“What will you do after you’ve finished your training in New York?”
She shrugged. “I’ll apply for jobs. Maybe stay in America. I need a break from Europe.” She looked towards the street.
It had grown busier now the peak of the afternoon heat was over. A breeze had started, one that would convince pale tourists that the sun wasn’t that strong.
“So how will you spend your summer here? One last party before you grow up?”
She laughed again. “You make it sound like I’m a child and you’re some sort of ancient, decrepit man.”
She was pretty when she laughed. She was pretty all the time, but when she laughed her entire face shone. “You don’t look like a child.”
“That’s because I’m not.”
There was fire in her eyes when she looked at mine. Fire that spread through my chest and to my cock.
“No, you’re not.”
Her jaw tightened. “And you’re not decrepit. Or ancient.”
I took a mouthful of my tea, the scalding liquid removing my focus from her.
“Jamie! Fancy seeing you here!”
We both looked over to the voice. One of the men she’d been with atCòctelsstrode over. A pretty boy, one who looked like the type to line the pockets of my uncle through buying his white lines.
“Monty.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Monty didn’t look at me. He was focused just on Jameson, taking a chair to her side and ignoring me.
“Fancy taking a boat out? I’m on my own for the day.” He stretched out long legs then glanced at me. “If you’re not busy, of course.”
“I kind of am busy, Monty. Why don’t I call you later and see if you’re still free?” Politeness drenched her words.
I stood up, my tea half drank. “I have to get going, Jameson. Go on your boat trip. See Jules down at the marina and tell him Tommy sent you. He’ll make sure you’re looked after.”
I wasn’t the person who should be taking up her day. If I did, I doubted I’d be able to let her go.
She looked at me as if she could see straight through my lie. “At least finish your drink.”
I picked up the mug and gulped it down, putting it back on the table with a slam. “Drunk. Have a good afternoon. Maybe I’ll see you atCòctelslater.”
“No maybe about it. You will.”
It wasn’t just me who heard the steel in her words; Monty did too. He stared at me as if I was some strange creature he’d never heard of before.
I walked away, giving her a nod, but then I didn’t look at her again.
I wastwo streets away when a hand landed on my shoulder and pulled me back. I almost stumbled, my head elsewhere and not paying attention to anyone around, which was my second mistake of the day.
“Tommy. We need to talk.”
I knew the voice, just like I knew the grip.
“That won’t take long. You only know enough words to make up three sentences.” I turned around and saw someone I preferred to pretend was dead.
“Ash is fucked.”
“Like I care.” Dessy Wright was one of Ash’s best friends, a malingering fuckwit who had been cut off by his family when he’d ran up loans to various people and hadn’t paid his bills, most of which were for cocaine and whatever else he’d gotten high on.
