‘Hmm. I’m not sure I believe that.’
‘You and the new hubs weren’t exactly seeing each other seriously last week, as far as I can tell. There were lots of sparks flying and buckets of chemistry, but you weren’t doing the whole dating thing, were you?’
‘Ours was more a whirlwind affair.’ That’s all I’m offering, and I do so in my boss voice, hoping to end the conversation. Notice there’s no mention of love in that explanation? No love. Nope. But maybe a little like. Just a little—and with no small amount of begrudging. He can be sweet when he wants to be. Our wedding, my beautiful ring, the shoes and flowers, his compliments. But equally, he can be an annoying, aggravating ass. But strangely, when he’s behaving like this, it’s almost as though he doesn’t have any choice, which is ridiculous because we all get to choose our behaviour.Except when we don’t, like when I’m throwing things around under that red swirl of angry mist.But at least I apologise afterwards. And that’s a choice Beckett seems to wholeheartedly reject.
So like. I can manage to like him, just about. And mostly when we’re in bed and my pleasure centres are lighting up like the Vegas Strip.Even if he doesn’t think we can be friends.
‘Just to confirm.’ Mir’s voice brings my attention back. ‘We’re not going to get concerned about that kind of thing? Publicity first, bums on seats second. Or rather monthly payments deducted from our subscriber’s bank accounts.’
‘Fine. But if theLust Islandboys are doing it for free, don’t offer them membership as a sweetener.’
‘Why not? Think of what their profiles will bring.’
‘Yeah, they’re like, modern day poets,’ Heather offers up.
‘Okay, I’ll bite.’ I turn her way.
‘What about the iconic phrase “No pizza before Ibiza”?’
‘Poet Laurette worthy, for sure.’
‘Weight Watchers worthy, at least. I think one of them got a gig representing Weight Watchers with that slogan.’
‘I’m just not sure they’re the right look for us.’ It’s not that I have anything against reality TV celebs. In fact, I think they must have a pretty awful existence, their moment in the sun lasting about as long as it takes forLust Islandto be aired on TV.
Check me out, being all highbrow and selective, and worrying about the long-term effects of partner associations. Before the weekend, we were nearly bankrupt. The only thing long about the business then would’ve been our list of creditors.
‘Well, I do have another idea. Did you happen to look at your Insta feed over the weekend?’
‘I imagine she was very, very busy.’ Heather sniggers. ‘Being banged and boffed and bent in funny shapes.’ My gaze slides to hers with an emphatic glance. ‘Oops,’ she mutters, a little red around the cheeks.
I definitely need to work on the whole authority thing. Maybe Beckett will rub off on me. Yep, so not going to suggest that to him. ‘I saw your messages.’ Which reminds me, I still need to call Reggie.
‘I hope you don’t mind, but I shared your post to the E-Volve account.’ As she speaks, I pull out my phone, flicking over to the account. ‘See how much love that post got?’
‘Yeah.’ I look up, confused by the numbers. ‘But how?’ Our following isn’t huge. We’ve been trying to harness the potential of the platform with limited success these last few months.
‘Because, boss lady, that image went viral. It was in the weekend newspapers and all over the net! Oh, the spin I’ve spun! Move over Tinder, E-Volve owner finds love in her own algorithm!’
‘But that’s not true. That’s not how it happened.’
‘Yeah, but it was reported, so I just ran with it.’
Beckett is going to flip his lid when he finds out he’s been linked to an internet dating app—not only linked to me, but as a customer of E-Volve.
Why does that make me feel a malicious sort of glee?
‘And guess what?’ she adds, brimming with eagerness. ‘We’ve had a phone call fromHiyamagazine. They want to interview the happy couple!’
That sounds like it’s going to be an interesting conversation ...
Chapter 33
BECKETT
My phone rings with Harry’s number flashing on the screen. I swipe it, silencing his call again, only for it to chime with a message in a group conversation we’ve had going for at least a year.
Harrison:Alexander, would you care to refute the scurrilous accusations that have reached my ear concerning your wedded status?
