International Player(55)

Maybe today I’d found the reason. Perhaps subconsciously, I’d always felt that women were just another challenge, but I didn’t want her to be just a higher mountain to climb, simply a more-compelling challenge that I’d move on from when I conquered it. I wanted to be better than that. She deserved more than that. And my friendships with her, Rob, and Abigail would never recover if that’s where I ended up.

I didn’t want to be right but if I was, I should put a stop to sex with Truly. Steer our relationship onto more solid ground where I wouldn’t be tempted to see her as something to be conquered.





Thirty





Noah


We walked through the door of the Crown and Horses just before eight and grabbed a table by the fire. I knew Rob hadn’t been here since Abigail’s collapse. “How’s Abi?” I asked.

“She said she was sick of my face. Of course, that may have been a result of my pointing out that her feet appeared to have doubled in size.”

I tried to contain my grin. Now it made sense why he’d suggested coming out tonight.

“In other words, everything’s fine.” Rob shrugged.

The waitress came over. “Can we get a bottle of the pinot noir?” I said. “And a couple of menus.”

The fact that Abigail and Rob weren’t divorced by now showed how perfect they were for each other. “Being in bed all this time . . .” I paused. My accident wasn’t the same, but I could relate in some ways. “It’s tough on her.”

“On both of us.” Rob chuckled.

“Excuse me,” a pretty, petite blonde approached our table. “My friends and I”—she looked over her shoulder at a group of girls by the bar who were staring back at us—“were wondering if you’d like to join us. You’re looking a little lonely.”

“Thanks for the offer, but we’re good at the moment,” I said.

She pouted, looking at me from under her very long lashes. “Well, that’s a shame. But if you want to hang out later, you know, one-on-one, give me a call.” She slipped a piece of paper into my hand.

I took it because I didn’t want to be rude, but there was no way I was calling her. Why would I bother when the alternative was guaranteed great sex with a woman who was one of my best friends? The same woman who’d been taking up more of my thoughts, more of my brain, than any woman ever had. I wasn’t sure how I was going to walk away if Rob confirmed this theory of mine.

“Hey, what’s up with you? That girl was gorgeous and offering it up on a plate. You should go over. Someone should be having some fun around here.”

I shrugged. No woman in here could make me laugh the way Truly did. Certainly no one could make a Stranger Things t-shirt look as good. “I have plenty of fun.”

“You do? What happened to that girl who went cold on you? All I’ve heard about lately is epidural stimulation, kung fu, and the foundation.”

“She warmed up,” I said.

“So you decided not to make a move on Truly, then?”

I took a swig out of my beer and avoided eye contact with Rob. “I don’t want to fuck up our friendship or things with you and Abigail.”

“Yeah, sex makes things complicated.”

Sex with Truly hadn’t made things that complicated at all. There’d been the brunch issue, but that had passed. No, sex had made things better. Going back to things being platonic between us didn’t seem possible. But at the same time, there wouldn’t be any choice if Rob confirmed my theory. It was just difficult for me to imagine a time when I would want to stop getting naked with her.

“Condoms stop it from getting too complicated,” I replied.

Rob groaned. “Don’t remind me. Complicated and boring. You realize that all I’m going to be able to talk about from now on is my kid? Plus I’m going to smell of vomit.”

“All you talk about now is Arsenal and Abigail, so you actually might be more interesting.”

“I doubt it.” He sighed and knocked his beer against mine. “Anyway, we’re here to talk about you, and I can’t help thinking this theory that you want talking out of is connected to why you’re turning down pretty blondes. Am I right?”

I blew out a breath. Now that I was here, I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what he had to say. If he confirmed my suspicion, I’d have to take action—I’d have to end things with Truly.

“Come on, spit it out.”

The thing was, Truly deserved to be let go if I was right. “I’m not just some guy who sees women as a challenge, am I?”

He didn’t answer straightaway. “Rob, did you hear what I said?” My jaw tensed as I waited for him to respond.

“Jesus, yes. Keep your knickers on. I’m thinking.”

“What do you need to think about? It’s a simple question.”

“I don’t think you’re the guy who sees the most gorgeous girl in the room and goes after her and doesn’t stop until he fucks her. No. We’ve just seen that,” he said, nodding his head at the girl who’d given me her number.

Good, he disagreed. I’d put my new theory about myself down to lack of oxygen after the jump. “Exactly. Bernard was like that at uni.”

“Yeah, that guy was a dickhead. But . . .” Rob continued.