Page 26 of The Work Husband

Now, as per Jamie’s instructions, my phone was tucked away in my bag. Jamie was sitting next to me, frosty glasses and a bowl of olives on the table in front of us, and we were deep in conversation. Anyone watching us would think we were on a date, I realised. It was only if they were close enough to hear that they’d realise what was actually going on.

‘He’s not here yet,’ I fretted, picking at the skin around my nail nervously. ‘Can’t I check my phone?’

‘Absolutely not.’

‘What if he’s lost?’

‘We’re in London, West One, not Outer Mongolia, Georgia,’ Jamie scolded. ‘And he’s got Google Maps, same as anyone else.’

‘What if he doesn’t turn up?’

‘He’ll turn up. I bet you.’ Jamie’s smile was knowing – almost devilish.

‘Bet me what?’

‘If he doesn’t show, I’ll buy you dinner. Don’t worry, Georgia, I’m not going to abandon you.’

He reached out and patted my knee – a gesture that I knew was meant to be reassuring but could have looked like something completely different. It felt different too. Not just because his hand wasn’t Sam’s but because whenever Jamie had touched me in the past, it had been the touch of a mate, not that of a… fake boyfriend.

‘Thanks.’ A grateful smile spread across my face. ‘That’s good to know.’

‘Now look like you’ve having fun,’ he ordered.

To my surprise, his sternness made me laugh.

‘That’s better,’ he said approvingly. ‘And right on time. Don’t look – your fellow’s just walked in the door.’

As if I’d been hypnotised, I kept my eyes fixed on Jamie’s face. With nowhere else to look, I noticed his eyes were the same colour as his peacock-blue shirt. His teeth looked extra white against his tanned face. His hair was smooth and glossy. I was so used to seeing him at work, hungover or stressed or giggling with me at some in-joke, that it always took me by surprise when I remembered how actually, properly hot he was.

And he looked like he was enjoying this. If I’d been someone else, I’d probably be enjoying it too, but I couldn’t get past the furtive, guilty feeling in my stomach.

If there was something going on between us for real, this is how I’d feel all the time, I realised.

Then another thought came into my mind: Is this how Sam feels when he’s with Ava?

That was enough to make me lean in closer to Jamie and laugh as if he’d said something hilarious.

I was still laughing when Sam stepped up to our table. But when I saw his face, I stopped right away. It wasn’t that he looked angry or even annoyed. He just looked vaguely puzzled and a bit hurt.

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Jamie did.

‘Mate!’ He stood up, extending a hand for Sam to shake, and after a moment’s hesitation, Sam took it. ‘Good to see you; didn’t realise you were on your way. Why didn’t you say, Georgia?’

‘I… My phone was…’ I rummaged in my bag with unsteady hands and took it out. There were three messages from Sam, but I hadn’t read them. I stood up too, noticing that my legs felt more wobbly than they should have after just one G&T, but I couldn’t get to Sam to kiss him hello because Jamie was enthusiastically clapping him on the shoulder.

‘How’s the movie-making business treating you?’ he continued, like Sam was his long-lost best friend. ‘All good? What can I get you to drink?’

‘A pint of whatever’s on draft would be great, thanks.’ Sam returned Jamie’s smile, but his didn’t look entirely convincing.

‘Coming right up.’ Jamie headed off to the bar, moving as gracefully as some sort of predatory cat in a jungle.

Now that we were alone together, I felt small, foolish and awkward. All the power I’d expected to have surging through me had drained away. Without Jamie by my side, I felt horribly vulnerable. And vulnerable was a way I’d never, ever expected to feel when I was with Sam.

‘Did I interrupt something?’ Sam asked. His voice was casual, but there was tension in his hand where it gripped the edge of the table.

‘Of course not.’ I moistened my lips with my tongue. ‘We finished work early so we thought we’d come for a quick drink. You don’t mind, do you?’

He’s meant to mind. That’s the whole point. But I don’t want to hurt him. And if I am, I hate it.