16
If I Can’t Have You
My eyes sprang open at 8 a.m. the next morning. I lay in bed replaying the delicious memories from last night. How Simon’s lips had been soft on mine, the hard muscles of his back under my eager hands. I felt better this morning about Simon’s suggestion we take things slowly. He was moving to a flat nearby with plans to stay put. We had all the time in the world.
My improved mood paid off; after I’d showered I saw I had a missed call from him. Hmmm. Maybe he wanted to come over tonight and take things slowly again. The thought made me shiver.
‘Hey, Frixie,’ he said, when I called him back. ‘I was just thinking about you.’
Maybe he wanted to come roundright nowto take things slowly.
‘How are you feeling this morning?’ I asked. ‘Not too hungover, I hope.’ It would be just my luck that he’d been too drunk to remember what happened.
‘Nope. I’m on top of the world.’
I grinned.Same, I wanted to say. But didn’t.
‘I spoke to Jess.’
I froze. ‘Oh?’
‘To ask her about meeting up with us and Nick.’
I’d almost forgotten about that. ‘Of course. What did she say?’
‘She’s really busy and is off on tour tomorrow.’
My editor brain was finally catching up. Jess disappearing was a problem. ‘Damn.’
‘But we’re in luck because she can do tonight. Are you free?’
I perked up. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘Pick a bar you like and we’ll both be there. Shall we say eight o’clock?’
‘That would be great.’
‘What about Nick?’
Simon sounded uncertain, but I wasn’t. This was as important to Nick as it was to me. What earth-shattering plans could he have on a Sunday night that he couldn’t cancel – was he washing his hair? ‘Nick will be there too.’
Simon was silent on the other end of the phone. Did he want to talk about last night?
‘Are you okay, Si?’
His voice was low. ‘I took an executive decision.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘When I was talking to Jess – I told her Nick was your boyfriend.’
I couldn’t have been more winded if someone had socked me. He’d done what? ‘Why would you say that?’
‘Because she seemed suspicious of him.’
My mind was reeling. This was wrong on so many levels. ‘But we didn’t say we were a couple the other night.’
‘I’m not sure she remembers much from that night,’ said Simon.
