Page 61 of It Was Always You

He smiled. ‘Well, thanks.’

Gina narrowed her eyes at him. ‘Are you sure that girl you were with before wasn’t your girlfriend?’

He laughed. ‘No, she’s my best friend.’

She licked her lips. ‘Hmm, best friend with benefits, I bet.’

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Erm… what do you mean? That we… have sex?’

She giggled. ‘Exactly. I saw how she was pawing you. She had fuckbuddy written all over her face. She was all possessive like.’

He chuckled a little and shook his head. ‘Nah, it’s not like that with us. We don’t see each other that way. She’s just my friend, that’s all. Nothing more.’

No one else was in the Ladies’ room when Lily pushed through the door. She breathed a sigh of relief. Why was being close to Adam so hard tonight? She berated herself for suggesting a night out. Seeing other women flirting with him was awful. This thought led to her next point. Why the hell was she trying to set him up with other women again anyway? Had she developed some kind of masochistic streak since falling in love with him? Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, Lily tried to remember a time when she hadn’t loved Adam. Realising that the exercise was futile, she took a deep breath and made her way back to tell him she wanted to go home. Enough was enough tonight.

When Lily arrived back to where Adam was, she discovered that the woman who had been flirting with him was now firmly ensconced on her bar stool. She slowed down and stood close enough to hear Adam refer to her as just his friend and nothing more. Her eyes stung with unshed tears. He simply had no clue and even if he did, it would make no difference at all. Biting her lip and taking a deep breath, she walked over to him.

Tapping him on the shoulder, she said, ‘Hey, Adders, I’m shooting off. I’m shattered, so I’ll grab a cab. See you later.’

He swung around. ‘Wait, what? No, don’t go. I’ve just met… erm… Gina. Gina, this is my friend Lily.’

Gina held out her hand. ‘Nice to meet you, Lily.’

She grasped Gina’s hand brusquely. ‘Yeah, likewise. Look, Adders, I’m going. You stay and have a bit of fun. See you tomorrow maybe.’ She leaned in and kissed his cheek. His delicious cologne infused her alcohol-fuelled senses. Her heart did a little skip and then immediately sank when she remembered he wasn’t going home with her.

He started to get up. ‘Look, I’ll come with⁠—’

‘Adam, I said I’m fine,’ she snapped and walked away.

The chilly evening air helped to sober her completely as she stood at the taxi rank with her arms folded around her body. Her flimsy skirt fluttered around her legs like a trapped butterfly, and her visible breath came in quick puffs as she tried to calm herself down.

What’s the point in being upset, you stupid cow? She stepped from foot to foot as her teeth chattered. Gaawd, it’s bloody freezing considering it’s August. Where are all the taxis in this town when you really need one?

She felt warmth envelop her and she turned quickly, feeling a little panicked. ‘Shit! Adders, you scared the crap out of me.’ She slapped his arm as he placed his jacket around her shoulders.

‘Well, I was hardly going to let you go home by yourself, was I?’ He rubbed his hands rapidly up and down Lily’s arms to warm her up.

‘I told you I’d be fine,’ she snapped, immediately regretting her tone.

‘Bloody hell, Lil. Did I do something drastically wrong to you tonight? You’ve been like a bear with a hangover ever since I started chatting to…’ His eyes looked upward.

Lily snorted derisively. ‘I believe her name was Gina.’

‘I know that, thank you.’ He stared at her, his jaw clenching. ‘That’s the problem, isn’t it?’

She huffed. ‘What are you going on about?’

‘You’re pissed off ’cause I was chatting to that… that woman.’ He gestured back in the direction of the club.

‘Gina.’

‘I. Fucking. Know,’ he said through clenched teeth.

Lily felt panicked again. ‘No, you’re wrong, actually.’ Shit, he’s finally seen through me. Shit, shit, shitty-shit.

He wagged his finger. ‘I know what your problem is.’ He was nodding now. Oh, nooo. She braced herself for a frank discussion. ‘Yeah, you’re all bent out of shape ’cause you didn’t bloody pick her off one of your dating sites. Yeah, that’s what it is, you’re a fecking control freak.’

Oh… right. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. God, you’re a moron, Adders.’