Page 4 of Brighter Together

“I will.”

“Good.” He stands and reaches for a bundle of rope. “Also, we think you need to get laid.”

I stare at him.

“You can fuck right off.”

“Tommy, the she-devil left you nearly four years ago and you’ve been single ever since. That can’t be healthy.” He chuckles.

I snort, surprised. He hasn’t brought Vanessa up since she decided that a man with a hotel-sized mortgage couldn’t provide the kind of lifestyle she wanted.

“I’ve dated since. I’m just not interested in a relationship.”

Unfortunately, my brain immediately supplies the image of a brunette in a pencil skirt.

Brilliant.

Alex stops what he’s doing.

“What?” he asks.

“Nothing.”

“That face.”

“What face?”

“The one you just made.”

“I didn’t make a face.”

He slowly grins.

Shit.

“Tommy Atkinson.”

“Don’t.”

“You fancy someone.”

“No.”

“You absolutely fucking do.”

I turn my attention to emptying climbing gear out of my rucksack. The lads taking the Range Rover back to the FMR centre can put everything away. My own car is parked further down the mountain so I can head straight to Greenview Manor.

Alex steps closer.

“Who is she?”

“Nobody.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“I’m not going after her, so it doesn’t matter.”

That wipes some of the amusement off his face.