Page 5 of Friends with Benefits

Laughing, I tuck her under my arm and we make our way over to Sean, Abby and Charlie.

‘We’ve already lost Alex to a too-skinny blonde with legs the length of Niagara,’ I tell her.

‘The length of Viagra?’

I look down to her, taller even with her in her heels, and roll my eyes. ‘You can do better than that.’

‘That’s fair. I’ll try harder.’

Harder. Ha.

‘Is there another bad joke coming?’ I ask.

She smirks and I know she’s focused on the word coming. I know because I am too. Viagra. Harder. Coming. I almost groan.

An hour later, we find Alex on the dancefloor in a Soho club. He’s holding on to the woman’s hips as she grinds her ass into his crotch.

Jess clinks her gin and tonic against mine. It’s that time of night; we’ve switched from wine to clear spirits. ‘All right, Jakey, let’s play.’

‘What’s the bet?’

She turns on the spot. I know she’s considering the women in the club. ‘Her. There. Pretty black dress. Pink lips. Wavy, dark hair.’

‘She’s hot.’

‘She is. I bet you can’t get her number in the next five minutes.’

I drain the gin in my glass. ‘Five minutes?’

I assess the girl. She looks confident. She’s very attractive. You might think that would give me less of a chance. But the thing is, I know women. I know that the most attractive women don’t get chatted up like their more average-looking friends. Good looks intimidate men, make them think, ‘Why would I put myself out there in a club for what is probably no more than a one-night stand, and risk being turned down in front of my friends?’ And they ultimately decide there’s no reason to try. They’re safer betting on plainer women. But that’s why, when you do talk to the pretty girl, she’s flattered. That’s why I’ll win this bet.

‘Deal,’ I say, turning back to Jess. ‘Best get yourself a tequila shot ready.’

I move off, feeling Jess’s eyes burning into me. The girl in the little black dress is laughing with a group of friends. She’s more attractive up close. I only have five minutes, so after checking that the fourth finger of her left hand is jewelry free, I go right in for the kill. I slide my hand along the small of the girl’s back but I don’t speak to her first, I speak to her friends. That’s the in. Let the friends do some of the hard work for you. Let them smile approvingly. Get their attention. Then let the target know that, despite all her friends, who usually get chatted up, you want her.

‘Evening, ladies.’ Cue the smile. ‘It’s quite clear to me you’re having a sophisticated girls’ night.’ The compliment. ‘But I couldn’t help noticing your friend here from across the bar.’ Now I look at the target and turn my big smile to a half, sexier smile. ‘Hi, I’m Jake.’

Her eyes widen a little. I’ve nailed her right on. She’s surprised by my approach. ‘Aria,’ she says, holding out her hand. I take it but kiss her cheek.

‘That’s a beautiful name. Is it British?’

‘Actually, my parents are Irish and Italian.’

‘Ah, I thought there was something a little exotic about you.’ I turn back to her friends. ‘I don’t want to interrupt your night. And I’m not the kind of guy who thinks you find anything lasting in a club.’ I see the swooning look about her friends’ faces. ‘But, if it’s okay with you, Aria, I’d like to take your number. Maybe I could take you out sometime?’

Her cheeks seem to flush. I’ve gotten to her. Which means I’ll also be walking away with her number.

When I get back to Jess, she’s already holding her shot of tequila in one hand and a lime in the other. ‘You’re too smooth-talking for your own good, Jake.’

I flash her a wink and tell the bartender to set down another shot. I can’t let her drink alone.

We each lick salt from our hands then Jess counts us down. ‘Three, two, one.’

Tequila. The burn. Lime.

‘Ah, that stuff never gets better,’ I say, laughing at Jess’s screwed-up face and the way she bangs a foot on the floor.

‘Time to dance?’ she asks, once I’m convinced her shot is staying down.

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