Chapter Six
‘How’d it go?’ I ask Liv when Ben and I make it back to the flat a few hours later.
He held my hand on the Tube journey back and I kind of liked it.
I like the attention. I like how much Ben likes me.
I like how now that I’ve digested the concept of this challenge, it’s quite sensible really.
We’re getting to know each other. And I love that idea.
And there will be no more casual sex, which is a good thing.
Maybe. Although that was my first and only one-night stand – and look where it’s leading.
I like Ben’s mad suggestion. He’s intense, but he knows what he wants and he’s not afraid to be vulnerable in asking for it.
And if it doesn’t work out over the next few dates, then at least we haven’t ruined our fledgling friendship by adding any more sex into the mix.
‘What did Ollie say?’ I ask Liv when I find her in the kitchen trying to prise a cork out of a bottle of wine. She’s got the bottle between her legs and looks as if she’s about to break it, or explode through her own eyes, while trying.
‘Do you know how to open these?’ she huffs. ‘I can never get the cork out.’
‘I’ve never used a corkscrew,’ I say. ‘I only drink wine with screw-caps.’
Ben enters the kitchen and takes it from Liv, pulls the cork out with ease.
‘I thought you worked in a restaurant?’ he asks me.
‘Not a good one,’ I confess.
‘So,’ Ben goes on, handing the bottle back to Liv and retrieving four glasses, as if we’re automatically invited to drink Liv’s wine. ‘You and Ollie, eh? Spill?’
I should chastise Ben for being nosy, but I want to know too, so I keep quiet.
Liv gives Ben a Can you piss off? look that he interprets correctly.
He takes two glasses of wine and leaves.
‘I’ll make Aurora tell me later anyway, you know,’ he says with a chuckle.
I hear him shout for Ollie as he enters the corridor on the way to his room.
‘Ollie, mate! Singapore Grand Prix’s on. I’ve got wine. Come on.’
Ollie calls out in the affirmative and the two of them head to Ben’s room.
‘Oh,’ Liv mutters sadly as she hears Ben’s door automatically close on the hinges.
‘I think Ben’s trying to clear the path for us to gossip,’ I say.
‘Oh,’ she replies more brightly. ‘That’s nice. Come on then – grab some wine and let’s curl up.’
When we’re curled up on Liv’s bed (I’m down the end where they haven’t had sex, she tells me delightedly), she dishes the dirt.
‘I didn’t have the heart to ruin a good thing and try to put a name on what we’re doing,’ she confesses.
‘It felt like it was too soon and just … not the right timing. So I think I need to quietly see where it goes. We did sleep together again today, and Ollie’s gentle and affectionate and kisses me loads during, and so …
I’m going to be chill, you know? Not frighten him off too early. ’
Liv doesn’t seem like the kind of girl to be chill, so I suspect she’ll be stressing about this every five minutes for the next five days, but we’ll see.
‘Do you think that’s sensible?’ she asks.
‘Yes,’ I agree. ‘If you don’t want to frighten Ollie off by trying to pin down a reaction from him, then don’t. See where it goes. Nice and slowly. I think Ollie’s really nice, really genuine. I don’t think he’s a …’ I can’t think of a phrase.
But Liv can, and in her near cut-glass accent says the words ‘fuck boy?’
‘Ha!’ I laugh, because it sounds so wrong coming from someone like her. ‘Yeah, I don’t think he’s that. But perhaps also he’s feeling as nervous as you are.’
‘Do you think?’
‘Yeah,’ I reply honestly. I remember Ollie on the stairs, admitting he couldn’t get a word in edgeways once Ben had arrived on the scene. ‘I think he’s cautious. Let him be cautious. Let him protect his heart. But you also protect yours too, OK?’
‘OK,’ Liv says, brightening. ‘I guess at the end of the day, that’s what we’re all trying to do, right?’
I think of my conversation with Ben over brunch. ‘Yes,’ I answer slowly. ‘I think you’re right.’