Page 48 of Stanton Adore

“You have to ask?” he smiles as he throws my line back at me.

I narrow my eyes. “OK, but I’m picking, I want another flannel pair.”

He feigns a disgusted face. “Flannel,” he repeats. “I hate flannel.”

“Well nobody sees my pajamas and I like them.” I smile.

His face drops. “Why does nobody see your pajamas?”

I shrug and peek up at him, hating myself for revealing so much information. “It seems I have the opposite problem to you, Josh.” I quickly start to walk up the road. I am not having this conversation with him—how embarrassing. He doesn’t follow. He stands still, and I know I’ve shocked him. I turn. “Are you coming?” I yell out.

He nods and starts toward me. He reaches me and links his arm with mine as we turn the corner. “How long?” he blurts out.

“What?” I ask.

“How long?” he asks again.

I shake my head. “I’m not having this conversation with you, Josh, forget it.”

“Natasha, I need to know.” He stops still.

“Why?” I frown.

“I just do,” he repeats.

“Years, Josh, it’s been years.”

“Years,” he repeats. “Why has, I mean that’s not possible, I mean.” He stops again still. He looks at me and all traces of amusement have left his face.

I can’t help it, I giggle. “What?”

He looks shocked. “What’s funny?”

“You are,” I answer.

“How am I funny?”

“Why are you so shocked I haven’t been with anyone for a long time?”

“You had a boyfriend for years. Do you expect me to believe you didn’t sleep with him?”

“Believe what you want, you asked me.”

“Why?” he whispers. I shrug. “Tell me,” he demands. I stay silent, my eyes searching his. I want him to work this out for himself. He must know how I feel about him. Surely, he can’t be that stupid.

“Listen, are you taking me shopping or not?” He nods. “Just drop the twenty questions, OK.”

He seems to regain his composure. “OK.” He nods. “Where to?”

“I have to buy a dress for a wedding in three weeks.”

“Whose wedding?”

“A girl I went to uni with. Actually, will you come with me?”

“What, to the wedding?” He frowns. I smile. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he answers.

“Why not?”