6 | sounds like your type
During the trip, I opened Olivia’s text.
You alive? x
Just left. Can I call you? x
A moment later, she called.
‘Hi,’ I greeted.
‘How was it?’ Olivia wasn’t beating around the bush.
Heat prickled my cheeks. ‘He was brilliant, all around.’
‘I knew it! You had so much chemistry, Cara. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m so happy for you.’
‘Yeah, I guess we did,’ I said while studying my nails. Were there remnants of his skin still underneath them? I remembered clawing down his back several times.
‘Did you have sex?’
‘Several times.’
‘Oh my God,’ she said excitedly. ‘How was it?’
‘I don’t even have the words, Livy. He’s ... ’
‘He’s what?’
‘He’s . . . unsurpassable.’
She inhaled sharply. ‘I bet he is. I’m almost jealous.’
I chuckled.
‘What are you going to do, then? How were things this morning?’
‘They were a bit awkward, mainly because I rejected the chance to see him again.’
She groaned loudly. ‘Cara, why? Why would you do that? If you liked him, why not give him a chance? I seriously don’t think you’ll ever come across a better match in your life.’
I didn’t reply.
‘So you didn’t tell him your name, then?’
‘No.’
‘Gosh. Poor man. Honestly.’
I huffed. ‘Yeah, he was quite remarkable. I wonder if I’ll regret it. Then again, I have enough to worry about as it is, so I’m sure it was for the best.’
‘Just don’t come complaining to me when you end up alone.’
I looked out the window. ‘Well, there’s a difference between being alone and being lonely. I doubt I’ll ever be discontent with being alone. You see, I really enjoy solitude. It’s my best friend. We get on so well.’
She groaned again, and I knew that if she had been here, I would have seen her eyes roll.
To change the subject, I asked, ‘Anyway, how was your night?’
‘I had such a blast.’ I could hear the smile in her voice. ‘We left the bar after a couple of hours and went to play table tennis. Some random lads joined us, as well as a couple of girls, and it just turned out to be a really fun night. I made so many friends I’ll probably never see again.’
Her last statement made me laugh. ‘I’m glad.’
‘Yeah. But you know, Andy did tell me something after you left last night, about Will.’
Dread made my chest contract. ‘What did he say?’
‘It’s nothing bad, but I just think you should know.’
‘Know what?’
‘Apparently, Will’s not one to have one-night stands. Andy was quite shocked about it after you left. Mentioned it had been years since it last happened.’
I had already inferred as much, but that didn’t prevent my heart from clenching in that same unfamiliar manner. All I could think was that it was the last thing I needed to hear.
‘Are you saying this to make me feel special? Because I don’t require an ego-boost.’
‘Oh, Cara. I think you know why I’m saying it. Just something to consider.’
I pressed my lips together. ‘I’d rather not talk about him. I need to think. I’m extremely confused.’ And conflicted.
She was quiet for a beat. ‘You need to think?’ she echoed, and her shock was audible. ‘Meaning you might actually give him a chance?’
‘Don’t get your hopes up.’
‘Too late.’
I groaned. ‘Anyway, I’m nearly home now. Speak later, yeah?’
‘Yeah. Tell Jason I said hello when you see him.’
‘Will do. Love you.’
‘Love you too. But you are an idiot.’
§ § §
When I opened the front door, Jason was exiting the bathroom, wearing nothing but a towel around his hips. With his dirty-blond hair and light-blue eyes, he resembled Apollo himself, especially with that towel that could have doubled as a fustanella. Any other woman would have grabbed the opportunity to ogle his impressive physique, but since I had already seen it countless times, I hardly noticed.
‘There she is.’ He smiled. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Tired.’
‘I bet.’
‘Livy says hello.’
He frowned, looking as if he had suddenly recollected something. ‘What happened to her last night?’
‘Well, the guy I slept with was there with a friend, so she spent the rest of the night with him. Went to play table tennis apparently.’
‘Sounds like fun. They end up in bed?’
I shook my head. ‘No, she wasn’t feeling it, and neither was he. Like her, he was fresh out of a relationship.’
‘But I thought the whole reason you went out last night was to find her a rebound?’
‘Yeah, but she’s changed her mind. Told me a one-night stand isn’t going to help her get over Colin, so she’d rather wait till she makes a new genuine connection with someone.’
