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‘Besides, what happened to all the hunky guys on your dating app?’ I tease.
‘Andrew, the oil rig guy, is the only one left. He’s coming in on Wednesday and wants to have dinner.’
‘The roughneck is the last man standing. You’re terrible at this, Ariella,’ I tease her.
‘I’m trying to take your advice.’
‘What advice is that? You need to start ignoring me. I take all my own advice and I’m hardly winning here.’
‘Getting under someone to get over Jasper?’
‘Whoa! Slow your roll, Speedy Gonzalez, you have to let them stand next to you first. Seriously though, why don’t you start by committing to kiss your next date? If you can’t, maybe Jasper is your best choice, because at the rate you’re going it sure as hell isn’t going to be anyone else.’ Only, there is no way I am going to let her go back to Jasper. I need her rent.
‘I can try.’
‘Don’t try, just do. Put mouthwash in your bag for afterwards if you have to. He won’t resist. He’s been on a rig for months. I won’t be surprised if he tries to sink his teeth into you, as a starter.’
Her disgust is obvious. Nothing much has changed there then. I try not to laugh.
‘He’s a gentleman,’ she defends him vigorously.
‘Fine, maybe he’ll wait until dessert.’ This is fun.
‘What if I can’t?’
‘Then I’ll bloody well shag you myself so, at the very least, you don’t go back to Jasper in the same state!’
The shock on her face is comical. The laughter I’ve been holding on to breaks through.
‘I’m joking, Ariella. Don’t look so scared.’ I laugh, and she joins me. The girl has no hope.
‘Speaking of shagging…How are things going with Nicole?’
‘Shitty. I cancelled a date, she backed off and I’ve done nothing about it.’
‘We’re both all talk and no follow-through.’ She sighs.
She is right. I need to man up and end things with Nicole.
‘Chin up, you’re back. Let’s celebrate.’ I nudge her gently with my shoulder as I grab our plates.
It is nice to have my weekend back to normal. I run, do some work and emerge later to help Ariella take some food to the shelter. She has more than usual, because her food delivery came while she was in Zambia. They are going to eat well tonight. We return, watch a couple ofSopranosepisodes and hit the hay. I’m invited to Sunday lunch with her family, but decline because I’ve asked Nicole out to brunch.
She walks into the busy restaurant on the Strand looking spectacular, turning the heads of most of the diners. She sits, offers a dazzling smile to the waiter and is immediately handed a menu when she orders her coffee. Nicole Bonnaire is made of the stuff of every man’s fantasy, so I regret what I’m about to do.
‘I think we should call it quits, Nicole.’
‘Excuse-moi?’ She leans in.
‘Work is killing me, I have a ton of stuff to deal with. I can’t do this right now.’
‘You’re saying I am less important than stuff?Whois the stuff youaredealing with?’
‘I’m not dealing with anyone. We’re not having the fun we used to—’
‘You selfish bastard. I knew this was coming when you asked us to get to know each other. You don’t get to know anyone. I should have stayed away from you after the Christmas party. I knew we made a mistake, but you wouldn’t stop texting, calling and flirting all the time. All I heard was, “It’ll be fun, Nicole. I really like you, Nicole. Why don’t you come over, Nicole?”’ She mimics me while contorting her face with disgust.
Surely I wasn’t that bad?
