Well, nothing.Because at this point I was repeatedly banging my head against rock bottom.I still had no job, no flat, and the icing on the cake?I was stupid enough to sleep with my best friend.Again. What made it worse was I was trying and failingnotto think about said best friend, the memory of coming apart on his lips, and the fact that he was texting a woman called Lexi.A woman he had never mentioned before.
My mouth tasted bitter, and suspiciously like jealousy.It was pathetic.I was, yet again, at the mercy of how Ren made me feel.
‘What about a sports massage?’ James asked, those eyebrows going again.His breath smelled like stale lager.‘I’ve got a terrible pain in my shoulder.And I wouldn’t mind a rub down.’
‘I’m a personal trainer.Not a masseuse,’ I said flatly.
I refused to make this man more comfortable by laughing off his shit joke.
James worked in finance, wore a quarter-zip, and when I asked if he lived in Everly Heath, he said, ‘Oh, God, no!I could never live anywhere like this.I live in the city centre.I’m from High Wycombe, originally.But London was so expensive, you know?So I bought a flat in Manchester.You know the one right above Gail’s?’ He took a sip of his drink.‘I’m only out here ’cos my mate thought it would be a good laugh.Get to know some of the locals.’
He said ‘locals’ as if we were zoo animals.If it wasn’t already over, it was over then, but I hadn’t had a chance to shake him off yet.
‘Do you do discounted rates for mates?’ James wiggled his brows again.
I took another sip of the Prosecco, hoping it would knock me out.
James launched into a monologue about cryptocurrency, and I nodded every now and then.Across the room, Amy caught my eye, winced, and mouthedSorry!over the man bun’s shoulder.James was on to NFTs when I heard a voice.
A deep, familiar voice.
My stomach did a flip.
‘Mind if I cut in?’
My head snapped up and there he was.
Ren stood there, name badge crooked on his chest.His eyes locked on mine.I hadn’t clocked that James was short.Not that there’s anything wrong with that.But next to Ren – who was looking tall, broad, and a little intimidating right now – well, James just looked… puny.
Ren’s gaze pinned me in place.
James spluttered, ‘We were just talking—’
‘Youwere talking,’ he said, voice calm.‘Shewas falling asleep.’
My lips parted.James’s eyebrows went up into his soon-to-be-receding hairline.
Ren finally looked at James.‘Look, mate, I’m going to offer you some advice.Women – or anyone, really – don’t want to hear you drone on about your investments in little pictures, okay?’
James frowned.‘They’redigital assets—’
Ren leaned down, voice low.‘And we all know they’re worth fuck all.’
James opened his mouth, then closed it again.Like a fish.God, I almost felt bad for the guy.Then I remembered the massage comment and pulled myself together.
‘Ren.’ I caught his sleeve, fingers wrapping around his biceps.The smug bastard flexed it under my hand.
His eyes met mine, fiery and intense.
‘Am I wrong, Lydia?’
Silence.
Then I realised it wasn’t just me that was silent.I glanced behind me.Every single eye in the social club was on us.My mum, Pat, Amy.Even Peter, who was a miserable curmudgeon at the best of times and couldn’t give a toss about anyone else’s drama.
They wereallwatching.
I grabbed Ren by the arm, pulling him away from James towards a quiet corner of the social club by the loos.
