Page 13 of Commitment Issues
“I’m not looking for polished and smooth, remember. And you won’t let me down.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I’m an excellent judge of character.” He frowns. “Except when it comes to choosing men.”
I keep my face straight.You and me both.
Without another word, we both get up and Elliot pulls out a card from the inside pocket of his jacket.
“I’ve kept you long enough, I haven’t forgotten you’ve got papers to mark on fish skin Viking dildos.”
“Reindeer bladders, if you don’t mind. Poor Rudolf, he’s never been the same since,” I say, smiling as I take the card he holds out to me.
Elliot Hendricks, printed in black, with a mobile number and nothing more.
“It’s my private number. I’ll call you in the next day or two, so we can go through practicalities. But for now, just one thing, so we’re both clear. There’s no expectation on my part.”
Expectation? What…? And then I get it…Oh, and by the way, you’re not expected to sleep with him. Or not unless you want to. James’ words, before he cut the call.
“No, no of course not. I wasn’t expecting that.” I rub the back of my neck hard, looking everywhere but at Elliot.
“Of course, everybody will assume we are because why wouldn’t they?” he says, without any hint of the awkwardness that’s eating me up inside. “But that’s our business and nobody else’s. And I can promise you, you’ll be paid rather more than the five hundred James offered, and I’m going to make sure it comes out of his pocket. It serves him right.” He looks at his watch. “You’re not the only one who has to go, I’ve got some work I need to finish up. Text me your number, okay?”
I nod, but Elliot’s already turning, and striding out of the square leaving me staring long after he’s disappeared from sight as a thousand kaleidoscopes of butterflies beat their wings in the pit of my stomach.
I study the card. A name and a mobile number. The name of the man I’ve agreed to be a fake boyfriend for. For a long weekend, in front of his former fiancé, and friends.
What have I gone and done?
