I look down at her innocently, caging her head between my hands. ‘Round five.’
She blinks rapidly. ‘I’m sorry, I thought you said round five.’
‘Strap in, Butler, it ain’t morning yet.’
Chapter 22
JULES
‘Seventimes?’ Ash shrieks, a little shrill considering how little I’ve slept. She’s so gobsmacked she forgets to stay close to the wall and almost gets mowed over by Matteo D’Ambrosio as he weaves through the snug passageway on a scooter.
‘Keep your voice down,’ I hiss, ‘everyone knows everyone here.’
‘Ending your dry spell with a bang – literally. I can’t remember the last time Abs and I had sex more than once in a night. He’s lucky if he gets it seven times in six months! What about you, Mins?’
‘Seven’s a stretch, but you’re missing the point here.’ She glances around to check no one she recognises is eavesdropping, and I walk into her with anoof. ‘It’s not about the number, it’s the fact that it was withMr 305.’
I gape at the back of her head. ‘Jesus, have you given him a codename?’
‘Well you can’t throw his real name around in here.’
I don’t know if it’s because I’m feeling especially delicate but the paddock seems a world away from when I did the track walk with Tom. Insufferably so. People are everywhere, which issurprising considering only team personnel, media Minnies and VIPs are allowed.
‘Anyway, the point is— This way, gals,’ Minnie adds when Ash starts striding towards the harbour,‘Jules shagged Mr 305.’She hisses it even though it’s in code. Rubbish code. Passersby are going to think I like my men bald and grabby. ‘Last I checked, you hated him.’
‘I did— I do! It’s just…’ Oh I don’t know what to think. ‘It didn’t mean anything.’
When I glance at the girls in turn, they both deadpan.
‘Seven times would suggest otherwise,’ Ash says, slowing to join a coffee cart queue.
‘It was… amazing. There’s nothing more to it.’
‘I’ll say,’ snorts Ash, and I whack her with my bag, but not hard because it’s Hermès.
‘How does he feel about your date withSundowner?’ Minnie presses as we surge forward.
Sundowner? Is she talking about Tom? Who made these up? ‘Fine.’ I shrug. ‘Why wouldn’t he be?’
I do think I caught something immediately after I told Tiago. A slight… hesitation? Before I could make sense of it, it was gone and his hand was between my legs and I’m pretty sure my overstimulated brain made it up.
‘Are you going to shag again?’ Minnie asks.
Kill me now. ‘No. I don’t know. I last saw him two hours ago; I’ve barely had time to shower let alone map out what’s next.’ Why do I sound so defensive? I have nothing to be defensive about. A one-night stand doesn’t need to mean anything. Though it was without a doubt the best sex of my life. Of course it had to be with Tiago, someone completely unsuitable and bad for me. It probably meant nothing to him, a standard Friday night.
Minnie raises her eyebrows like I’ve confirmed something and I don’t like it and I’m tired.
‘Maybe I should’ve put a romance clause in that contract,’ Ash giggles.
‘It’s not romance, Ash.’
‘You two do spend a lot of time together…’ Minnie ponders.
‘It’s just business.’
‘Hey look, there’s Emily Ratajkowski!’ Ash whispers feverishly. ‘Get that content, Julesy.’
I whip out my phone, and my exhausted arse (literally) bolts after her, hearing, ‘Do it for the vlog!’ called behind me like a proud parent. Why do I do the things I do?