Jason looked impressed. ‘Good for her.’
‘Yeah, I thought so too. Anyway, I’m sorry for making you wait.’
He scoffed and waved his hand at me. ‘No worries.’ Folding his arms, he tilted his head and smirked. ‘Well? ’
‘What?’
‘Did you stick to your rules, then?’
I sighed as I undid the sash of my coat. ‘Yeah.’
He shook his head in comical despair. ‘Poor man. Was he gutted?’
Upset at the reminder, I pouted. ‘Quite.’
He clucked his tongue. ‘Again, poor man. I’m so glad I’ve never fancied you that way. You’re as unattainable as they come.’
I snorted. ‘Don’t be silly. Besides, I’m not sure you would have liked him much, so you shouldn’t feel bad for him. He was very forthright, and opinionated.’
Jason was far too liberal and easy-going in his nature to genuinely appreciate a stubborn, cocky man like William. If there existed a person who could make Jason lose his temper, I was confident that William would be that person.
‘Sounds like your type,’ Jason said teasingly.
I chuckled. ‘Definitely was.’
Jason’s eyes widened then. ‘What are you wearing!’ He laughed.
Glancing down at myself, I sensed my embarrassment reveal itself in my face. ‘He tore my knickers apart. Gave me a pair of boxers to compensate, as well as a T-shirt.’
‘He did what?’ He continued to laugh, but he sounded more shocked now.
‘Yeah, he was something else.’
‘Jesus Christ, what a brute. Were they expensive?’
‘No. Besides, it was honestly quite arousing.’
Disbelieving, Jason shook his head. ‘What else did he do? Who is this guy?’
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
His ensuing smile was sympathetic. ‘You never do.’
I nodded. ‘Just easier to leave it in the past that way.’
‘You know best.’ He gestured to the mountain of boxes standing outside my bedroom door. ‘Anyway, shall we crack on with it, then?’
‘Yeah.’
§ § §
The following Monday, I walked into Bentham House alongside Olivia, where we had planned to meet Aaron in the social hub before our lecture on Advanced Contract Law. It was the only module I had in common with her now that we had completed the compulsory ones of the first and second year. While she was ambivalent about the module, I found it nothing short of riveting, and the same applied to Aaron, which wasn’t all that surprising when considering that Aaron and I had selected all the same ones. While Olivia preferred areas of public law, Aaron and I favoured private law.
As we entered the social hub, I scanned the people present until I spotted Aaron next to a girl named Cassie. I had nothing against her, but I had a feeling she disliked me, and I suspected it was because she had developed feelings for my regular bed partner. Aaron denied it, but I was quite sure I was right.
‘She doesn’t dislike you,’ he would always say, ‘and she doesn’t fancy me that way.’
‘Ah, Cassie,’ Olivia said. ‘Of course.’
I chuckled. Olivia absolutely could not stand the poor girl since she had heard her gossiping about me in one of the common rooms two years ago. I hadn’t minded because I was aware that I came across as aloof and tended to make a terrible impression on people.
‘Retract your claws, Livy,’ I joked and adjusted my bag on my shoulder.
‘I can’t believe he doesn’t see it. She’s so taken with him, it’s almost painful.’
‘He insists she isn’t.’
Olivia raised a brow and faced me. ‘Would you be cross if he ever sleeps with her?’
Dumbfounded, I replied, ‘It’s far too early in the morning for this, but no, of course not. He can sleep with whomever he likes. We’re not in a relationship.’
‘What if they start dating?’
‘Then he’ll have my blessing.’ I shrugged.
While it was true that a small part of me worried that he would suddenly fall in love with someone else, it was only because I would ultimately lose him as a bed partner then, and I didn’t think I would ever find another Aaron. He was the ideal fuck friend, so I would be upset if I lost him before I was ready for it to happen. But I had been aware of that risk ever since the beginning of our arrangement, so of course I wouldn’t be so selfish as to get angry over it. If he fell in love, I would be the last person to stand in his way, because while I didn’t love him romantically, I loved him as a friend, and that meant that I would put his happiness first.
‘You’re so rational it should be criminal,’ Olivia said.
‘Hardly. ’
‘Do you even have an ego?’
‘A huge one,’ I joked.
