“I really wish you wouldn’t call him that.” I look over to see Dominic heading towards us down the stairs.
“Looking extra scrummy tonight,” Char murmurs in my ear with a giggle.
I groan quietly, and force myself to smile as Dominic’s eyes land on my face.
He does look good tonight. He’s wearing a dark grey suit with a grey duffle coat over the top, a blue scarf slung around his neck. How this man always looks so tan even in the dead of winter is beyond me.
“How is it you always look like you just spent a week on a Greek Island?” Char calls to him, and I really do wonder if maybe we are a bloody hive mind.
Dominic laughs abashedly as he comes to a stop at our row. “The joys of having Mediterranean genetics.” He looks down at me, and his expression softens. “Today went alright?”
“It did, yeah.”
Char shuffles down to the next seat, dragging me over with her. “Take a seat, Dom!”
“Oh, thanks.” Dom sits down beside me, his eyes not moving from my face for a second. “How was the funeral?”
“As good as a funeral can be I guess,” I say with a shrug. “No, it was nice. Small, just a few of us. My dad didn’t like ceremony, so it would have suited him.”
“And he’d approve of a football Wake, would he?” Dom grins.
“He was a dedicated Leeds supporter, but he’d have approved, for sure.” I chuckle softly. “Oh, and the home got back to me. The worker who snitched to bloody Hardcastle has been suspended pending an investigation.”
Dom raises his eyebrows. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
“Now we just need Hardcastle to get what’s coming for him and we’ll all be able to relax,” Char chimes in merrily. “Come on, Dom, you must know some big burly blokes who’d beat up a journalist for a tenner.”
Dom sucks on his teeth. “Rates have gone up, sweetheart. Times are hard for everyone.”
“Oh, shame.” Char nods morosely. “Perhaps I have some family jewels I can sell to help.”
“All proceeds greatly appreciated.” Dom gets to his feet and gives us a brilliant smile. “You’ll have to excuse me, ladies, I have sponsors to suck up to.”
“You go suck, we’ll be right here,” Char replies with a wave, and I wish the ground would swallow me up. “He’s just lovely isn’t he?” She snuggles into me, wrapping her arm around mine. “So nice that he took you home that night.”
“Yes, it was.”
“Bet he fucks like a god, too.”
I burst out laughing, my face flushing with heat. “Oh my god, would you stop?”
“What?” Char can’t help but laugh herself. “I’m just saying. A man like that, who’s kept in shape, he’s well fit, he smells bloody nice. Has a beard he probably loves soaking.”
“Char, I love you, but if you keep going, I’m going to have to kill you.” I jerk a thumb over my shoulder. “That man is my father-in-law, and I don’t want to be thinking about someone sitting on his fucking face and soaking his beard.”
Char’s eyes shoot upwards and she bites her lip, suppressing a laugh. “Forget something, Dom?”
God, if you’re real, please, kill me now.
I turn around slowly to look up into Dom’s face, and at least he’s as beet-red as I feel.
“I, uh, meant to give you both these.” He hands me two VIP cards. “They’ll, uh, give you, ummm… drinks. At the, uh…” He gestures vaguely towards the boxes. “Thing.”
“The bar?” Char offers.
“Yes, the bar. Thanks.” His eyes flash to mine for a second. “Enjoy the game.”
He hurries off up the stairs, and Char has the good grace to suppress her laughter under strained grunts and choking noises before Dom is out of earshot.
