My heart thumps. Guilt slices me. I ignore it. ‘Nope. Saturday afternoon?’
‘Can’t. I’m in Sydney for a thing.’
‘A thing?’
‘My brother’s bachelor party.’
‘That’s right. He’s getting married.’
‘Yeah.’ He grins. ‘More fool him.’
‘You don’t approve?’
‘Nah. It’s good. Grace is perfect for him and he’s...the happiest I’ve ever seen him. But marriage is just...not for me.’
I know this about him. He spelled that out in black and white when we agreed to embark on this whole thing.
‘It’s really important that you understand what I want, and what I don’t want, because I’d never want to lead you on. I’m always clear about my limits and the whole happily ever after bullshit isn’t for me.’
‘So you’ve said.’
‘You can’t do Friday?’
My heart thumps. Because I want to see him again before he goes but I have plans. With Angus. I lower my eyes, making an effort to keep my tone bland. I’m doing nothing wrong. ‘Nope.’ My mouth feels dry and my pulse is thready. ‘I actually have a date.’
‘A date?’ He laughs and something shifts inside of me, emotions I can’t comprehend.
‘Yep.’
‘You’re dating?’ His smile drops as his eyebrow shoots up.
‘I mean, no. I haven’t been. It’s a first date.’
‘You’re going on a date with someone?’ He strides to the fridge and pulls out another beer, handing it to me. I take it on autopilot and crack the lid.
‘Is that a problem?’ Is he...jealous? This, I hadn’t expected.
He frowns, rubbing his palm over his jaw. ‘I just didn’t realise.’
‘We’re not... I mean, what you and I are doing isn’t a real relationship, right?’
‘Hell, no,’ he’s quick to agree, just as I knew he would. ‘Who is he?’
‘Just a guy I met through my parents.’
‘And he asked you out?’
‘Yeah. At my stepmother’s birthday thing.’
He nods again. ‘So you like him?’
The question is insultingly carefree. He’s not jealous. ‘I don’t really know him. But he seems nice. I’m interested in getting to know him better, for sure.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘Angus Fienes.’
He laughs. ‘Seriously? Him?’