“This can’t work,” Patrick muttered. “It just can’t.”
“It does! Henry always gets stuff and he flies all over the place. That’s why it’s called The Henry Principle!”
“Well, no offence to Henry, but you are gonna get shot down like a World War Two bomber.”
“Not with your body, I won’t.”
She was right. A guy, Wilsen, messaged back in seconds, telling them to use his name on an encrypted app. Once she did, they were sent a menu and the rates for a courier service. In less than an hour they had an order arriving at the hotel.
“Holy shit,” Patrick said. “I’ll never doubt you again.”
“Good,” she said smugly, though even she was surprised by how easy it had been.
“Does the Wilsen guy mind that I’m not gonna meet up and fuck him?”
“I don’t think so. Like, he would have wanted to, but it’s not like I led him on or flirted with him. I just asked the question.”
“Right.” He rolled his shoulders. “Still, I feel kinda bad. He should get something out of this.”
“Like a wristy?”
“Like a Bunnings voucher or something.”
This was the most misplaced case of politeness she’d seen Patrick succumb to. And he’d once helped an old woman unload her entire shopping cart, then go back into Coles to get her more butter.
“You’re so lame, Patrick Normal,” she said. “It’s adorable.”
“Yeah, well…” Patrick dove for her phone, pulling it from her hands. “I know what to do. Your code is twenty-seven, forty-nine, twenty-eight, yeah?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Back in a minute.”
He went into the bathroom and closed the door, leaving her thoroughly confused. She waited, wondering, and a few minutes later he returned, beaming. “Done.”
“What did you do?”
“Sent him a picture of my dick.”
“You didn’t!”
“Then I guess I didn’t.”
She sat bolt upright. “You’re a football player! You’re not allowed to send nudes!”
“I’m not allowed to take MD either. Sometimes you’ve just gotta be a bad boy, you know?”
She laughed. “That is so weirdly wholesome.”
“Wilsen seemed happy.”
“I bet.”
“I told him I’m leaving too early to meet up.” He slid her phone from his pocket. “Photo’s still on here if you wanna see?”
She leapt to her feet. “Give it! Give it! Give it!”
He held it high above her head. “What’s the magic word?”
