I suck in a sharp breath and Tom looks like he has been sucker-punched. Kim lets out a giggle and Michael swiftly leads us in the direction of our table.
We step around Tom and I don’t even feel the urge to turn back around to look at him. He has no impact on my life, or my feelings anymore.
Michael doesn’t stop until we are at the back of the restaurant and at our table. He pulls out my chair and I sit down, replaying what he said to Tom in my head.
Is it ridiculous that Michael’s words make me feel special, empowered and like I am the centre of his world? Because if it is, then so be it. The warmth fluttering through me has me feeling just a little bit smug. Not something I am used to feeling, but I’ll take it after how shitty Tom made me feel.
However, my smug feeling lasts for another three seconds before Michael places his lips beside my ear and whispers, “I don’t like it when you flirt with other men, Lucy.”
“What?” I say as I quickly turn my head to look at him.
His hand comes to the side of my face, blocking us from Kim and Jeremy’s view as he whispers, “You, flirting with Tom, I don’t like it.”
I let out quiet laughter before realising that Michael is totally serious.
“I wasn’t flirting with him, Michael. I wouldn’t do that. Not now, not ever,” I reply adamantly.
“He’s your ex, and I don’t like you talking to him,” Michael says, his eyes burning into mine.
“Oh my God, Michael, I’m so sorry,” I say quickly and quietly, realising how awkward it must have been for him having to meet my ex, especially without any warning. Guilt smashes into me with a force that I never thought possible. The last thing I want is for Michael to feel insecure. I know how that feels, and it can destroy you.
“I promise that I wasn’t flirting, and I promise that Tom means nothing to me,” I say before I place a kiss on his cheek. His hand moves to the nape of my neck and holds me in position, so that his head is now completely blocking me from Kim and Jeremy.
“He better not, Lucy, because I don’t think I could handle the thought of losing you,” he says before placing his lips on mine, claiming me, showing me how much I mean to him.
I have never in my life experienced the intensity of how Michael feels for me before, and it wraps around me like a security blanket; one that I so desperately need.
I’m not worthless, and Michael is showing me that now. It might be a little over the top for some, but when you’ve had months of feeling vulnerable, you will take love and hold onto it, savour it, be consumed by it.
“Put her down,” I hear Kim say before a giggle escapes her.
Michael pulls his lips from mine, gives me a wink and releases his hold on me before sitting beside me and placing his hand on my knee.
Kim and Jeremy are sat opposite us and Kim immediately comes to life.
“Oh my God, did you see Tom’s face?” Kim asks me as she continues to laugh. “Talk about a deer caught in the headlights.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Michael says, ever the charming gentleman. “I didn’t mean to be so blunt, and I hope that it doesn’t affect your opinion of me.”
“Affect it? Hell, you have just gone way up in my books, pal,” Kim says.
“Hear, hear,” Jeremy says as we all burst into laughter.
Michael speaking to Tom like that has broken the ice, and I have a feeling that the rest of the night will unthaw anymore cold feelings towards him.
Chapter Thirteen
A beautiful bromance
“Where have the guys gone again?” Kim asks me as we both relax in her lounge, a glass of wine in hand.
“You really don’t take any notice of Jeremy when he tells you stuff, do you?” I reply playfully.
“I do for the important stuff, like when he’s taking me to dinner, or when he’s going to shag me into a state of oblivion,” Kim replies, and I spit out the mouthful of wine that I had just taken.
“Oh my God,” I say, holding my belly as it starts to hurt from laughing so much.
“Say it like it is,” she replies, smiling mischievously.
“I don’t think anyone could accuse you of sugar-coating your words.”
“I wouldn’t want them to either,” she replies matter-of-factly. When I have wiped away my tears and regained my breath, I finally answer her question.
“They were going to watch the dog racing and then go for a few drinks afterwards.”
“Oh, yes, Jeremy mentioned some racing thing,” she says with a wave of her hand.
“In fact, they should be back any moment now,” I announce as the front door opens and we hear the laughter of the two men.
Jeremy comes into view first, his sky blue eyes glazed over indicating that he has had a little too much to drink, not to mention his blue shirt is no longer tucked in and his floppy blond hair is all in disarray.
“Hey, girls,” he slurs as he stumbles over to Kim and leans down to give her a kiss. Unfortunately he loses his balance and plows straight into Kim, knocking her wine all over her.
“Jeremy,” she screeches as she struggles to get him off of her.
“Oh shit, sorry, babe, didn’t meant to.”
“For fuck’s sake, man, how old are you?”
“Old enough to know better, yada yada, I know the drill, but we had fun, so I couldn’t give a toss right now.”
I laugh at their banter and then my eyes lock with Michael’s. He doesn’t look anywhere near as drunk as Jeremy, and there is definitely no mistaking the heat in his gaze.
“Hey,” I say putting my wine glass down and standing up.
I walk over to him and snake my arms around his waist. He leans down and places a kiss on my lips, allowing me to taste an essence of whisky on them. I am not a fan of whisky, but on his lips it’s not so bad.
“Are you ready to go?” he asks me, and I sense that there is an urgency to get me out of here.
“Oh, sure. Let me just go and get my coat,” I say as I move past him and out into the hallway.
Kim is still shrieking at Jeremy to get off of her and I feel a little sorry for him for the hangover that he is going to wake up with tomorrow morning. I put my coat on and make my way back to the lounge.
Michael has taken the liberty of picking up my handbag and is waiting for me to say my goodbyes.
“Kim, I’ll give you a call tomorrow,” I say as she just sticks her hand in the air to say bye. She is definitely going to have fun trying to get Jeremy to bed as he seems to be half-asleep already.
I take Michael’s hand in mine and lead him out of the house and out into the fresh air. It’s a little chilly and a shiver runs through me.
“Come here,” Michael says as he nestles me into his side so that we can walk back to his place. His arm comforts me and makes me feel safe.
“Did you have fun tonight?” I ask him.
“Yeah, it was okay.” He doesn’t sound very convincing.
“Well, Jeremy certainly seemed to have enjoyed himself.”
“Oh, he definitely did. Now there is a man who can’t handle his drink.”
“Hmm. He’s going to feel so bad in the morning, especially once Kim has dealt with him.” I chuckle at the image that conjures in my mind. I have seen Jeremy come back in a state before, and I have witnessed the morning after. Kim will spend the morning playing loud music and singing at the top of her lungs whilst Jeremy whimpers for her to have more sympathy. Kim will tell him that he should know his limits and that it serves him right. Jeremy will then spend the rest of the day creeping around Kim before she finally gives in and they snuggle up and watch a film together.