Page 70 of Toy Boy
So look away.
Stop it.
I can’t…
And then she – Tania – she drops the quickest of kisses onto his mouth and I feel my stomach give a seismic shift. Even from this distance it’s difficult to ignore how heartbreakingly handsome Scott Warren is. Movie star handsome. Classic. Sophisticated… And my stomach shifts again, so much so I struggle to take another breath. So I gulp down the last of my wine and look around to see where Xander is. How long does it take to call a cab?
“You okay?”
“Jesus! You made me jump!”
“Taxi’ll be here in ten minutes.”
I lift my glass to my lips and then realise it’s empty, so I take the beer from his hand and steal a sip.
“Do you want another drink?” he asks, the corner of his mouth edging up into an amused smirk.
“No.”
“You sure you’re alright?” He frowns, and I find myself looking over his shoulder, back at Scott and Tania, which of course causes him to turn his head to see exactly where my focus is fixed.
“Looks like you ex has found himself a new woman.”
“That’s what you get from that? That they’re an item?”
He shrugs. “You don’t think so?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I know they’re colleagues, maybe they’ve just met up with each other for an after-work drink.”
“Is that what you think? Or what you hope?”
My eyes meet his, and he smiles, and I can’t believe I’ve said all of that out loud. All of it, every word, makes it sound like I care about what Scott does, who he sees, and I don’t. Idon’tcare.
Don’t you…?
Xander glances back at them, but I don’t follow his gaze, I’m done with letting Scott get to me… Is that what he’s doing? Am I actually letting that happen?
You’re dangerously close…
I feel Xander’s hand slide into mine, our fingers interlacing, and I look at him. And I smile. Why on earth am I even thinking about Scott when I have this man right here, and he wants me. He wantsme! And, Jesus Christ, I want him, too.
“Come on. Let’s go and see if our taxi’s here.”
“Are you sure you still want to go? It isn’t too late to back out, you know. Laney would understand.”
She wouldn’t. She’d be pissed as hell, but I’m really not feeling this family dinner. It’s not even like Xander and me are heading towards anything serious, so why are we even doing the whole family thing anyway?
“I’m looking forward to it, Megan. Really. I am.”
“Okay.” I wishIwas.
He gives my hand a gentle squeeze, and we make our way around the side of the terrace, out to the front of the pub. But I can’t stop myself from throwing one last glance behind me as we walk...
Scott
I wanted her attention, even if it were just for the briefest of moments. One second where her eyes met mine, that’s all I’d asked for, and it happened. I got what I wanted, and it felt bittersweet, if I’m honest, but, this plan, the one I’m making up as I go along, it seems to have scored its first tiny victory.
“We could go somewhere after this? If you like?”