I had a feeling that’d been his intention in the first place.
“Amber did ask me about the size of your penis.”
It was his turn to try to not choke, which he did a much worse job of than me.
“Why would Amber ask you? Why is Amber interested? Shit.” He took a big gulp of his drink and looked slightly worried. “Nate’s going to kill me if he thinks Amber’s thought about my dick.”
“I only told her last week about your offer. She wheedled it out of me that we’d had a fling.”
“Eleven months isn’t a fling, Neva.”
“I don’t know what else to call it.” I waved my hand, as if I was batting him away and almost knocked over my drink.
“It was a relationship.” He almost murmured the words as if he was saying it to himself. “We just didn’t tell anyone or call it that at the time. We were seeing each other two or three times a week – just because we weren’t goingoutout doesn’t mean it was only sex.”
“I know. It wasn’t just sex. You can’t binge watch all seasons of Buffy and Angel and it not be a relationship. It was just easy to say that it wasn’t.” I felt raw being so truthful. “We’re good with moving forward though. If anyone asks why we’re spending so much time together, just tell them the truth.”
Jude shook his head, scooping up the last of the sweetcorn cakes. “I’ll just say we’re friends. They don’t need to know the rest for now. If I tell them I’m trying to get you pregnant, it’ll be all I hear every fucking training session. And if I am firing blanks - ” There was another shake.
The waiter came by with our starters, my papaya salad looked mouth-watering. Jude’s ribs did not look like anything on his meal plan, but I kind of thought that was a good thing and I’d probably steal one.
“Did you hear about Genny and Guy having a bust up last night at the hotel?” He was already halfway through a rib. It wasn’t how much he ate – he needed the calories even though he wasn’t playing at the moment – it was the speed.
He demolished.
My head went to how he’d often demolished me, feasting between my legs before he’d even let me touch him. His clever mouth had done more for me than any battery powered toy ever had, or any other man.
“Neva? Did you hear what I said?”
“Wha – sorry. Something about Genny and Guy?” He’d totally caught me out and by the smirk on his face he had a good idea where my head had been.
“They had a fight – or an argument in the bar. Do you want details or are you carrying on with whatever fantasy’s going through your head?”
I sat up straighter, ignoring the aching between my legs. “Details, please.”
“They were staying at this really decent hotel near Tottenham’s ground. Genny was at the bar, all dressed up and talking to a man – no idea who. Guy apparently went over to her and scared the bloke off. She had a lot to say and he had a lot to say back, although no one knows what was said, because the moment anyone got close enough to hear, both of them told them to go away. They disappeared after. No one knows where.” He shredded the meat from another rib.
“I think they have hate sex.” I pinched Jude’s last rib. “Do not repeat that.”
“I won’t. I can keep a secret.”
“I know you can. But I’d rather not have Genny or Guy think I’m making up rumours. I’ve thought it before when I’ve gone into Genny’s office and they’re both in there, looking like something’s just happened.” I paused to finish the rib. “Genny doesn’t have a picture of Guy on her dartboard anymore.”
“Can I try your salad?”
“I like how you asked. It’s spicy.” I pushed the plate towards him.
Jude didn’t waste any time finishing it off. “That was good. So you think Genny and Guy are having a secret hate affair?”
“I think they both get off on their banter.” I was glad of the topic change away from us and this other project we were about to start.
“I’d rather not think about it.” He frowned. “So what did Amber say about my dick?”
AROUND EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO…
“Is everything okay?”
I was at his, which wasn’t usual. Since the pregnancy scare, I’d been at his more, although more wasn’t the right word. We’d gone a week without sleeping in the same bed as each other, which I didn’t think had happened for six months.
