I handed it back, something I definitely wouldn’t have done with Jude. Or Nicky, for that matter.
Nate typed away for twenty seconds then showed it me.
Read the article. I’m looking for a housemate. Would you be interested? Strings attached.
I yanked the phone from his hands. “I’m not sending that. It’s like a fifteen-year-old’s come up with it.”
“Isn’t that about your relationship age?”
“Which would be better than yours. What happened with Amber?”
He looked away. “Look, make it a little more obvious. You didn’t even send her flowers for Valentine’s.”
“I sent her cake.”
Nate grinned like he’d just seen something very, very key. “Did you hear what Neva got for Valentine’s?”
“No…” I knew Neva had split up with her long-term boyfriend just before Christmas when she’d found out he’d been cheating on her. I also knew that a couple of the players had made sure he’d not enjoyed driving his car by managing to break into it and hiding seafood in various places. It was an old one but still good. Neva had no idea it had been done, at least I didn’t think anyone had told her.
“A delivery of cakes, chocolate and a booking for two at Dalmatians – the new restaurant that opened in Manchester. She’s taking Amber, but she’s no idea who sent it.” Nate was clearly loving the gossip.
“I take it you heard this from Amber?”
He nodded. “We’re back on speaking terms. Not sure for how long, so I’m making the most of it.”
I didn’t ask. “Who sent Neva all that?”
Nate shrugged. “It’s got to be one of the lads.”
I wasn’t sure. I just hoped whoever it was had prepared themselves for when they got found out.
“I’m not sending your message.”
“Come up with something better then, Romeo.”
Can’t wait to see you. Call me when you can. X
It was the first time I’d put a kiss at the end of a message. To anyone. It was also the first time I’d sounded what I guessed was needy.
Nate grabbed my phone off me and looked at what I sent, passing it back without making a comment.
“What?” I was clearly feeling needy. “What do you think? Should I have been more chilled?”
“Let’s just hope she doesn’t think it wasn’t meant for her, because that’s really out of character.”
“Bastard.” He had a point.
I’m not used to sending messages like that. But I read your interview where you said you wanted to live in the countryside, and you mentioned me. Nate told me to ask if you’d be interested in being my roommate, but that there would be strings attached. X
That felt better. I felt I’d explained things now. Hopefully been clearer about where I stood with her. I also didn’t have the shadow of Lotte hanging over me now. With anyone other than Lotte, I’d probably be concerned that they were going to go to the media, but she hated publicity even more than I did, and as hard as she’d tried to get me to accept her proposition, I didn’t think she would pursue it any further, not if I sent a letter from my solicitors.
My phone rang, Otter’s name flashing on the screen. I looked at Nate, panicking slightly. She was meant to be in the air and picking these messages up when she landed.
“Hey,” I answered, walking into my room and ignoring Nate’s obnoxiously grinning face. “I thought you were flying.”
“Flight delayed, but just for a couple of hours rather than days.” She sounded upbeat. “You read my interview in Pulse?”
“Nate showed it me. You mentioned me.”
