‘Oh yeah, why’s that?’ Darren sat down on his couch and put his feet up on the coffee table. Calling Claudia had been a spur of the moment idea. After seeing his ex-girlfriend’s new girlfriend’s vagina as she was about to insert his sperm into it, he was kind of keen to do something to take his mind off it.

‘Because I got the sense that you were only after a one-night thing after I left your place this morning.’

God, imagine if Claudia had still been there when Charlotte had called asking to come around. Now that would have been awkward.

‘What gave you that idea? I asked for your number, didn’t I?’

‘Yeah, but you know you didn’t offer me any breakfast, right? I assumed asking for my number was an obligatory move.’

‘What? I offered you breakfast!’

‘Mate, you pointed at the kitchen, that doesn’t count.’

‘Ah. Sorry, sometimes I can be a bit useless. But now you know I really did want your number.’

‘So, what can I do for you?’

‘I was thinking you might want to meet for a drink.’

‘A drink?’ He could hear the disappointment in her voice and he realised she was probably hoping he would invite her out for a proper date. Maybe dinner.

Darren sat up and took his feet back off the coffee table. ‘I mean . . . how about dinner? Tonight?’

‘Dinner sounds nice.’ He could almost hear the relief in her voice. ‘Where did you have in mind?’ she asked.

He really should have planned this better. He said the first one that came to mind — the tapas bar he’d taken Sage to meet Charlotte and Stephanie.

‘I love that place. Do you want to meet there?’

‘No, no. Give me your address and I’ll pick you up. Seven, okay?’

‘Seven is great.’

After she gave him her address he hung up the phone and wondered if he was actually looking forward to tonight. If he was honest, the answer was no. He’d been looking for a way to distract himself from everything else in his life. But he wasn’t really up for doing the whole proper date thing. For having to put on his best show and make conversation and flirt. He just wanted sex.

Actually, what he wanted was sex with Sage. What the hell was wrong with him?

*

Mimi