27. Freddie
Freddie
Mate, is this you?
COLE
Is what me?
This email from Salt. It looks different.
COLE
Oh, did it go out? Yes, it’s the first of the new templates I’ve designed for them. You like it?
Fuck, Cole, you’re so talented! I normally can’t bear looking at emails but this is actually beautiful.
And it is. The longer I look at the designs, the more little textures and brushstrokes I notice. It’s fucking beautiful.
COLE
Thanks, pal. I’m glad you like it.
Are you kidding? You’ve got me all emotional over a fucking email.
COLE
Ha.
Do you want to go?
COLE
To the event?
No to the Emerald City. Yes to the event.
COLE
Sure. Shall we see if Sloane’s going?
I’ll ping her in a mo.
Salt’s putting on a special birthday party for friends and investors, and apparently Cole and I are invited, which means Sloane will definitely be invited.
Cole’s beautiful email lists out a range of special performances and VIPs and honestly, it sounds dangerous to put that many sexy people in one place at a time.
Shouldn’t it be like the royal family, where we can’t all travel on the same plane?
I laugh to myself as I pull up our little chat with Sloane. She’s been a little chattier these last few days and I’m hoping we can work our way up to ‘the talk’. Because apparently I am now taking on the role of needing to label our relationship and make it official.
Nothing about this threesome-with-feelings has been what I was expecting to find when I dragged Cole to Salt all those weeks ago. I thought it was going to be a fun little dinner party story and it’s turned into something I never ever saw coming for myself. Or Cole.
Hello princess. Assume you’re on the VIP list for Salt’s birthday bash. Thoughts on all going together?
There’s only a brief pause before she replies.
SLOANE
I’ll be there, pretty boy. Assume Daddy can make it too?
COLE
NO. No Daddy talk.
SLOANE
Sorry, Daddy.
We’ll be good, Daddy.
COLE
FFS.
SLOANE
See you both there! Bring the pineapple sex lube.
*dies laughing*
COLE
Arseholes, both of you.
You love it.
COLE
I laugh as I pocket my phone and get back to my inbox. The idea of returning to Salt for an actual party instead of a salad dressing slip’n’slide is just too exciting.
The days fly by, and before I know it, it’s the evening of Salt’s birthday party.
Cole and I arrive at the same time, and I follow him down the steps to the bar.
He’s wearing a green velvet jacket tonight, and his shirt is only half buttoned.
He looks both handsome and sort of slutty, and it totally works for Salt’s vibe.
I’m not sure I ever used to notice what he wore, but my brain has been snagging on little details recently. Weird .
As Cole heads to the bar to order drinks, I hang back to scan the crowd for our girl.
A few seconds later, I spot her on the dance floor, her head thrown back as she laughs with a pretty brunette.
She hasn’t spotted me yet, and I’m rooted to the spot as I stare at her.
She’s so carefree, it makes my heart lurch to watch her move with the music.
She clutches her friend’s wrist as they both double over laughing again.
I grin as I watch her, and realise, without a doubt, that I am absolutely fucked.
I am so far gone for this woman that it hurts.
I was pulled into her orbit from the moment I clocked her in this very bar, and I never, ever want to let her go.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a man approaching, and as I finally tear my eyes away, I realise it’s Luke.
“Hello, mate,” I say, pulling him into a quick hug and giving him a pat on the back.
“Watching someone, Freddie?” An amused smile plays about his lips as he follows my gaze to Sloane and her friend.
“Might be,” I say with a smirk.
“I know the feeling,” he says, nodding to the brunette. “That’s Emmy. My girl. It’s actually thanks to Sloane that we got together.”
“Oh? Didn’t realise she played matchmaker in her spare time.”
“She doesn’t. I’ve known Em for most of my life. But it was Sloane that brought her to Salt. Then we connected romantically. Her brother’s my best mate.”
I wince.
“And how did that go down?”
“Oh, every bit as badly as you’d imagine. But we’re all cool now,” he adds. “It’s a funny story, actually?—”
He’s cut off by Cole arriving with two glasses of champagne.
“Thanks for the invitation, mate,” he says to Luke, as he hands me a flute.
“My pleasure. The work you’ve done for us has been phenomenal. In fact, maybe I can borrow you for a sec?”
“Of course,” Cole says, giving me a quick shoulder squeeze before he follows Luke to his office. My gaze returns to our girl and Emmy. It’s just then that she spots me and her face breaks into a smile that steals my breath. She grabs Emmy’s hand and drags her over, her face flushed from dancing.
“Freddie Lane, meet Emmeline Warner. Emmy’s my best mate, my roommate, and paramour to Mr Luke Pullman.”
Emmy gives me a beaming smile and pulls me into a hug. I laugh, just about managing to keep my champagne upright as I return the embrace.
“So I’ve heard,” I say. “Really lovely to meet you, Emmy.”
“Likewise, Freddie. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She side eyes Sloane and they both burst into giggles again.
I raise an eyebrow and take a sip of champagne.
“All good things, all good things,” she says, a good-natured grin on her face.
“So, Sloane introduced you to Salt? Did she by any chance persuade you to sign up for naked oil wrestling too?”
Sloane snorts out a laugh.
“No, but I did introduce Em to Lotus,” she says with an evil grin as Emmy turns bright red.
“Hush, you,” she replies, elbowing her in the ribs.
Cole and Luke reappear at that moment, and Emmy’s face lights up. She steps into his arms without a backwards glance and snakes her arms round him. He doesn’t hesitate to bury his face in her neck before pulling back to press a dominating kiss against her mouth.
For a second, I’m surprised at the level of PDA, then I mentally smack myself in the head and remind myself I’m in a literal sex club. I’ve done far more with Sloane in the booth six feet away. I shouldn’t be fazed if Emmy climbs Luke like a tree right in front of me.
I glance over to Sloane, who’s watching me with a sly smile on her face. I suspect she’s had a few glasses of champagne, judging by the pink flush that’s smattered across her cheeks.
“Do you want to play a game?” she says, looking from Cole to me. We’ve clearly lost Emmy and Luke to their own private moment.
“You know I love a good game,” I reply, giving her a smirk. “I didn’t bring a deck of cards with me though.”
“That’s ok,” she says, sliding her hands into each of ours. “We don’t need cards for what I have in mind.”
There is a devious smile on her face, and I wonder what could possibly be up her sleeve. Cole shrugs, and we follow her back past the bar, and out towards the playrooms.