Page 6 of In Love and Revenge

‘Did you come?’ he asks, looking at me expectantly.

‘What? Oh, yeah,’ I lie.

He smiles, then flings the condom across the room, punching his arms in the air when it successfully lands in the bin.

‘Thought so. I can always tell when you do,’ he says, climbing out of bed and pulling his boxer shorts on, then reaching for his shirt and trousers on the floor and swiping them up. ‘I’ve got to go.’

‘I know.’ I give him a sad smile. But it’s due to my lack of orgasm –again – not the fact he’s returning to work after our lunchtime tryst.

‘Don’t be sad, babe. I don’t get to choose my hours like you do.’

I open my mouth to argue, then clamp it shut instead. I’m wasting my breath going over this with him again. Charlie doesn’t consider my jobs to be ‘real’ ones. Regardless of the fact I put in more hours than him most weeks. I don’t wear a suit and swing my dick around with other men in suits every day, so what I do can’t be a ‘proper’ job.

‘See you tonight?’ he asks, leaning down to kiss me.

‘I can’t tonight. I have dinner with Dove.’

‘Okay. Tomorrow then.’

He kisses me again, then walks from the room, pulling his shirt on.

‘Oh, and Rory?’

I look up from his bed as he cranes his head back around the doorframe. Hope lifts my chest as he smiles at me.

‘Remember to lock yourself out and post the key through the letterbox, okay?’

My smile tightens. ‘Sure.’

He winks. ‘Good. Later, babe.’

I fall back against the pillow with a huff as his retreating footsteps pass over his polished hardwood floors and the sound of his front door opening and closing echoes up the hallway.

We’ve been dating for a few months, but he doesn’t trust me to have a spare key. He’s happy to have me over all the time, but when I’ve suggested it would be easier to have my own key, rather than waiting outside for him in the rain– and getting pitying looks from his elderly neighbour– he’s quickly changed the subject.

I grab my phone and shuffle up the bed, resting my back against the padded headboard. I’ll take a shower before I leave. Charlie’s shower heats above ‘freeze your tits off’ level, and the water pressure doesn’t resemble a gnat’s pee like that last shower I took.Bliss.

I smile as I type out a text to Dove. Having dinner with my best friend is exactly what I need.

Me: Can’t wait to see you later. Shall I meet you at your place first and we can travel together?

Her reply comes almost instantly, and my initial happiness is replaced by an ickiness as I read.

Dove: I’m so sorry. In a meeting that’s likely to run over. Can you meet me here?

I swallow the acid that’s threatening to rise up my windpipe.

Me: No problem. I’ll meet you at the restaurant.

Dove: It’s hard to find. Meet me at the office. Don’t worry, and I promise it’ll save time that way. Trust me.

I type back okay and a kiss, then throw my phone down on the duvet with a huff.

Dove doesn’t need to concern herself with me beingworried. Meeting her at her office will only result in one emotionifI have the misfortune of being in close proximity to her older brother, who she works with.

And that’s indifference.

Complete and utter indifference.