‘Oh, go on. If we must,’ I call back. Honestly, as if either Daisy or me would complain. ‘Can I have a glass of ice too, please?’
‘Philistine,’ she calls back. A minute later, she returns, setting three long stemmed fishbowl looking glasses on her reproduction Eames coffee table. Or maybe it is actually an Eames design. Vivi’s place is pretty swanky. ‘Tell us what this boy has to do with anything?’ Twisting the cap from the wine, she begins her generous pour.
‘Just two fingers for me,’ Daisy adds quickly.
‘That’s what she said.’ Vee sends me expressive kind of glance, one that ends in a cackle.
‘Actually,’ I begin, silently congratulating myself for not glaring back—what is it with me? I’m in such a cranky mood. ‘Boy is what he was back when he lived next door, though I knew him as a golden retriever, but that was a long time ago.’
‘Are you on edibles?’
‘He’s not a boy or a dog. He’s a doctor. He lived next door when we were growing up, and he used to be all blond and bouncy like the breed. He still is a little bit. And I think he wants to see me again. You know, see mesee me.’
‘Based on what? Isheanswering your calls?’
‘I haven’t rung him, either. He works in Africa. We’re communicating via email.’
‘That will be right up your street. No face-to-face communication. Love by email!’
‘You’re in a very mean mood today, Vee.’
‘And you’re in a very tetchy one.’ She inhales deeply. ‘Jetlag is kicking my butt. I haven’t slept since I got back from New York two days ago. I’m sorry, but I worry about you. You don’t date, then you date a man just to have someone to take you to a wedding. When he dumps you, you somehow—and this is only one part of this whole thing I don’t understand—you force someone you work with to take you to this wedding. And now there’s someone else? Can’t you just see how things go with Archer first?’
‘It won’t go anywhere. He’s made that clear already. He’s a serial shagger, and I’m not in the market to be shagged. Serially.’
‘I am.’ Vee shrugs. ‘Maybe Cupid should’ve sent him to me.’
I find myself glowering back at my friend.
‘Ha! Did you see that?’ Here head swings quickly to Daisy. ‘She’s interested in him.’
‘So? It doesn’t mean anything if he’s not interested in me. But Barney, actually his name is really William, he’s interested in me. And he’s a good guy. A doctor. And he’s kind. But then again, so is Archer. But what Barney is and Archer definitely isn’t is safe. And reliable—he’s already sent me two emails this week. Meanwhile, Archer hasn’t called once!’ Despite this fact, I can’t stop thinking about him. About the way his voice seems to vibrate under my skin, making me all shivery and goose-bumpy when he brings his lips to my ear. The way he’d spread open my legs that very first time, his eyes tracking up my body just daring me to deny him. Those hungry, insatiable eyes, eliminating all need for words, eyes that turned dark and languid as he finally slid into me with a curse.
And I did that. I made him look like he was trying not to lose his mind.
If I’m not very sex positive, how come all I can do is think of sex with him?
‘So, what are you going to do?’
Pretend to see Archer between work hours for a few more weeks, if he’s amenable, and see where things go with Barney over email, I suppose. I expect I’ll alternate between mooning over Archer and getting annoyed when I actually speak to him because that’s the sort of relationship we seem to have.
‘What am going to do is go on a date with a banker from DeHoare tomorrow night.’ You know, the private investment bank.
‘Ha, good one. You nearly had me there.’ Vivi presses her glass to her lips before pausing. ‘Why do I think you’re actually telling the truth?’
‘Because I am.’
‘You’re adding another one into the mix. How is that going to help?’
‘Because Archer is clearly uninterested in anything other than boffing me, and as fun as that was, it’s not a great plan for the long term. Barney’s not going to be around for a few weeks, and quite frankly, I think I could do with the practice.’
‘Sex?’ Daisy squeaks.
‘No, socialising. Dating. Before that arse dumped me on my birthday, I hadn’t dated in months. My socialisation skillset isn’t exactly stellar to begin with. If I want to give this thing with Barney a go when he gets back from Africa, then I think I’m going to go on a few dates.’ Not to mention the whole dating thing makes me feel ill, both mentally and physically.
‘And where are these dates going to spring from?’
‘This.’ I pick up my pone and waggle it between us. ‘I’ve reinstalled the E-Volve app.’
