“Oh my God, you’re blushing. What happened?” said James. “Did you shag him? You did, didn’t you?”
“There was a hot lift guy?” Kelly popped open the biscuit tin Gerald had hidden behind the bags of coffee beans. “Wow. I’m not even up to speed with the Rudy breakup, and you’ve already found a replacement?”
“I haven’t found a replacement,” I said. “Nor do I want one. I just happened to get stuck in the lift with someone James thought was quite—”
“He was a fucking thirst trap,” said James. “Some sort of gym instructor, right, Andy?”
“I don’t know. We didn’t get into details.”
“Well, you got intosomething, I can tell.” James raised a brow. “After hesaved your goddamnlife.”
Monish glided up. “What’s happening, bitches? Good weekend?”
“Andy broke up with Rudy, and now she’s dating a personal trainer,” Kelly announced. She slid the tin across the counter to Monish.
“I amnotdating him,” I said.
Monish peered into the tin. “James, did you eat all the custard creams again?”
“Free pastries after the von Roth speech, don’t worry,” said James.
“I also almost died in a lift disaster,” I said. “But by all means, focus on my dating life.”
“Sorry, what?” said Monish.
“The paramedics said she’s fine, Monish.” James waved me away. “What’s important here is the gym guy whocushioned herfall.”
“Paramedics… and a lift disaster? This is a lot to process, Andy.” Monish pulled out a stool. “What happened with Rudy? Was he the one with the crow tattoo that made his Adam’s apple look deformed?”
“It was a bird of prey, actually,” I said. “But yes. Turns out, he was cheating on me.”
Although at least Rudy waited a couple of months beforehedisappeared.
“Hewas cheating onyou?” said Monish. “Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.”
“Ancient history,” said James. “Now get to the point. The lift guy. I want it all. Name, age, star sign, favorite sexual position. I could see how you were looking at him over lunch. Don’t deny it.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” I said. Ireallydidn’t need my friends cheerleading for Liam after the way he’d behaved. Aguy like that probably plowed through women the way other people cleared their email. Although he might have had the decency to hang around a bit longer before he made it so obvious.
Not the sort of man I needed in my life.
Shame the sex had been so hot, though.
My toes curled in my shoes.
“Andy, it’s quite clear thereissomething to tell,” said James. “You’ve got a sort of… angry knowing vibe about you today. Didn’t you like him just a little bit?”
God. What evenwasthat yesterday? I’d always thought it was something women exaggerated and men lied about.
Rudy had never made me come. Not with his mouth, his dick, or anything else for that matter. Nobody had.
Except Liam.
Was this what all the fuss wasabout?
“He was okay,” I said.
“Okay?” said James. “He saved your life in a lift. Good Lord, woman.”
