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8
AVERY
Taylor and Martinhave moved into a small flat above a local shop on the edge of town, walking distance from the restaurant. I regret wearing the shoes I chose. Walks any longer than five minutes in high heels are never a good plan, in the snow even less so.
The flat is very Taylor. Co-ordinated neutral furnishings, neat and tidy with several pictures of her and Martin in frames attached to the fridge. I compare this in my mind to my student halls; a box of a room and a bathroom shared with others. Martin visited me there a few times and we spent most of the time in bed.
The last couple of times he visited, we spent less time in bed and more in the student union. Was he already cheating on me then? At the time, I thought because he’d finally decided he wanted to get to know my new friends, but now the real reason is clear.
Rachel and Simon squash onto the sofa leaving two armchairs. Janet and Lee made their excuses and went home. Taylor disappears to the bathroom and I hover with Bryn, unsure what to do.
“Beer?” Martin asks Bryn.
“Sure.” When Martin heads to the kitchen Bryn follows.
My heart hammers in my chest as I wait. What will they say to each other? When Taylor reappears, she takes advantage of the guys’ absence and marches up to me.
“Bryn Hughes?” she asks doubtfully. “Really?”
“Really. What? You think I paid him to come with me or something?”
Taylor laughs. “I don’t know what you did, but whatever it is you have over him, well done.”
“Have over him? What do you mean?”
Taylor glances to where Bryn is talking to Martin. “I know you’re not really a couple. You can’t be or I would’ve seen a picture of you together somewhere.”
I cross my arms. “Oh? How do you know we’re not experts at hiding our affair?”
“Seriously? Come on; tell me what’s happening. I’m not stupid! How do you know him?”
A strong pair of arms slide around my waist as Bryn pulls me into his hard body. My breath catches and cheeks heat under Taylor’s scrutiny.Not a couple? I’ll bloody show her.I slide a hand along the rigid muscles of his forearm and curl my fingers around, pulling his arm closer.
“You okay?” he whispers into my ear.
I would say ‘yes’ but the heat and scent of this man I hardly know is again screwing with my ability to speak.
“I’m asking Avery how you really know each other,” says Taylor.
“What do you mean?” Bryn rests his chin on my shoulder, arms remaining around my waist in a relaxed way.
“If Avery was dating a rock star, I think I’d know.”
The words ‘like I knew you were screwing my boyfriend when you were supposed to be my best friend’ almost fall from my mouth and I stop them. “We haven’t spoken much recently, have we, Taylor?” I say instead.
Taylor scans us, taking in Bryn’s hands on me, but I’m missing everything but the sensation of this man’s body against mine. I fight the desire to bury my face in the sleeve of the arm around me, letting go of the tension and pretending he really is my partner.
Fine. If he’s playing the game, I will too.
I twist around and place a hand on his chest, gazing into his eyes in what I hope is a loving way. This is the first time we’ve made eye contact for more than a couple of seconds, and there’s something odd in his. I’m not entirely sure I understand what his game is anymore.
“I think we should go home,” I say. “I’d like to spend time with you before you need to go back to London.”
“Back to the hotel, you mean?” he asks softly.
“Yes.”
Despite this conversation being a show for my ex-best friend, the words are loaded, trapping me in the moment.
