‘Right. Like all passionate you mean? I like a good dirty kiss. You know when they get all messy and you’re so into it your teeth clash a bit but neither of you even care.’
Ashleigh raised her eyebrows. So maybe Selina wasn’t such a shy flower after all. Sitting chatting with her had been infinitely more interesting than sitting on her own as she scoffed down the Yorkshire pudding, which now felt like a bowling ball in her stomach. ‘When was the last time you were kissed?’
‘A couple of months ago at one of the freshers’ events. It wasnotlike that unfortunately. Very lacklustre. You know, he was just ticking the box. Might as well have set a timer to tell him how much kissing meant he could finally get his hands on my boobs.’
‘Urgh.’
‘Yeah. Here’s hoping your guy’s not like that.’
‘God. I hope not. If he is, then I guess I’d have to teach him.’ The idea of spending long hours with her lips welded to Olivier’s to show him how she liked it was all kinds of appealing. If a touch self-destructive.
‘Now that’s the spirit.’
They walked back to the changing rooms together so that Selina could put her lunch pot away and Ash could get the hang of moving without feeling like one of those Weebles. And okay, so she could check her phone for messages too.
Nothing from her mother. Unsurprisingly. There was a long WhatsApp chat filled with the groanings from each of the bridesmaids about the state of their hangovers, broken up with photos from the hen do, which Ash would have to scroll through later. And there was a text from Olivier, asking how she was feeling today.
Ashleigh bit her lip to contain a grin. What could she do? Seriously? She felt helpless against this surge of happiness the tiniest bit of contact with him brought her. How could she expect to be sensible and make sure she was protecting her heart, when all he had to do was show her he was thinking of her, and she lit up like a comet?
Ashleigh:Well, I’m no longer trolleyed! Just tired. Would you like to go for dinner tomorrow after I’ve finished work? I can’t stay out too long. Lots of work to do on Beth’s dress but maybe we could get something quick to eat in town?
She put her phone away again, hoping that he would have answered by the time she finished work. It pinged before she’d even turned the key to secure the locker and she yanked it back out again.
Olivier:I’d love to. Can’t wait. xxx
Neither could she. She was going to do this. They’d go out for dinner tomorrow, and she’d ask him if he wanted to go to the wedding with her. If he could show her that this was serious for him, not just a holiday fling, maybe it was worth the risk.
