‘I know, but that’s the least of my worries.’ Placing my tea on the bedside locker, I pull the duvet up until it’s tucked underneath my chin.
‘Well don’t leave me in suspense! This is the most exciting thing I’ve heard all year! How was it?’ Her oval eyes stare into mine, demanding answer that my tongue can’t find.
‘It was…’ The memory of Ollie’s hands tracing my waist, his firm body pressed against my frame as his lips hungrily assaulted mine. My stomach flips even thinking about it. ‘Incredible. That’s the only word I can think of that sums it up.’
‘Uh-oh. You’ve got it bad.’ Geri shoots me a knowing look before taking a sip of her tea. ‘This was Alex’s, wasn’t it?’ Her lips twist with distaste and she eyes the mug with disdain. Hers says:I’m on a gin & tonic diet, so far I’ve lost two days.
I nod.
‘It’s got too much milk in it.’ She places it down next to mine. ‘So, what’s the big emergency about snogging Ollie Quinn that has you arriving here at the crack of dawn in your pyjamas.’ She eyes my less-than-flattering grey flannel attire. ‘By the way, you might want to rethink those if you’re going to start shagging one of Ireland’s fittest fellas. You’ve had them since you were fifteen.’
‘They’re comfortable.’ Indignation creeps into my tone. I came here for comfort, not to be teased.
Taking my hand, all trace of jest from her demeanour, she asks me once again, ‘what’s up? Aren’t you excited? You’ve been crushing on that guy for months, don’t even try and deny it.’
Another huge sigh whooshes out of my mouth. ‘I have. And I suppose a part of me thought if I just kissed him and got done with it, I’d feel the same level of nothingness I felt with every other guy, then I’d be able to at least stop wondering what it’d be like. But unfortunately, that theory backfired massively because I’ve barely slept a wink reliving it. But, in reality, chasing Ollie Quinn is a terrible idea.’
‘Oh my god, this is amazing! He could be The One – or at least the one to get you over that sexual bridge you can’t seem to cross. And does he, or does he not, wear the number six jersey for Ireland? I’m telling you, it’s fate!’’ Geri fist-pumps the air, excitement shining all over her make-up free face.
‘No, Geri. It’s terrible. You’re not listening to me.’ My eyes roll skywards.
What’s the problem?’ Genuine puzzlement creases between Geri’s eyebrows. ‘Eddie?’
‘Well apart from my ridiculously overprotective big brother murdering us, it’s exceptionally hard to be the only female permanently employed on the road with the Irish rugby team – to earn respect in a completely male dominated environment – especially when I’m Eddie Harrington’s “kid sister”. Pursuing something with Ollie, and I don’t even know if he wants to, will undo all of the work I’ve put in so far. And when it’s over, how do I continue to work with him, look at him every day knowing what an amazing kisser he is, knowing that he’s doing that to someone else.’
Geri’s mouth drops open. ‘Wow. You have skipped straight to the end, before it’s even begun.’
My eyebrows shoot up on my forehead. ‘Well, come on, let’s be realistic about the situation. You know as well as I do what those boys are like. I saw Eddie mess around for long enough. And, as for Ollie, who knows what he’s been up to for all these years? And why the sudden interest in me when he’s never been spotted with a woman before?’
‘Hello! Take a look at yourself, Amy! You’re gorgeous, kind, funny and too sweet for your own good. And don’t mind Eddie. He might have played the field but look at him now.’ Geri picks up the mug again, seemingly deciding milky tea is better than no tea.
‘Exactly. Engaged to a real-life Wonder Woman with the boobs and brain to go with it.’
‘You’re a real-life Wonder Woman. Look what you did for Matthew, and for loads of patients for that matter. I told you before, no hoody will hide that rack.’ She eyes my chest again. ‘Even those godawful ancient pyjamas can’t hide what you’ve got under there.’
‘Pah.’ I poke her ribs and a dash of tea sloshes over the front of her nighty. ‘Sorry.’
She grabs a tissue from the box beside her and dabs it. ‘Seriously though, all joking aside, I know what you mean. It would have been great if you could have kissed him, laughed about it and then moved on to finding Mr Six. But the trouble is, now it was so incredible, you want him to become “number six”.’ She jiggles her eyebrows again. ‘I still don’t really see the problem, other than your brother of course, but he’d get over it in time. Probably. Maybe. A lot of time,’ she says reluctantly.
I haven’t even got to the worst bit yet. ‘Apart from the fact I’d lose all respect from my peers, and probably lose my brother, there’s also good chance I’d lose my job. There’s fine print in the contract, it’s not exactly specified in detail but there’s a line about indecent relations with other employees.’
‘What?’ Geri’s eyes widen in realisation. She’s the only one who truly knows how much I wanted this job, and for how long I’ve wanted it. To throw it all away after the first few weeks is simply not something I can do.
‘You jeopardised everything you worked for, for one kiss? Amy, you have wanted to be the team physiotherapist since before you went to London! Hell, I thought it was the sole reason you came home.’
‘It was.’ The words are barely a croak. ‘And my mother’s persistent nagging of course.’
‘This changes everything. You’ll have to tell him it was a mistake. And that it’s never going to happen again.’
‘I know. That’s what’s killing me.’ Flopping back onto Alex’s pillow, I stuff my fist in my mouth to muffle a scream of frustration.
‘Now, aren’t you grateful I signed you up for Finding Forever. We’ll match you with a nice doctor, a surgeon like Eddie wants. You’ll settle down, have brilliant brainy children and live happily ever after. Just wait and see. If a doctor can’t find your G-spot, no man can, trust me.’
‘What is it with everyone wanting me to marry a doctor?’ I groan, thinking I might need one if I let myself get carried away with Ireland’s number six. Because not only is he total heartbreak material, if I lost my job and my brother, I’d be completely broken.
‘You should shag him first, to see if he’s as good as you think he is. Then afterwards, tell him it can never happen again.’ She shrugs with a smirk and I throw a pillow at her head.
‘That’s like something a guy would do. A bad one at that.’
