The excitement almost drowned out the fear for one irresponsible second. Which in itself was terrifying. Could I do this? Professionally, absolutely. It was the kind of prestige people killed for. But personally? Constant proximity to that man. After last night and after that near kiss and the way he looked at me.
Shit.
I pulled out my phone and fired off a message. There was only one person who’d have the audacity to pull strings like this and call it a favour.
Me:
Gwen, Are you free this evening? I need a drink.
Gwen met me at the Dog and Duck down the road from her place. She was already in the pub garden when I arrived with two glasses of sauvignon waiting and her sunglasses perched atop her head as though she was auditioning forThe Real Housewives of Richmond.
I dropped into the chair opposite with a huff, signalling my annoyance but she didn’t even flinch.
“Meeting went well, then?” She smirked.
“What the hell, Gwen? You could have warned me.”
“You’d have backed out.” She said it knowingly, like she’d played this game before.
“At least I wouldn’t have been blindsided.”
She shrugged and sipped her wine, unbothered. “So, are you doing it or not?”
“It’s not that simple.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh my God, you’ve shagged him already?”
“What? Jesus, keep your voice down.” I hissed, glancing around the garden. “And no, I bloody haven’t.”
“Well then, what?”
I wrapped both hands around my chilled glass, stalling. “I… met him for a drink the other night.”
Her face lit with instant amusement.
“And before you say anything, it was just one drink. As colleagues—friends at most. I was home by ten. On my own.”
“The world’s most boring date, then.” She smirked.
“It wasn’t a date.” My cheeks burned hotter than the citronella candle between us. “It wasn’t a date,” I muttered quieter. I gripped the stem of my wine glass so tight the condensation dripped down my hand. “But… we talked. Properly. He told me a lot about himself, his family. Everything Kate said was right; he’s had it rough.”
“I knew there was more to him,” she said, her voice dropping its teasing edge for a moment of triumph.
I nodded, but my stomach twisted. “That’s the problem. The more I learn, the harder it gets to keep him at arm’s length.”
“So how does that complicate things?”
I lowered my voice. “After the semifinal he was spiralling. I’ve never seen him so hurt, and frustrated. I hauled him in before he could leg it and gave him some tough love, which… I don’t think he’s used to getting. And then he…”
“What?” Gwen leaned in so far, I thought she might tip the table.
“He almost kissed me.”
Her mouth dropped open. “What do you mean almost?”
“His coach walked in just before it happened.”
“Oh, what a bloody cock-block.”
