7. Freddie
Freddie
“Come on, Luke. For me,” I plead, standing above Luke in his office. It’s midweek and I’ve snuck out of work to visit Salt to plead my case.
“No, Freddie. Not even for you. Members’ details are strictly private, and if this woman has not chosen to give you her name, then I’m not sharing it with you.” He fixes me with a stern expression.
“You’ve got to know her, though. She’s tall, jet-black hair, curves for days. One of those sexy pin-up girl fringes. American .” I raise my brows and give him my best puppy dog eyes.
“I know exactly who you’re talking about, Freddie. But I’m still not giving you her name. You’re on your own.”
I sigh, sinking into the sofa as he gives me a sympathetic look.
“You’ve got it bad, huh?” he says, rising from his desk chair and sitting next to me.
“You could say that,” I sigh. “She might be the love of my life.”
“Mate, you’ve literally met her once. You sound insane.
” He shakes his head and gives me a long sideways look.
“But I’ve been insane over a woman before – still am, in fact – so I’m taking pity on you.
This is a one-time-only favour. I’ll pass along a message for you, if you want. It’s the best I can do.”
I light up with excitement. I know I’m acting insane, but I need to see her again to know if it was just one serendipitous night or if there’s something here. Something real.
“Thank you, Luke. I really owe you one.”
I scribble down a note for him, carefully write my number at the bottom, and leave him with a quick, firm hug.
As I head back to the office, I message Cole.
Luke’s going to pass on my number to the American! The game’s afoot! You fancy another night at Salt if she replies? She wants two for one, remember?
I grin, sliding my phone away. I’ve never had a threesome in my life, but I can’t imagine it would be that weird, right?
Cole’s my best mate. He’s seen the best and the worst of me.
I can’t imagine it would be that weird for him to see my cock.
Or for me to see his. I wonder if it’s bigger than mine? Shit. Let’s hope not.
My phone vibrates in my pocket.
COLE
You are ridiculous. But sure, I’ll come back. I’m curious about where this whole thing is going…
Serious question. In theory, are you up for a threesome?
COLE
I am seriously not discussing this with you over WhatsApp on a Tuesday afternoon.
Spoilsport. I’m game if you’re game. Promise I have a lovely cock.
COLE
Don’t you have work to do??
I laugh. Of course I have work to do. But work is boring and I’m too hyperfixated on my dream girl. I don’t care that I have zero chill.
I want her to be mine and I’m not giving up until she looks me in the eye and turns me down.
I press the buzzer on my mum’s doorbell later that evening, my heart dancing in my chest. My mum’s the best of the best – she raised me on her own after my dad ditched her when I was a couple of months old.
She’s the hardest-working woman in London, and still lives in the flat where she raised me, despite my offers to get her set up somewhere a bit nicer. But she always says she’s at home in Southwark, so who am I to force her to move?
A few seconds later, she opens the door and her face breaks into a beaming smile.
“The prodigal son returns,” she says, pulling me into a hug.
“Hello, Mum,” I reply, giving her a big squeeze. She motions me in as I take my coat off, hanging it up by the door.
“Long time no see,” she says, grasping my shoulders and looking up into my face as if to inspect me.
She’s petite but sturdy, her blonde hair tucked up in a no-nonsense ponytail.
She looks tired – the lines around her eyes are becoming deeper – but she still radiates warmth whenever she looks at you.
It’s like you’re the only person in the room.
“It’s only been a few weeks!” I grin, feeling like a teenager who stayed out too late.
“Can’t blame me for missing you, kid. How’s tricks?”
She follows me through into the living room, where I collapse onto the sofa.
“Things are good, Mum! Things are really good!” I give her my biggest smile and she raises her eyebrows.
“You’ve got that look, Freddie. I hope you’re not cooking up another harebrained scheme. I’ve still got a lot of unopened hops from that time you decided you make craft beer.”
“No, no, nothing like that. I’ve… I’ve met someone.” I beam at her, and she cocks her head.
“Oh?”
“She’s American. I met her at a club and we shared an amazing connection. Honestly, Mum, I’ve never been this excited by someone.”
“Well, darling, I better put the kettle on and you can tell me all about her.”
She disappears into the kitchen and I sink back into the sofa, grinning at the ceiling. I can hear her moving around as she clicks on the kettle and selects mugs from the mismatched selection in the cupboard.
“I don’t know a lot about her if I’m honest,” I call through to her. “But we had insane chemistry. We shared a moment and then she disappeared. She didn’t even tell me her name.”
There’s a pause in the kitchen.
“How mysterious,” she calls back.
“I know. I love it.”
“How will you see her again if you don’t know her name?”
“I have my ways,” I say, and chuckle to myself. It’s only a matter of time before she gets my note, then we’re definitely planning a date.
“You’re going to be an absolute nightmare until you find her, aren’t you?”
“Almost certainly.”
She reappears in the doorway, a mug in each hand, shaking her head but smiling all the same.
She hands me my tea and settles on the sofa next to me. “She must be something really special if she’s turned my sensible son into a complete idiot.”
I wrap both hands around my old Spider-Man mug and sigh happily.
“I never said I was sensible.”
“No,” she agrees, opening a packet of Hobnobs. “But a mother always holds out hope.”