I shook my head. “No. Not really.”
“Ask him. I think I’m the only one at the club who knows, apart from Guy, but Rowan might tell you. He’s really private, though. When did he kiss you?” She fanned herself with her hand, and looked ridiculously fangirly.
“Twice. We’ve kissed twice. At my house when we took Toby for burgers, and then just now, in the signing room.” I felt my heart rate jump up again. It was getting more of a workout now than in training.
“Is he a good kisser? If he is, you know you’ll probably be in for a good night.” She winked, making the gesture look completely over the top. “And how long has it been since you had a good night?”
To be fair, my ex hadn’t been horrendous in bed. There had been orgasms, although they’d usually been because I’d helped myself along, and I’d instigated sex as much, if not more, than him. I liked sex; I liked the connection it created and the closeness it brought, as well as the goodies it gave. But I’d also lived without it well enough since Peter ended it.
“Two years. Pretty much dead on two years.” I knew exactly what Genny would think of that. My friend had her harem, one very much away from football that was mainly businessmen and builders, depending on what fix she fancied.
Genny looked sad. “Then don’t come home after your date. Phone Toby before his bedtime and tell him you’ll be back for his breakfast in the morning. Let Rowan get rid of those cobwebs.”
“It’s a first date.”
She frowned. “What’s wrong with sex on a first date?”
“I don’t know?” It was a question rather than a statement. There was nothing wrong, just not something I’d done before. “What if it’s rubbish?”
Genevieve raised her perfectly styled eyebrows. “Then you make it a one-time thing. Can you really see sex with Rowan being shit? I don’t think he’ll have a micro-penis, given the size of him.”
I almost choked. “He hasn’t got a micro-penis.”
“And how do you know this?”
“He was wearing tight sweats and I think he was a bit turned on.” It had been a delicious sight.
Genny’s eyes lit up. “I will only babysit if you promise to give me all the details. Allllll the details…”
I giggled, that was the only way to describe it, a giggle. Not a noise I’d made in the last couple of weeks. “Which day suits you?”
“Tomorrow? I can pick Toby up from holiday club, you can get ready and shave everywhere, and stay out. He will be fine.” She re-opened her laptop. “Now go. I have to finish this and ten other things before I can leave here tonight.”
CHAPTER15
Rowan
I didn’t knowwhat to expect.
When I’d first started seeing Jade, it had been after we’d hooked up a few times. She’d told me where to book, and I’d done that because it had been an easy solution. I’d occasionally tried to surprise her with new restaurants, or drinks in new bars that were discreet, but that hadn’t gone down too well and I’d become fed up of getting it wrong all the time.
Dee had told me what she liked, which was most things, and what she didn’t, which consisted of sushi and really spicy food. I asked her if she would rather if we were out of the way of the public or not, pretty sure I knew what the answer would be, and I was right. As private as possible, which suited me.
I told her where we were going; a speakeasy cocktail bar on a side street in Manchester, then a steak restaurant around the corner, because as much as I wanted to surprise her, I had a feeling that she’d be nervous enough without trying to plan for every type of restaurant.
In the couple of days since I’d seen Dee, I’d tried to find out more about her. Genny hadn’t given much away, apart from hinting that Dee needed some delight, and not just in the afternoon, and there wasn’t a ton of stuff on her social media other than clean cut posts that supported the image of an Athletic player and a few of her with friends. All I really knew was what I’d met of her so far. She was proud, optimistic, caring, determined – all of that – but I’d also seen her vulnerable and worried. Behind that smile was a woman who was so fucking strong, but she carried the world.
The taxi pulled up outside her house and I got out. She’d decided to be straight with Toby and tell him she was going out with me for a meal and asked if I’d come in to see him too. That had been a no brainer.
Genny opened the door before I’d even knocked, giving me a huge, slightly dirty, smile.
“She’s ready. She’s nervous. I tried to get her to down a shot, but she wouldn’t.” She shook her head like it was the biggest faux pas in the world. “Come in.”
I followed her through to the kitchen, which was immaculately tidy. Toby was wrapped around Dee’s legs, Dee’s long, toned legs that were shown off in a short dress.
I tried not to stare, then gave up, trying not to look too much of a pervy fool as my eyes eventually met hers.
“You look amazing.” Shit. I should’ve brought her flowers. I’d send some tomorrow.
