Before he can get another word in, a gorgeous specimen of a man strolls over to the booth and takes a seat opposite us. He reaches his hand across the table to take mine.
“Hi, gorgeous. I’m Jenson. A very dear friendof Tommy here. I don’t need your name, but your number will do.” He says with the cockiest smile I have ever seen. Wow, this man could give Max a run for his money.
I burst out laughing.
“Nice to meet you, Jenson. I’m Maya. Sorry, I don’t give out my number to men I’ve just met,” I answer him. Jenson is a stereotypical Italian stallion, tall, dark and dreamy.
Blair strolls over at this point, sitting next to him and seductively leaning back, crossing her legs.
“You know, you could at least buy the girl a drink first,” She laughs, holding out her hand towards him. “I’m Blair, and happy to give youmynumber.” She throws a wink his way.
Jenson leans back, joking aside as lust mists his eyes. He takes her hand and lifts it to his lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Blair.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” She replies huskily.
What would it be like to be as carefree as this pair? I can already tell these two are going to be trouble together.
“Well, aren’t I the luckiest man here getting to speak to both of you beauties tonight. Come on, Blair, I would love to buy you that drink.” As he leaves, he turns and gives Tommy an odd look, to which Tommy subtly shakes his head.
Strange.
I wrack my brain, thinking of anything I can say to avoid the conversation from turning backto Jake.
“Tell me about you. I can’t believe you have an apartment here now. I’d love to see it. Is it close by?” Turning to me, he raises his eyebrows, and I realise how that may have come across. “Oh my god, I didn’t mean it like that, I’m just being curious.” My cheeks heat to beetroot red, wow, how embarrassing. If he didn’t think I was a whore before, he definitely will now.
Luckily, he just laughs.
“Don’t worry, I knew what you meant. Yes, it's walking distance, just overlooking the river.” How funny, that even though we’re miles apart, we have both picked a place with a view of the same river. “But honestly, other than work and the odd night off with the boys, I have no life.” So, no girlfriend. Interesting.
“Are you planning on staying up here more often then?” I ask.
“For now. I’m staying up this way for a few months whilst the new office finds its feet. I thought it would be handy to have a place to crash.”
“That’s amazing. You’ve done so well for yourself. I’m really proud of you.” And I am. I always knew he’d do well in whatever he put his mind to. He has that passion for life about him. We’re sitting so close to each other now, the fire in his eyes burning into mine. He blinks, and suddenly it’s like someone has snuffed out that fire. He grins sheepishly and moves ever soslightly away, his eyes flitting over to where Fallon stands, watching us from across the room.
I told Fallon how I felt about Tommy once.
I was 17, and he was 20. She was so worked up about it that she didn’t speak to me for almost two weeks, and she made me promise that I would never go there with him, that I’d never tell him how I felt. I have always kept that promise, but being in his proximity makes it so much harder.
So I never told him. For all I knew, he never felt the same way anyway. Whenever he came up to visit, I’d make sure I wasn’t around and avoid their parents' house like the plague. In my head, it was only me it was affecting by staying away, though I knew Fallon could tell I was distant whenever he came. She had never mentioned it, though, not then and never in any of the years since, probably glad that I did stay away.
The silence stretched on between us, and my mind started to whirl from a combination of too much alcohol and the dizzying effect that this man had on me. I need to stop this before I end up doing something that I regret. As much as things aren’t great between Jake and me, he is still my boyfriend, and until I deal with that situation, I shouldn’t be behaving this way. Jake shouldn’t be such an afterthought.
I had to end it with him. Tomorrow.
I glance over at Tommy, and he’s staring straight back at me with a gorgeous smile on hislips. My heart jumps in my chest at the sight. Why does this man affect me so much?
The high I had been feeling from our girls' night was quickly dissipating. We had been having such a good time, loving every minute of it, so why do I feel so deflated now?
Reality is a big kick in the dick.
The guilt currently flooding through my nervous system must have shown on my face, as Tommy is suddenly frowning at me,
“Listen, I should go,” I say, “It was so good to see you and thank you for the dance.” He would never know how much I needed tonight, just to feel alive and free. I stand, picking up my bag, and he follows my lead.
Before he gets a chance to reply, I lean in for a hug. That spark of electricity is still there, compelling me to hold him closer, and as if he feels it too, he holds on to me just as tight. Maybe all this time it wasn’t just in my head?
I don’t want to let go, but I know that I must. Taking a step back, I ease myself out of his embrace. Without saying goodbye, I turn on my heel and head over to the girls, letting them know I’m heading home.
