I looked up at him and felt my face heat up. For the first time in years I knew I wasn’t going to win an argument.
“Because I’m a control freak and have a huge ego so I don’t think anyone can manage the restaurants like I can.” Sometimes the truth was the best defence.
“There will be WiFi. You can video call and see for real that everything is still standing. And you can look at the food. Book a visit to one of the restaurants in Reykjavik, pretend you’re still working.” His glare supported his tone.
“But…”
“Simone, do you really think Blue will fall to pieces with Guy and his husband practically living there? And Mount Street? Rebecca’s parents will keep an eye on Lauren so I can be around more, if that makes you feel better.”
He had folded his arms, biceps bulging through his t-shirt. I was conscious that Sophie was staring at him. I was also conscious that I didn’t like her staring at him.
“I’d like to try out a couple of restaurants. Especially Nostra.” This was true. Iceland was a country I had wanted to visit for years, partly because of the fish aspect – that had been my childhood. After Toad Hall was established, I was keen to look at a seafood place, maybe not in London for a change. Maybe back to my roots.
“Book your flights and the hotel. It’s a few months away. By the time it’s happening, you’ll feel happier leaving things here too.”
As a rule, anyone telling me what to do made me want to lob a grenade and get the fuck out of there, but Jack’s tone was the same one he used when we were in bed. Or on the kitchen table. It was firm, a safety net of sounds. And he’d never let me down after that one day.
I looked at him, knowing that this was possibly the most significant thing I’d done since I’d left Eliot.
“I’ll make the reservations. I can always change my mind if things here aren’t settled.” Which was true.
“Good. I’m going to Tipsy Toad to sort the bar out. Have some lunch and I’ll see you there in a couple of hours.”
It wasn’t just me who watched him; Vanessa, Victoria and Sophie were watching too.
“Tell me you’re tapping that on the regular.” Victoria put her drink down on the table with a slight bang.
“If you’re not, then can I make a play?” Sophie.
Vanessa. “He cooks? Looks good with a baby? Has that voice that could have you naked and bent over with just five words.”
Victoria. “Biceps. There should be an Instagram account dedicated just to those biceps.”
Sophie. “And those thighs. Think of the pounding power. And those hands. His hands were huge.”
Victoria. “So something else is probably double man sized then too.”
Three pairs of eyes were now focused on me.
I bit my tongue.
“Now is not the time to go all cute and shy.” Vanessa shook her head.
My phone vibrated. I looked at the screen immediately, hoping it was Jack, glad of the interruption to the inquisition.
But it wasn’t Jack’s name that stood out on the background. It was a number I didn’t recognise.
Sorry to bother you, but I need to chat to you about Phillip. Can you give me a call? Trina.
“You okay?” Vanessa put a hand out to touch my arm.
“Phillip’s new fiancée has just messaged me.” I passed my phone to Vanessa. She was well aware of the situation between me and husband number one, as was Sophie.
“What do you think it’s about?”
“Phillip mentioned selling some of his shares in the restaurants to finance an art gallery that she wanted to open to showcase her work.” I hadn’t thought much about it since, mainly because Phillip hadn’t mentioned it and he tended to work slowly anyway. However, I didn’t feel comfortable about her contacting me directly.
“What are you going to do?”
