32. Sloane
Sloane
“Fucking hell, woman. Look at you!” Emmy exclaims as I emerge from my bedroom.
I’ve just spent the last hour curling my hair into soft waves, and I’ve rolled my fringe in a slightly vintage style.
Coupled with my trademark winged eyeliner and scarlet lipstick, the look is very Dita Von Teese and I’m not mad about it.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I beam, as she pretends to fan herself.
“I’d snog you all over again, you know,” she says with a grin.
Funny story – Emmy and I met in a gay bar eighteen months ago when she wrote herself a sexy bucket list. I’m still proud to have been the first item she ticked off – kiss a girl – when we shared a cute little smooch.
“I’m a taken woman now, honey! You missed your shot.” I toss her a wink and we both burst into giggles.
“Seriously, though, you look incredible. The absolute tits.”
Her ridiculous British expressions never fail to make me laugh.
“Thank you,” I reply, giving her a little twirl. “You sure it’s not too much for Mexican?”
“If it’s too much, tell them to go find less. Have the best night!”
I beam at her, tucking my lipstick into my bag as I do a final mirror-check. I can’t believe this is our first proper date out in public. I’m weirdly nervous?
Not that I give a shit what people think, but I still feel uneasy about the slight tension between the boys. Still, what can’t be cured by a few spicy margs and a taquito or two?
A little while later, I arrive outside the restaurant and check my phone. I’m bang on time, and a few moments later Cole appears from a nearby side street and jogs over to join me. He blinks, taking me in.
“You look beautiful,” he says, leaning down to kiss me on the cheek. I’m tall for a woman, but Cole’s taller, and there’s something so inherently sexy about being smaller than him. I love that he could wrap his arms around me and rest his chin on my head. I make a mental note to demand more hugs.
“Thank you. Shall we head in or wait for Freddie?”
“Freddie’s always la?—”
He’s cut off as a black cab pulls up outside and Freddie jumps out.
I overhear him telling the driver to keep the change before he straightens up and takes me in. I see his pupils widen slightly, and I feel a little thrill run up my spine.
“Sloane,” he breathes. “You look incredible.”
He wastes no time in pulling me into him.
Cole went for a gentlemanly kiss but Freddie goes for full body contact.
He wraps me up in an embrace that I feel across every inch of me, his hands running up my back and into my hair before he presses a kiss on my lips.
Every single nerve ending is screaming at me as he pulls away, and I have to take a moment to catch my breath.
He didn’t even use tongue and here I am, melting like an ice cream in July.
“Hey, pretty boy,” I manage to get out.
He gives me a completely shameless grin before he turns his attention to Cole.
“Hey.” There’s a micro-beat, then Freddie pulls him into a quick hug, with a few too many back pats to be casual. Cole gives him a slightly awkward smile and a nod as he pulls back, then the three of us are just standing on the pavement.
“Shall we?” I gesture at the restaurant, and we all head inside.
As date nights go, I could have picked somewhere a touch more romantic. The Friday night vibe is in full swing, with dates, post-work drinks, and family dinners happening at top volume all around us.
As we order our food, my eyes keep darting between Freddie and Cole. Poly relationships need even more trust and communication than regular one-to-one relationships. This thing between us is a tiny sapling, and if it’s going to work, it needs a solid standing.
“So, how was work?” It’s a banal question but a safe one, and Freddie’s happy to oblige. They’ve got a new client on the books who’s proving himself to be real pain in the ass, throwing tricky things their way left, right, and centre.
“The worst thing about him is that he knows we’ll do whatever he wants because his portfolio is fucking massive,” he says, reaching over to load a tortilla chip with guac. “I can’t stand the man. He’s got the world’s most punchable face.”
“Awful clients are the worst,” Cole agrees. “I’ve had a few dickheads over the years, but I get to be a lot choosier now that I’m self-employed. Salt’s officially my favourite ever client.”
“Oh yes, what did Luke want to talk to you about the other night?”
“They’re planning to refresh the interiors,” Cole says, taking a sip of his beer.
“He wanted my thoughts on some of the early ideas so it’s all in harmony with the brand work I’ve been doing with them.
I think there’s also the potential for a second location, but he said nothing has been agreed yet. ”
“Oh yes, Emmy said a new investor has been sniffing around. Some high-flyer, apparently. I’m hoping Jessie will let me get involved a bit more with the theme nights,” I add, feeling my cheeks heat slightly as I say it.
“When my master’s is finished, I’ll have to start my psychotherapy training – but I’m going to do it part time around a job.
The end goal is still to be a sex therapist though. ”
Both of them look up at this, and I realise it’s the first time I’ve really talked about my ambitions or the long-term future.
“I’m not going to lie, I have wondered how you sustain your lifestyle while being a student. There aren’t the same loans available to international students, are there?”
If my cheeks weren’t pink before, they definitely are now. It feels like the bottom of my stomach has dropped out as I buy some time, taking a bite of burrito before I answer.
“No, you’re right. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this, but my dickhead father pays for my master’s and my apartment. I worked in New York before I moved over, and living with my mom meant I saved up a decent chunk for my day-to-day expenses, but I live a pretty frugal life overall.”
I pause, waiting for their reactions.
Freddie just nods thoughtfully, and Cole gives me an encouraging smile.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” he says, as I feel a warm hand come to rest on my thigh. “You’ve got to work with what you’ve got, and make the most of every opportunity, right?”
“You don’t think it’s pathetic that I’m nearly thirty and my dad basically still pays for everything?”
“It’s not that unusual,” Freddie says with a shrug. “The cost of living is mad, and London is not a cheap city to be a student in.”
I push: “It doesn’t change the way you see me?” They’re both being remarkably nonchalant about this.
Cole looks surprised. “No, why would it?”
“I don’t know, I’m being stupid.”
“I mean, I was only in this for the money, so if it turns out you’re skint, then I’ll be on my way.” Freddie pretends to get up to go but grins before he gets halfway. “It may shock you to learn this, princess, but your financial situation doesn’t matter to me one jot.”
I blow out a breath and give them both a grateful smile.
“Thank you for not judging me. I haven’t even told Em that my dad’s paying for our apartment. She insisted on paying me rent when she moved in and I’ve just been putting it into a separate savings account. It’s my getaway fund.”
“Well, if there’s anything we can do to facilitate the escape, we’re here.” Cole slides a hand over the tabletop and grasps mine.
“He’s already making little threats about stopping paying for things when I graduate in a few months, so my plan is to get out from under his thumb ASAP. I reckon I could juggle a job while I do my training, though I’m not sure what.”
“I’m sure you will be brilliant at whatever you turn your hand to,” Cole says, stroking my knuckles.
“Thanks, Cole,” I reply, giving him a grateful smile.
“We believe in you,” Freddie adds, glancing at Cole. A touch of pink tinges his cheeks as he looks back to me.
I smile at them both, basking in the glow of their support. It’s not that I expected them to reject me based on my financial dependence on Quentin fucking Reed, but there wasn’t one iota of judgement from either of them. I can physically feel some of the tension leaving my body.
“Oh, I should mention: he’s getting married in a couple of months. I’ve been expressly told to bring a plus-one or he will assign me someone he deems suitable.”
Cole’s eyebrows tick up but Freddie fully snort-laughs.
“Then he’s going to get more than he bargained for, isn’t he?” The grin he gives me is as devious as it is delicious.