Page 2 of Worth Every Game
“Okay. I’m coming. Give me fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank—”
I hang up and make my way back to the table. Lydia flashes me a sexy smile that all but screams ‘let’s fuck’. Guilt spears me alongside a little regret. I would have appreciated a blow job tonight. I could have stayed awake for that.
“I’m so sorry, but something’s come up. I’ve got to head to my sister’s flat. There’s been an emergency.”
Lydia’s smile evaporates, replaced by a disgruntled pout. “Can’t she call the landlord?”
“I’m the landlord.”
“Oh.” Disappointment rings through her voice and she looks completely dejected. I don’t want to totally crush her; I might want sex later this week, and in all likelihood fucking this woman is going to be more interesting than talking to her.
I offer an apologetic smile. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“Tomorrow night,” she blurts, so keen that it’salmostoff-putting. “My friend is throwing a party—”
“Sure. Love to. Send me the details,” I respond on autopilot, bending to kiss her on the cheek. “I really want to continue this date.”Sort of.
On the way out, I pay the bill. Lydia might not be my dream woman, but I won’t let her buy my drinks.
Forty-five minutes later, I’m standing in Kate’s kitchen, sleeves rolled up, sweat dripping from my forehead.
“We did it,” Kate muses, looking delightedly around the clean kitchen. Not a bubble in sight and the dishwasher is purring away happily. “Good as new.”
“New? This place needs a total overhaul.” I glance around at the flaking paintwork on the walls and the damp patch on the ceiling in the corner of the room. If Kate hadn't adamantly protested that she and Elly love living here, I would have moved them both out six months ago. As it is, I'm letting them run out their leases before I tear the place apart. “I've got those building survey reports coming back soon. I bet a faulty dishwasher isn't the only thing you need to worry about.”
Katehmms. “Well, it’s never been so clean. You should move in here.”
I huff out a laugh. “No. You and Elly are a pair of pigs.”
She gasps in mock outrage before her expression turns sincere. “Thank you. I know it’s Friday night, and you probably had something better planned.”
“Nah. No plans this weekend.” I don’t want her worrying that she ruined my evening. “Besides, I like being here with you.” I pull her into a hug, and she squeezes her arms around my waist.
She releases me and steps back, turning towards the kettle to make us both some tea. We’re silent for a few minutes, and the only sound is the incessant drip-drip of water from the leaky tap into the sink.Is everything in this flat falling apart?
I try to ignore the noise and take a seat at the cheap Formica-topped table. Kate has her back to me when she says, “There’s this other thing I wanted to talk to you about.”
A zap of suspicion bolts down my spine. “Oh, yeah?”
She puts our mugs of tea on the table and flops into a chair opposite me. “I want to ask Elly to sing at Nico’s surprise birthday party. What do you think?”
My eyebrows rise before I have a chance to stop them. There’s so much wrong with the idea I don’t know where to start.What the hell do I say?
Kate has an expectant look on her face, and guilt expands like gas behind my sternum. The regular rhythm of the water dripping into the steel sink booms in the quiet kitchen.
“You need a new washer on that tap,” I say, and my attempt to avoid the question is so transparent that Kate lets out an exasperated breath.
“Forget about the tap. You’ve done enough plumbing for one evening. I’m asking you about Nico’s party. He’s your best friend. I want your opinion. I’ve never thrown a party this big. I want to get it right.”
I pick up my tea and slurp it, but the liquid’s so hot it burns my mouth. “Fuck.” I clench my jaw, squeezing my eyes shut. I wipe my mouth on the back of my hand, but my mind is still stuck on Kate’s original question, and clearly she’s not going to let it go. “You want to ask Elly to sing for Nico? Elly as in Elly Carter? Elly who flooded the kitchen?ThatElly?” I sound like my brain is powering down.
“Yeah. What other Elly is there?”
Shit. “Just wanted to be sure.” I’ll have to tread carefully because Kate loves Elly. Adores her. They’ve been friends since they were pre-teens and have lived together most of their adult lives. I rest my arm over the back of the chair next to me and lean back just enough to look casual. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Kate quirks a brow. “Why not?”