‘He took it well. He agreed the situation wasn’t right.’ Part of me was relieved, the other part wanted to scream at him for giving up so easily. Did he ever really want me in the first place? I’m wrecking my own head overanalysing it and to what end? It won’t change anything either way.
‘Then what happened?’ Geri asks.
‘Then I proceeded to rub his thighs, his groin and his hamstring, all the while drowning in my own juices.’
‘Ok, who are you? And what have you done to my sweet, innocent, obedient friend?’ Geri’s tone is laden with surprise. My own lustful vulgarity even shocks me but if I can’t tell my best friend, who can I tell?
Frustration seeps from every inch of me and I tut. ‘I’ve never been truly innocent, just unlucky. You above all people know I’m not a virgin.’
‘You may as well be, for all the action you’ve seen,’ Geri reminds me.
‘Tell me about it. Why is it that the one man I feel could be a game changer for me, is the one man I can’t have?’
‘Well technically, you’re probably surrounded by men you can’t have. Why do you want Ollie specifically?’
‘Do you believe in fate?’ I run my fingers through my curls, tugging them straight before allowing them to spring back into position.
‘You know I do.’ Geri’s voice is suddenly solemn.
‘I have this weird feeling that we’re meant to be together. I can’t erase it from my mind.’
‘Gee, thanks, Amy. I never realised you felt that way about me.’ Her hooting laughter is too much for my delicate ears and I hold the phone away in disgust. ‘I’m sorry to tell you I’m actually married.’
‘Ha. Funny, Geri. Not awfully helpful though.’
‘Look, don’t panic. You have this date on Saturday. Who knows? Now you’ve reached your sexual awakening, maybe you’ll find yourself attracted to more than just Ollie.’
‘Doubtful, but at this stage, I’ll willingly give anything a try. Because I am going to combust with lust if I don’t do something soon.’
‘Buy yourself a present from Ann Summers. They have next day delivery. It’ll be at your house before you are, trust me.’
‘Things have got so bad, I might have to.’
‘What are you up to tonight?’ She changes the subject, probably so I don’t wreck her head for the hundredth time about Saturday night’s upcoming date. She knows no more than I do, so it’s futile asking her the same questions over and over again.
‘Nothing. I can’t face dinner in the restaurant with the others. I might hit the gym.’
‘Great idea. Burn off some of that tension. Don’t forget to eat as well though, you’re too skinny as it is.’ My friend, the mother hen, reminds me.
‘Ok, talk to you later. Give the twins a kiss from me.’
She hangs up, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Before they can consume me, I pull on a pair of black leggings and a Nike sports bra, and stomp out of my room.
The lift dings, announcing its arrival on my floor, and I’m relieved to see it’s empty. The guys are bound to be resting after today’s training, so at least I don’t have to worry about bumping into any of them in the gym. The last thing I need tonight is company.
Grabbing a bottle of water and a hand towel from the spa reception, I stroll into the ultra-modern, mirrored gym. A man in his sixties passes by me on his way out. Other than that it’s empty. I hate the treadmill, far preferring the open road to running along the mundane repetitive circling black belt. I hate the bike, again preferring the passing scenery of the great outdoors. A huge sigh whooshes from my chest and I wonder why I even bothered to come down at all.
‘That sounds like a sigh of frustration, if ever I heard one,’ a familiar voice calls from the ground. Ollie Quinn’s god-like muscular physique forms a plank position on one of the rubber floor mats. Oh what I wouldn’t do to crawl underneath him and see how long it takes for his legs to tremble and his torso to collapse down on top of me.
‘Fate.’ The word is out before I can stop it.
‘What did you say?’ Ollie half burpees into a standing position in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Sweat gleams on his forehead and cheeks and dots the soft skin above his upper lip, just begging to be licked.
‘Fit,’ I said. Realising my mouth engaged automatically again. Jesus, he either has me silent, or spouting every single thought in my head. It’s one extreme to the other when I’m around him. ‘I need to work on my fitness.’
‘I can help you with that.’ A smirk curls at his voluptuous lips. Emma Harvey would kill for a plumping gloss that creates the same effect.
I clear my throat and glance around to see if the mirrors are deceiving me again, or if we really are the only two here. ‘I’m supposed to be the one instructing the exercises around here,’ I remind him.
