Page 75 of London, Can You Wait?

Naomi tugged her faux fur leopard print coat tighter. “I slept with an ex behind my boyfriend’s back once, at drama school. I still feel bad about it.”

A blue-haired senior began punching their tickets at the gate.

Naomi rambled on. “That said, I have shared my boyfriends with others, though—at sex parties.”

The ticket puncher’s cheeks reddened, but she pretended not to hear.

Freddie’s eyes lit up. “Ding dong! Do tell.”

Naomi nudged him. “I could tell you things that would make your toes curl…”

“Why am I not surprised?” Lucy whispered to Alex as they left the speechless Tower of London employee behind.

Freddie rubbed his hands together. “Oh, goody. Why sample one sexual entrée when you can devour the entire buffet?”

“Freds, would you? Have you?” Alex handed him a Tower of London pamphlet.

“Actually, no.” His shoulders deflated. “I just like to file those images into my wank bank, all those fingers roaming, plunging—”

“Not just fingers,” blurted Alex.

Naomi leaned into Freddie. “And I’m partial to an occasional ménage à trois.”

“With Tom?” he asked. “I can see him up to his knob in three-way shenanigans.”

“With Tom.” Naomi smiled. “A few times now.”

Lucy sneered. “Ugh. Caprice?”

“Oh, good God, no—never.”

Alex tugged her hat down over her ears. “I thought when you got married, you guys stopped…”

“Shagging around?” Naomi laughed. “We did, but we’re married, not dead! We both like a featured player now and then. That’s the thing, Lex: what you see publicly isn’t necessarily the whole story.”

Alex inhaled sharply, her hand squeezing the pamphlet. “Did you have threesomes with Mark?”

“No, sweetie. He’s Mr. Monogamous. That’s why I reckon New Year’s was a shitty fluke. He’s been falling all over himself, trying to prove that ever since. If I were you, I’d give him a second chance.”

“See?” Freddie nodded, his nose beginning to run. “Naomi agrees.”

“Oh, sure, give the guy a medal—he only cheated once!” Lucy shook her head. “What’s the difference between cheating once and a million times? It’s still cheating.”

Naomi put her hand on her chest. “I know the pain Mark’s feeling, breaking the trust of the person you love.” The corners of her eyes crinkled as she looked back at the entrance.

“She’s right, he is.” Freddie sniffed, glancing over Lucy’s head. “Oh, lock up your chastity belts, ladies.”

“Hello, skivers.” Tom strode over to his friends with a cigarette bobbing between his lips.

“Bite your tongue.” Lucy handed Freddie a tissue for his nose. “I booked today off.”

“Hi, mate, all right?” Freddie patted the newlywed on the back.

“Hello, Miss America.” Tom smiled at Alex but got a smirk in return. “Okay, what have I done?” Tom’s gaze swung around the group, settling on Naomi.

“What haven’t you done, Tommy boy.” Naomi kissed him on the lips. “Good audition?”

“Bollocks. I thought it was a modeling gig for a health magazine, but it was info pamphlets, you know the STI ones at the chemist?” He snapped his knuckles. “Crikey. Do I look like Gonorrhea Guy?”