The One Awakened: Book 1 in The One Trilogy (29 page)

I clamp my gawping mouth shut immediately and nervously disappear inside to freshen up and refill my drink. I cannot get my head around the different side to my friend Sebastian. There was nothing friendly about his suggestions.
 

Rule no.3: We must become strangers to become lovers and I have to say he’s definitely a stranger to me right now. I’m not sure which one I prefer but I do know I miss the funny Sebastian who makes me laugh uncontrollably and is easy to be around. I’d only fleetingly seen that side of him, since the night he’d returned from Dubai. I’m mulling over my thoughts and thinking that I better go and find Leo, when I spin at the sound of my name.

“Lucia. There you are – I’ve been searching for you.” It’s Chris Booth and his self-assured smile, which makes me feel like I deserve his attention. It’s extremely irritating. God I wish they’d all just piss off and leave me to have some fun.

I politely nod. “Chris. How’s things?”

“All good at my end. Great news about that Ashton job! That place is
very
swish.”
 

“Yeah I’m really happy to be working on it and have Silver Con involved. Sebastian said that you were going to be project managing the lads with the
knocking about
?” I politely enquire.

“I begged him to work on this one, to be honest,” he says leaning in close, as though to tell me a secret. “I think you and I could work really well together.” His voice is laced with promise, “Besides its small fish for Sebastian – he likes the travelling – the
big
projects! His feet are too itchy to stay in one place for too long. That’s why he and thing-ummy-jiggy worked well together.”

Thing-ummy-jiggy who?
 

I choose to ignore both this and his flirting, although I have to say he looks very smooth tonight. His lightly tanned skin and pale blue shirt show his icy eyes off strikingly and his dimpled cheeks soften what is a relatively harsh face. He was attractive but did nothing for me. I could see why Meg was keen. Shame she’d not been able to come tonight. Something about her eldest having a dance show.

I grab my glass and refill it with the nearest bottle of white wine and decide to try and make more of an effort with Sebastian’s best mate, for nothing other than the fact that it looked like we were going to be working together a considerable amount.
 

“I’m looking forward to it Chris – but I warn you I’m a hard task master!”
 

“I do like a strong woman, who knows what she wants.” Oh dear he really does like to
sex
it up. “Plus, Seb is pretty busy with work and the
ladies
of course
,
” he adds winking at me cheekily. “So it’d be nice to meet some new people.”

I’m instantly irritated by his topic of conversation and it isn’t really his fault. It was the truth. But unknowingly Chris continues oblivious.
 

“He’s such a lucky bastard. You know it was only this week just gone, we’d driven to Manchester to quote for some Restaurant Chain remodel and all the way through the pitch, some bird had made her intentions pretty clear to Seb.”

My ears prick up at this tit-bit of gossip and I feel the unwelcome growl of jealously low in my belly. “Oh yes?”

Enjoying the sound of his own voice Chris continues on a roll. “Oh yeah, we stayed the night. This blonde was gagging for it and Sebastian took full advantage. Never one to refuse a lady or a piece of the action,” he says seedily and I cringe.

“We went out that night for drinks to seal the deal and she was all over him like a rash. Stacey, I think it was?” he stops to think.
 

The more I get to know Chris, the more I wonder about the level of his intelligence. He’s definitely a bit of a jack-the-lad.
“Yeah, Stacey that was her name! Anyway he left us lot early with the hottie and I didn’t see him again until breakfast. Like I say he’s a lucky bastard.”
 

He swigs his beer and shakes his head. “He’ll never settle down that one. Thought he might for a mo with his latest in Dubai, bout as serious as I’ve seen him but nahh!” He raises his bottle again and chuckles openly, “Anyway it gives us thirsty lads some rather amusing tales of his adventures - more than enough to wet our sexual appetites.”
 

Oh my God, I can feel the ball of nausea rising up my oesophagus, burning a track inside me. I’m pretty sure that soon I’m going to disgrace myself. I take a deep breath and exhale. I smile through the conversation not willing to show Chris my true disappointment at Seb’s indiscretion and faking a laugh to encourage Chris’ loose tongue I ask.
 

“When was this then? Last week you say?”
“Hmm, it was Wednesday. Was a good night,” he nods, smiling to himself, inwardly reliving the memories. Suddenly, as though he’s remembered some snippet he quizzes, “Hey, didn’t you and he recently have a dabble? He’s been on about trying to take it to the next level since you were at University and we never thought he’d have the balls or the opportunity - what with you being with…?” He clicks his fingers continuously, grasping for a name.

“Niall.” I fill in for him weakly. Oh my, I really do feel sick.

