“Absolutely not. You have the major hots for him, and I'm not going anywhere near that man.” She crosses her arms and cocks her head to one side as she regards me.

I'm about to get a lecture. I know her body language by heart, and she's about to give it to me with both barrels.

“I don't think there are any rules in place that say someone can't have a relationship with their bodyguard. I'm sure I've read about plenty of celebrities who get up to that kind of thing. Anyway, you already told me that your father hired him. You’re not his employer. Maybe, he'll be the one who says it's inappropriate. If that happens, fair enough. But I swear to God, Carrie, you turn down a chance to ride that specimen of magnificence, and I don't know if I can continue being your friend.”

I crack up at that. “You know I'm a wuss when it comes to rides,” I say through my giggles.

We’re both laughing now.

“Yeah, you are terrible. You even panicked on that children's log flume. I've never seen an adult get a panic attack on a child’s ride before.”

“Exactly. I'm not the sort of person who takes a walk on the wild side. And that guy”—I point my finger discreetly in his direction—“that guy is definitely an adult ride.”

“Yeah, he's a super fast roller coaster of a ride.”

“Exactly. You do know that people have died on those things?” I give her a dark look. “Not helping your cause here.”

“Imagine it, though, what a way to go. Death by massive pierced dick.”

I've just taken a sip of beer when she says that, and some of it comes through my nose. I'm spluttering and laughing and coughing all at the same time. My eyes start to stream too. She hands me a napkin, and I dab at my nose and my eyes, and as I glance at her, in the background I see Samuel watching me with a fierce look of interest on his face.

I hope to God there's no way he could overhear our conversation.

“Anyway, enough of my fantasy love life. What did you want to talk to me about? Are you okay?” I finally get myself under control.

She bites her bottom lip, a sure sign of nerves when it comes to Jade. “You know that guy I was seeing a few months back?”

“The artist,” I say, making speech quotes with my fingers.