not quite. She had a set to with one of her chefs. He’s like a mountain man you read about in Claire and Vanessa’s books.
Eli:Which books? The ones that scarred Jackson and had him researching sex tips?
Me:I’m not sure I needed to know about that, but probably. Her chef is huge. I don’t think he could fit through a normal sized door.
Eli:Does he like his own cooking too much?
Me:No, he’s huge as in built. Like six and half feet tall and four foot wide. Muscles.
Eli:I’m feeling rather insecure now…
Me:OMG – you’re jealous!
Eli:No… just a little left out.
Me:No, you’re jealous. Awwww. Poor Elijah!
Eli:Aside from you enjoying my alleged jealousy, how was tonight?
He knew it was one of the first times I’d gone out drinking where I couldn’t see what was happening at the bar. The previous times I’d either chosen a seat so I could watch my drink at all times or waited at the bar until it was done. They’d caught Jon McKend-Berry on camera, adding the diazepam to my drink; I’d needed to be that camera since, until tonight.
I rang him, tired of messaging and walking at the same time. “Hey,” I said, as he answered. “Where are you?” I realised he could well be out or on a date. I hoped he wasn’t on a date.
“I’m at home,” he said. “Just slobbing in front of the TV.”
