Page 66 of Be More Octopus

'Well?' Lucy put down her coffee mug and grinned at Em.

'Well, what?'

'Don't play the innocent. It's 7 am. Are you going to tell me you spent all night star gazing with Karl's telescope?'

'Is that what they call it now? You know I don't kiss and tell.'

'Must've been disappointing then.'

'Far from it. To use one of your more delicate phrases, he gave me a good seeing to,' Em said as she inspected the contents of the fridge. 'Several times.'

'You've not fallen for him, have you?'

Em put a yoghurt on the counter and got out a spoon.

'No. He's lovely, but he doesn't have the same effect on me as Jack.'

'You mean he doesn't leave you feeling frustrated?'

'He didn't ask for my number, and I didn't ask for his. And I said Jack's name at the crucial moment. I think I can safely say I'll never see him again. '

'See who?' Charlotte walked into the kitchen looking far too bright and perky for someone who'd been as far out of it as she had been last night.

Em flashed Lucy a 'don't say a word' look. 'Just someone I met in Newquay.' She said as Charlotte got a glass of water from the dispenser on the fridge.

'Oh. I thought you were fucking Karl last night.' Charlotte said as she walked back out of the kitchen.

How on earth did she know? 'What makes you say that?' Em called after her.

'The way you were looking at one another. And his car's on the drive.'

Em looked at Lucy. 'I don't understand.'

'Shall I check it out?' Lucy offered.

'No. I better go.'

Karl was getting out of the car when Em opened the front door. He gave her a big beaming smile as he walked towards her.

'I'm not stalking you. You left this. It was on the floor by the bed.' He handed her a diamond earring. 'If anyone else had answered the door, I was going to say I found it in one of the boxes I took home last night.'

'That's very kind.' She turned the earring slowly over in her hand. 'There's one slight problem.' She grinned at him. 'It's not mine.'

'That's awkward.' He had the grace to look embarrassed.

'Perhaps it belongs to your friend who owns your flat, seeing as you haven't invited any other women back there?'

'Yes, it must do.'

She handed the earring back to him, feeling disappointed.

'I'd have given you a lift back here this morning if you'd asked,' Karl said.

'I didn't want to wake you. Thank you for last night.'

'We could do it all again tonight? I know you said you're out with your friends, but you could come round to mine afterwards. You're worth waiting up for.'

'I think it's best I don't. I don't want to hurt you.' Em didn't want to get hurt, either.