‘Oh, he’s seen us.’ Olivia turned her head and gave him a smile of acknowledgement. When I looked over, he was walking toward us.
Tall and lean, Aaron Myers was easy on the eyes. He had very short and curly black hair, and I had a habit of clawing it whenever he claimed my body. His eyes were nearly black, and they regarded me with tenderness as he approached. Below them, he had a strong nose with a slightly wide bridge, and full, dark brown lips that I loved to kiss. His stubble was longer than usual, though – it was almost a beard now. He clearly hadn’t trimmed it in a while.
I smiled as I studied his handsome face.
Aaron was one of the cleverest men I had met, and I had always adored his introverted nature. He was one of those people others loved to be around because of his innate calmness and tolerant attitude. He would always listen in silence and contemplate what people had to say before he would offer unique insights and impressive reflections.
We had met during our first year at UCL at a social event that the university’s student union had organised to provide students with an opportunity to make friends and start networking. He had been seated with a group of lads, but I had noticed him stealing glances at me while they talked. When I finally caught him, he didn’t look away. He gave me a demure smile instead, which I immediately reciprocated. Excusing himself from the others, he approached me, somewhat shy in his demeanour. I was easily the more socially confident one, and he seemed to appreciate that, because once I started talking, he didn’t express any desire for me to ever shut up.
That night, we ended up in bed together, and from there, our casual arrangement had been set into motion. In fact, one of the things I fancied most about sleeping with Aaron was that his schedule was aligned with my own, so finding time for a sensual round was never much of a challenge. We had done it in the toilets on campus several times, generally whenever we required a quick break from studying. Another bonus was the fact that Aaron wielded skills that were far above average. He was keenly attuned to my needs and always prioritised them, just as I made a point of prioritising his.
But the expertise of a certain man I had met last weekend forced him into the shadows. William possessed what I considered to be an X-factor. Aside from his outstanding talents between the sheets, there was something remarkably compelling about him, but I couldn’t put my finger on precisely what it was. He was just so assertive and self-assured, seemingly unshakable. I admired his apparent resolve about things. He knew what he wanted, and he didn’t hesitate trying to seize it. Like a breath of fresh air, he had been exceptionally stimulating. That was just it, he was exceptional.
‘Hiya,’ Aaron greeted and successfully distracted me from the dangerous lane of thought I had entered. I reminded myself not to think of William. It wasn’t fair to Aaron, and it wasn’t good for my sanity. William was the past. Aaron was the present.
But would I keep it that way?
‘Did you have a nice weekend?’ he asked and managed to steer me right back onto the thought of William.
‘It was quite dull, to be honest,’ I lied. Olivia cast me a glance, but I ignored it. ‘I finished unpacking most of my things, but I had to order a new wardrobe from IKEA since there wasn’t enough space for all my clothes. Bought a desk while I was at it.’
Aaron chuckled. ‘I’m not even slightly surprised. Jason help you out?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Good of him. You could’ve asked me, you know.’
‘I know, but I wanted some quality time with him.’
‘How about you, Livy?’
‘My weekend was great. Spent it with my mum.’
‘Weren’t you and Cara going for a drink on Friday?’ he asked then, but she didn’t so much as twitch.
‘We did.’ She smiled. ‘Was great fun, but we decided to head home early because of exams coming up.’
‘Responsible of you,’ he said amusedly. ‘I take it your plan to find a rebound failed, then?’
‘I cancelled the quest,’ she said with a chuckle.
‘Oh. How come?’
Since I had already heard this part, I zoned out of their conversation and started toward the lecture theatre. I was adamant about sitting at the front, which was why I always arrived early.
§ § §
We were having lunch with a few other classmates when my phone notified me that I had received an email. I wasn’t usually one to look at my phone when surrounded by my friends, but since I wasn’t particularly involved in their current discussion, I decided to take the liberty.
My heart leaped to my mouth when I identified the sender. It was from Day a middle-aged man exited the lift and called my name .
‘Miss Darby?’
‘Yes?’
His piercing light-blue eyes, which were the first thing I noticed about him, locked with mine, and something about them struck me as familiar. Scattered throughout his dark brown hair were silver strands, but his cheeks were neatly shaven, making him look years younger than he probably was. He was one of those men who made age his friend.
