His jaw pulses as if he's chewing on his words before he settles on, “And he didn't intentionally hurt you...during?”
Oh god this is the most awkward conversation since my mum told me about penises and vaginas in clinical detail when I was ten. The memory still makes me shudder.
“No, he didn't intend to hurt me,” except for the part where he obviously thought I was going to enjoy it, “I swear.”
Brad stares at me for a silent eternity. Or thirty seconds, who knows?
“Actually, he's suggested a double date with you and Larissa so we can all get to know each other. I think it's a great idea, don't you? I'm sure Larissa would be up for it. We could go for dinner somewhere nice, but not too swanky, we don't want to put that kind of pressure on ourselves, do we? And I'm sure one of the girls or Trey would happily have Lizzie overnight, so we don't have to worry about driving back and forth to Plymouth to drop her with your parents or Hettie! Maybe?—”
“Blaze,” he pinches the bridge of his nose as a reluctant smile crawls over his lips, “yeah, that sounds like a great idea. I'll float some dates around with Larissa and we can organise it from there.”
“Great! Thanks, I was running out of breath there. Who knows what the next sentence might have been? I think I blacked out.”
Brad laughs and Lizzie joins in because she can.
This is good.The guys can meet and see that no one is a threat to anyone else.
32
SELF, WE NEED TO TALK
SHARI
6th February2026
Jake guidesme into the restaurant with his hand splayed low on my back, and after giving his name to the hostess for the reservation, he turns to eye me up and down again. I can't help but feel a bit like prey for some reason. It's probably just my nerves. I have no idea how this evening is going to go, but it's a significant step for all of us.
He leans closer and breathes into my ear, “You look absolutely delicious, Amour. I can't wait to devour you later.”
The hostess informs us that the rest of our party is already here and leads the way to the table.
It really is a beautiful restaurant. The lights are dimmed to create an intimate ambiance and the soft classical music adds to the effect. The tables are all glass topped with elegantly curved bronze legs, polished to a high shine. High-backed black leather chairs with the same shining bronze legs bracket the tables, and candle votives are dotted around everywhere. My heels click ondark hardwood floors, and the complementary pale, sage green walls have subtle shaker mouldings for added character. A huge, bronze-framed mirror takes up the top half of the wall at the back of the room and I have to school my features when I see my reflection.I look like I'm walking to the guillotine.
Our hostess stops next to a table, but I don't hear anything she says because Brad stands from his seat, and he is breathtaking. He's wearing a grey suit with a powder blue shirt that makes his eyes appear to glow. His suit jacket hangs on the back of his chair, and as he stretches his arm out to shake Jake's hand, his cufflink winks in the candlelight.The surfboard cufflinks I bought him for Christmas.It makes me wonder how Larissa feels about him wearing them tonight.
I look up to find his eyes waiting for mine, even as he makes his introductions with Jake. He steps around the table to give me a hug and kiss on the cheek, and much like Jake did earlier, he breathes in my ear, “You look absolutely stunning, Blaze. Just stunning.” Goosebumps erupt over my entire body, and I really need to snap out of it.
Self, we need to talk. You are on a double date; you are with Jake and Brad is with Larissa. Stay. In. Your. Lane!
Speaking of Larissa, she practically bounces over to me and crushes my boobs against her in a very enthusiastic hug.
“I’m so glad we're doing this! You look amazing, by the way. And this place is so nice! I've been checking out the menu online all week because I keep changing my mind about what I want. Are you drinking tonight? We were going to order a bottle of wine for the table, but thought it would be best to wait for you guys in case you wanted something different. Are you a red or white girl? Or maybe a rosé, even? Or I guess you might not even like wine. Do you? Oh wait, I know you at least drink chicken wine because Brad has some at his house for you. Is that your preference?” she turns to me, having finally managed to stop herrambling, her bottom lip firmly trapped between her teeth. She really is kind of adorable and I find it impossible to dislike her. Her obvious nerves actually help to settle my own, too.
“Hi Larissa,” a real smile for the first time since we got here graces my lips, “thank you, you look beautiful, too. I haven't looked at the menu yet, but maybe I should have. I prefer rosé, but I'll drink most whites. How about you? Also, what is chicken wine?”
She visibly relaxes and huffs out a small laugh, “Oh, it's what I call the rosé you like, because it has chickens on the label.” She looks down at her feet as she blushes, “I’m happy with whatever you guys want to order, though.”
Jake's hand slides around my waist and down to grip my hip. When I look up, his smile seems to be all sharp teeth, and it sets my nerves on edge. I step out of his grip to lower into the chair since I can't exactly question his mood without making it a whole thing. But I realise too late that I've plopped myself into the seat opposite Brad, not Larissa, as I intended, so I grab the menu quickly to have something to hide behind.
Tension abated for the time being, we strike up small talk and order a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. “I understand you went to Exeter Uni, and your parents live in Plymouth,” Jake directs at Brad. “How come you don't have a West Country accent?”
“Ha! I asked the exact same thing the first time I met his family. None of them do,” I grin.
Brad smiles back at me before replying, “I was born and raised in Winchester, and we only moved to Plymouth when I was fourteen. I guess my original accent was ingrained by then. You don’t exactly have a Bristolian accent either, Jake. Were you born here?”
“No, I’m actually from Cheltenham. My late wife was from Bristol, I moved here for her,” his jaw clenches so I grab his hand. It can’t be easy thinking about how she betrayed him.“And how about you, Larissa, are you from Bristol originally? You do have that slight twang.”
Larissa ducks her head and a flush spreads across her cheeks, “Yeah, I'm Bristolian through and through. But I think I managed to lose the stronger edges of my accent in uni.”
