‘But you like Will?’
‘That doesn’t matter.’ I reply. ‘Yes, we’re weirdly drawn to each other, but he has a whole ex-wife thing going on that I can’t and won’t compete with.’
Brad grins. ‘Good for you. You let that woman you’ve never met come between you and hot sex. What’s that saying? Fortune favours the spineless?’
‘What? No, I just—’
He takes my hand. ‘Nora, stop wasting time. This is your life. If you’re convinced that it’s going to be a freaking disaster it will be. If you approach it with hope and love, if you tell the universe that you’re ready and grateful to receive what you’ve asked for, that’s exactly what you’ll get. Now I’m going to go call my husband and then get tomorrow’s schedule in order.’
I walk Brad to the door, the effects of the red wine becoming apparent when the fresh air hits me. Even though Brad’s smoked a full joint and had wine too, he seems completely sober.
‘Just think about what I said,’ he asks, pulling on his coat. How is any human in such great shape?
‘I will.’ I reply, ‘And thanks for the arms— the, er, chat! Thanks for the chat.’
He chuckles and legs it towards his cabin, while I cringe yet again and close the door. What does Brad know anyway? He probably has seven million men ready to marry him tomorrow.
I return to the kitchen and open the patio doors to let the smell of cannabis out before stacking our dinner plates in the dishwasher, ranting to myself.
‘Sure, it’s easy for Brad to say just go for it because Brad is someone’s “the one”. I bet he’s never had his heart stomped on. I bet he’s just like, “Ooh, I have arms, let me just—”’
‘Let me just what?’
I spin around so fast I almost get whiplash.
‘OhmyGod, will you stop doing that! I’m going to have a heart attack.’
Will squints and sniffs the air. ‘Did you have a joint and not give me any?’
It's like Woodstock in here. Am I the only one who doesn’t get high these days?
‘No, it wasn’t me. Do I look like a stoner? It was Brad.’
He looks surprised. ‘GI Joe smokes weed? Never saw that coming… hang on, why was Brad here?’
‘I think the question is, why areyouhere?’ I close the dishwasher and turn it on.
Will pulls a chair out and sits down. ‘Because I was having some beers and I got bored and… my TV is playing up and… fine, I wanted to see you.’
I begin tidying things that are already tidy.
‘Will, I don’t think this is doing either of us any good,’ I inform him, wiping the perfectly clean toaster. ‘It’s messing with my head.’
‘And mine,’ he replies. ‘How do you think I feel?’
‘I know how you feel! Youtoldme how you feel!’ I fold the dish towel neatly before unfolding it, so I have something to wave around while I talk. ‘Youtoldme you want to try again with your wife, then youtoldme that nothing could happen, but then you’re touching my leg and you’re coming over here and—’
‘Can you put down the towel?’
‘No! Look, this whole thing is ridiculous! We hardly know each other! This whole bloodysharing is caringenvironment has made us think we’re closer than we are. But we’re not. I mean, even Brad was telling me to go for it but—’
‘You discussed us with Brad?’
‘That’s irrelevant,’ I inform him. ‘Look, on Friday we’ll both go home, and this will all be forgotten.’
Will takes his jacket off and places it on the back of the chair. He reaches over and takes my wine glass, finishing what’s left.
‘You’re probably right,’ he admits, staring at the empty glass. ‘Although I’m stunned that Brad said that. Totally thought he would have ulterior motives—’