As he moved toward me, I admired his elegance. He had a level of class I could only dream of managing. Mirroring his grin, I wondered who he was. Was he the lawyer I would be shadowing?
‘It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard great things,’ he said as he halted in front of me. He extended his hand, and I was quick to take it. His grip was firm, and I appreciated that.
‘Have you?’
‘Yes. You must be wondering who I am.’
‘Well, we’ve not met before, have we?’
‘No, I’m afraid not. I’m John Night, Jason’s father.’
I gaped, awestruck. Was I really looking at the legend himself? To what did I owe this honour? I doubted it was normal for a CMD to welcome insignificant trainees like this, so why the special treatment? Was it because I was his son’s flatmate?
‘It’s an honour to meet you, sir,’ I said.
‘Please, call me John.’
‘Then you must call me Cara.’
He smiled crookedly. ‘Theresa told me you were here, so I thought I ought to welcome you myself. It’s a shame we haven’t met till now. I know Jason’s very fond of you.’
‘I’m very fond of him too.’
‘I’m glad to hear that. Anyway, thanks for being motivated to move things around on such short notice. I hope you didn’t have to cancel any plans for the summer.’
‘I’d happily cancel my entire social life for this opportunity, John.’
He chuckled. ‘Then you’ll make an excellent solicitor when the day comes. Are you anxious to start?’ He ushered me past the security gates and toward the lifts.
‘Definitely.’
He put his hand on my back. ‘You’ll fit in perfectly, I’m sure.’
‘I hope so.’
‘How was my son this morning?’ he asked as we entered a lift. He pressed the button for the tenth floor.
‘Groggy, but grateful for the breakfast I served him in bed.’
‘He has mentioned that you’re an excellent chef.’
‘Has he?’ I asked, surprised.
‘Yes. Hasn’t he told you?’
I smiled and shook my head. ‘Must have slipped his mind.’
‘He’s probably just too busy devouring your cooking to think of commenting on it,’ he said amusedly. ‘Wherever he lost his manners, I don’t know, but I’m sure my parenting is free of any blame.’
I laughed, grateful to discover that John was a man with a sense of humour.
‘My office is on the top floor,’ he said, ‘but yours will be on the tenth floor, with the M&A department. That’s where the solicitor you’ll be aiding has got his. If ever there’s anything at all, don’t hesitate to stop by.’
I nodded.
‘You’ll be shadowing my eldest son during your time here, so he’ll be in charge of overseeing your work. He’s a good man, I like to think, and one hell of a solicitor. I couldn’t be prouder of his achievements. Hopefully you’ll learn a great deal from him.’
My eyebrows climbed up my forehead. I would be shadowing Jason’s elder brother? I hadn’t expected that.
‘If he’s your son, I’m sure I will,’ I said sincerely.
The lift stopped at our floor and the doors parted, revealing an open-plan office which closed offices surrounded. The contemporary interior design was dominated by pale colours and looked expensive. Down the corridor on my right, I saw a break room, fitted out with fancy furniture and decorations of various shapes and sizes. Was that huge olive green thing a beanbag?
I noticed a small kitchen then, and my eyes focused on the coffee machine beside the kettle. I would probably be using that a lot.
John put his hand on my back and guided me past the curious eyes of a few future colleagues of mine, then further toward a dark brown door. The office behind it seemed to be rooted in the corner of the building. I wondered what the view from it was like.
John gave me a wink as he raised his hand and gave the door three gentle knocks. ‘He may bark, but he never bites.’
A short, nervous laugh escaped me.
Then, a strangely familiar voice called from inside, ‘Come in.’
I frowned. I was certain I had heard that voice before, but where ?
John opened the door and stepped aside. I looked at the man in the room, and then my throat constricted, my heart missing several beats. He was staring at the screen of his desktop Mac, seemingly absorbed, and clearly hadn’t seen me yet.
Panicking, I glanced at John.
‘After you,’ he said.
I walked in and froze after five paces, overcome with emotion. Confusion, despair, as well as fear and unbelievable joy, were searing into my heart, causing it to twist rather painfully.
Trepidatious, I watched as Jason’s brother finally lifted his gaze and looked at me. His eyebrows leaped up his forehead and his eyes widened beneath them.
Totally stunned, William stared back at me.