“I don’t know,” I said. “I hope so.”
“But she’s so much younger…” Andrea said, looking at her napkin. “Is she ready to have a family and settle down? I remember her as always being a party girl.”
I laughed. “It doesn’t matter if she’s ready to start a family or not. It’s not long since we started seeing each other. But she’s the person I could see that happening with in the future and I’m in no rush.” I felt like a bastard, talking to the woman who had just told me she wanted to get back together and I was telling her about the woman I did want to be with. “I’m sorry, Andrea. I genuinely am.”
She stood up and nodded at me, her last glass of prosecco only half finished. “It’s okay, Eli. Thank you for having the decency to tell me in person. I hope everything works out for you. I’ll get my half of the bill on the way out.” She plucked her coat from the back of her chair quickly and raced out, leaving me looking momentarily at the door.
Then long blonde hair headed towards me and Ava was there.
“Hey,” she said. “What was all that about?” She looked towards the door and the rather startled waiter.
I looked up at Ava. “Hey,” I said and any irritation or guilt at what had just happened with Andrea melted like chocolate on a hot day. “I told her I wasn’t interested in starting things up again.”
Ava studied me carefully and bit her bottom lip, the way she would do when she was about to come and my cock received a jolt like it hadn’t had for weeks. “Good,” she said. “Did she think you were single?”
I wasn’t sure what to read into her words because I wasn’t sure if I was single or not, so telling someone else my relationship status accurately was impossible. “I’m not sure. She was aware of your cushions on my sofa though.”
Then her face broke out into a huge smile that reached her eyes and she sparkled. “I’m having lunch with David Everett from Everetts Architects. Do you want to join us?”
I glanced at the table where she had been sitting with the man in the suit. I knew the company as we’d done some work for them when they’d had an issue with a supplier a few months back. David Everett was a quiet guy, very keen on his work and his family. He had four kids and a wife who was home schooling them. I seemed to think they were part of some unusual religious group, but I couldn’t remember.
Ava had seated herself at the table so she could see the bar.
“I’ll come and sit with you if you have a glass of champagne with me,” I said. “Unless your client wouldn’t approve.”
“Not the bottle?”
I knew why she was asking. If we ordered the bottle it would be opened in front of her.
“Just a glass. I have training tonight.”
“Okay,” she said. “Let me introduce you to David.”
“We’ve met,” I said, following her to the table where they had been sat. “David, it’s nice to see you again.”
David stood and offered me his hand. “Good to see you too. How’s the ankle?”
“Not bad. I have to ice it occasionally, but nothing I can’t cope with,” I said, noticing Ava’s puzzled look.
“Good to hear. I’ll let our team captain know. He was hoping a few of your men were going to be out for any reason after the whooping you gave us last time,” David said. He was drinking a beer, which surprised me. I seemed to remember he didn’t drink alcohol.
“We’re all fit, I’m afraid.” I smiled. We both sat down. “How’s your family?”
“They’re really good, thank you. Another one on the way and then that’s it. Small operation needed.”
I decided this wasn’t a conversation I wanted to pursue. “House move?”
“Actually yes, that was one of the things I wanted to talk to Ava about. We’ve seen a larger property in Primrose Hill, but it’s pretty much dilapidated. I can organise the renovations of course, but I wanted to see if Ava could work alongside my wife so it can be decorated in time for when the baby comes.” He took a sip of his beer as if he was savouring each drop.
“If you pass on my number to Petty, I’ll arrange to see her one lunch time and I can get her thoughts,” Ava said.
“That’s if she has any thoughts. She has four children and baby brain. I don’t think she knows what day of the week it is at the moment. But then again, neither would I. I have the easier job.”
It was a good thing David had added that, otherwise I think Ava would’ve lamped him.
“Then a break at lunch time might be good for her. Maybe you could look after your kids for an hour or so?” Ava said.
I managed to cover my grin with a slight cough.
