Jamie and I mosey around Bonham Square’s leafy private park, the welcome breeze cooling down our hot and sweaty bodies. I probably look a right state, pin curls messed up, mascara down face, dress buttoned up haphazardly. That’s the cool thing about hanging around someone casual like Jamie − I don’t care what I look like. He’s my buddy. My sex buddy.
‘I got asked out today,’ Jamie chuckles as we amble past a rose bush in full bloom. ‘By a patient!’
See? He got asked out and he’s comfortable enough to tell me. Cool, casual sex pals. That’s what it’s all about.
‘Wit woo!’ I tease, elbowing him. ‘Is she nice?’
He shoves his hands in his pockets. ‘She’s nice. Her name is Kiko.’
‘Cool name.’
‘She’s Japanese. She comes for a check-up about her mild arrhythmia every few months. I couldn’t believe it when she asked me if I wanted to go out for a drink. Right in reception, in front of the other patients!’
I laugh with him. ‘So . . . what did you say?’
‘Um, no. I said no.’
‘Aw, that’s a shame. Did you not fancy her then?’ I ask.
‘I told her I was already seeing somebody.’
‘Huh?’ I scrunch my face up. Jamie stops walking, pausing by a huge old oak tree rustling gently. ‘What are you doing, you plonker, why have you stopped walk—’
‘I said no to Kiko because . . . I’m seeing you.’
I snort. ‘You used me as an excuse? Well played, my friend.’
He doesn’t respond. Just looks at me intensely, a bit of breeze ruffling his curls.
He’s not kidding.
I shake my head. ‘But we’re only hooking up, right? No strings, etcetera. Remember? You’re free to go on a date with whoever you choose. It’s totally, totally cool with me.’
Of course it’ll be a bummer not to have access to his man parts whenever I need them but . . . I can live with that. Definitely.
Jamie takes hold of my hand. ‘Surely you don’treallythink that, Jess. That this is still just “hooking up”.’
I take my hand back, confused. ‘What you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?’
Jamie frowns – it doesn’t suit him. ‘You said no strings two weeks ago, Jess, but we’ve seen each other pretty much every day since then. Ergoseeing each other. This is, um, clearly more than just sex. I know you know that. I know youfeelthat.’
What the fuck is happening? I peer at Jamie to see if he’s telling a joke, if he’s going to reveal that this is some ridiculous prank for shits and giggles. But he looks serious. Very serious indeed.
Oh, balls.
He’s only gone and attached.
Jamie Abernathy has sodding emotionally attached to me like a foolish, feeling leech. I thought I’d made things super clear to him? I definitely did.
With an exasperated tut, I whirl around and start power-walking back through the park, past a bed full of gawky looking daffodils and in the direction of Grandma’s building.
‘Where are you going now?’ he asks, following me.
‘Doc, when I said I wanted something with no strings, I meant it. I still mean it.’ I huff out through my cheeks. ‘Nothing has changed. Sex is ace, we have a giggle, but nothing more.’
‘Why nothing more? More would basically be what we’re doing now but with a little more, I don’t know, conversation. I don’t get why you don’t—’
‘I’m − I’m busy. Really busy right now.’
