I kissed her before replying. “No. You’re the only girl I’ve ever taken on a date, and I haven’t slept with anyone else for months.”
“In that case, I’m probably your girlfriend, but if that word makes you want to hide in a bunker, we can just say we’re seeing each other.” She cupped the back of my neck, bringing me in for another kiss. “It doesn’t mean you have to marry me or anything, so don’t break out in hives.”
“I’m not worried about either. What about if the press gets hold of it?”
She shrugged. “My brother’s a professional footballer for your team. I know what’s involved here.”
“Okay.” I breathed, deep, long inhales. Panic hovered just around the corner, but I wanted this with her more than I wanted to run away and hide from being invested in another person. Or have them invested in me.
“Go let your teammates in. I’ll shower quick and come down after. Just tell Nate I’m still tied to your bed or something.” She laughed, a tad evilly.
“Not telling him that. He’d chop my balls off.”
I heard her laughing even more evilly as I left the room to see my unwelcome guests.
CHAPTER16
Jerrica
“We need more details than that.”
I stretched my legs out on the sun lounger in Jesse’s garden. He’d only been gone about fifteen minutes and I was already fending off the inquisition about his tastes in bed.
Jude, Nicky, Nate, Rowan, Matty and Ryan had all turned up. With them had been Amber — who my brother was not happy to leave on her own — Genevieve, Neva, Dee, Otter and Kitty, who had the same sex-drunk expression on her face that I was pretty sure was on mine.
I knew exactly what this was — an ambush. Last night, with Jesse and I going on a date, had clearly set the various group chats in flames with gossip, and now those mongerers wanted some more fuel for their fires.
“We went bowling. I kicked his arse. I had a burger, he had a steak, and we came back here. I stayed over. That’s the summary of the night.” I reached down and picked up a muffin. As pre-payment, Otter had brought food, the sort of food you’d only buy when sharing with someone else, because you could never justify it to yourself.
“I want more details about the night.” Genny sat back and closed her eyes. The day had turned out warmer than forecast. “So many rumours about Jesse. I once read somewhere that he never, ever kisses who he’s with.”
“He kisses me.” I could give them that nugget.
“What about his cock? How big are we talking? I caught a glance once in the changing rooms, and it looked like your vagina would need first aid after a good seeing to from that.” Neva was definitely not following her own diet plan. Her second lemon muffin was being devoured.
“He’s pretty big. You do get used to it though.”
“I did.” Amber glanced at me. “I’m more than happy with Nate’s penis.”
“That’s my brother. Please don’t give me any more details.” I glared at her. I did not need to know anything further about my brother, and I was rather scared she’d try to share.
“I’ll give you a detail every time you try to be vague with an answer you give us.” Amber was the epitome of evil right now.
I stared at her. “I’ll tell my brother everything you tell us and make it sound like you were saying he had a tiny penis and couldn’t satisfy you.”
She just laughed. “Feel free. He won’t believe you. So what do you want to tell us about Jesse? Are you serious? Is this just research for your next book? Is he really into kinky stuff?”
“It isn’t research. Does anyone want a mimosa?” I stood up. “I’ll talk more with alcohol in me.” One of the things I did miss about living in Manchester was that I’d lost the circle of girlfriends I had. I missed the gossip and the sharing. I’d gotten to know Amber quickly because of her getting pregnant and my brother falling head over heels for her, but it was as my brother’s girlfriend, rather than my friend.
That was slowly shifting as we found our footing with each other, and I hoped we’d have a strong friendship — as long as she didn’t give too much information about what my brother did with the appendage I still remembered him trying to whip around like a hose when he was eight.
“All of us apart from the pregnant lady.” Otter stood up, getting off the blanket we’d thrown on the lawn. Jesse was lacking in garden furniture. “I’ll give you a hand.”
“Thank you.”
I hadn’t spent much time at Jesse’s. Because of the girls, most of the hanging out was done at Nate's, so Jesse’s kitchen was unfamiliar. He did have a few champagne glasses, and I’d already found champagne and orange juice in the fridge. I’d replace the champagne in the week, and I could only hope he wouldn’t mind if I opened it now.
“Jesse’s a nice guy,” Otter said, pouring out the champagne after opening the bottle like a pro. She was an actress and was probably more used to champagne than I’d ever be. “Ryan thinks a lot of him.”