Chris is still oblivious to my discomfort. “Niall, that’s it. Bit of a dick from what Seb has told me? Anyway obviously now you’re single the chance was there, and Sebastian must have grabbed it. Said you had an amazing pair of…,” he uses his hands to cup imaginary breasts on his chest.

What the fuck? Did I just hear him correctly?
 

I have no right to be so completely devastated and feel such disloyalty. We are not together. Made no promises to one another. Why do I feel like he’s cheated on me with this bloody
Stacey
? I really need to go home and cry this one out.
“Do excuse me Chris, I need to go find my date.” I smile overly brightly at him, not willing to show him any weakness or suggestion of my turmoil.

He seems surprised at my quick exit but just shrugs and says smoothly, flickering his eyes over my body appreciatively.
“No probs Lucia. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better. I think we have a lot in common and Sebastian and I have very similar taste in women.”
 

He rubs his fingers up the outside of my arm, sending a shiver of distaste around my body. I literally want to go and jump into the fountain to wash the feelings I’ve had in his vicinity away; I shake it off, turn and not responding, disappear outside.
 

“There you are Babe. I was ready to send out a search party.” Abby grabs my arm and leads me towards the food table. “Are you OK? You look like you’ve seen a ghost?” She disappears into her clutch, fumbles around and locating her Clinique compact, shoves it at me. “Blush and lippy - now!”

I shrug at her bossiness and holding my hands up in resignation I complete her instructions.

Suzie joins us, nibbling on a cheese and cracker. “You alright Sis?”

“Oh I’m fine. Chris just took great pleasure in telling me that Sebastian had given him the lo-down on mine and his shenanigans last week,” I declare, blotting my lips on a tissue. “Oh and that’s not the best of it - Chris happily regaled how apparently according to Seb I had a nice pair of boobs!”

“What?” Suzie and Abby say in unison, their faces horrified.

“I know. He wouldn’t do that would he?”

“I don’t know love. Men can be pricks, especially if the booze is flowing,” Abby acknowledges sympathetically. Giving me a cuddle, which Suzie mirrors, leaving me squished, laughing between them.
 

“Lulu Sandwich!” the girls cry out giggling and abs adds. “To be fair you have got fantastic tits Babe - I’d brag about them if I’d ha a go in the ball pool.”
 

We laugh consecutively again - she always cracks me up.

“It doesn’t sound like Sebastian though,” Suzie ponders, calming herself down and smoothing down her dress.

“That’s not the worst of it! Apparently Sebastian pulled a client last week, only a few nights, after
our
night together. I know we didn’t complete the act but
still
?”
 

I look at my two dearest people for support. My desolation marking my, open-book face.
 

“OOHHH!” Abby cringes, pulling a severe Wallace and Gromit mouth and spins around to grab another nibble. Mouth-full she’s mumbles, shaking her head, “That’s not good. I don’t know; you and Seb have always had unfinished business but you’re both too bloody stubborn to see it.”

Suzie hmmm’s her total agreement. “But maybe you two are just meant to be friends?”

“To be fair to Seb, you’re not a couple!” Abby rubs my shoulder in affection, wincing a little at her own bluntness. “Besides you’re dating again too.
You
came tonight with Leo?” she reminds me gently, “Even though he is soo not your type - at least you tried!” she giggles, more than little pissed.

I glance towards Leo, who’s still deep in conversation with the others, Sebastian included and concur with her last comment. She was right but she’d encouraged me to go for it. She was also right about Seb; I had double standards.
 

I was just annoyed that Sebastian wanted to
do
anyone else, after
we
had connected in that way. I suppose I had narcissistically thought that if we ever did get it on,
I
would be enough to change his philandering ways; that
I
would be special enough. Not looking likely.
 

God he was turning me into a needy, desperate mess. How had that happened?
 

A night of messed up, strung out emotional disaster and one amazing orgasm and I was talking about a relationship with him. Well he could go and jump. That would never happen!

I look across to where he laughs happily with Nathan and my eyes are drawn to a pretty blonde at his side, draping her amazing body over him at every opportunity. He must have brought someone with him after all? Talk about double standards? At that moment the blonde locks eyes with me, and smiles smugly like a cat - reaching to whisper something intimately into Sebastian’s ear. I watch him lean in and smile, at her words.
 

What had she said to make that smile reach his eyes?
 

It had been enough for him to return the favour and draw her towards him, before they clinked glasses. In that moment I realise that I don’t see him as just a friend anymore - I’m too disturbed by his contact with another woman. I can practically feel my eyes glow kryptonite green and I realise that he was right, if we were to ever act upon my proposition, properly, we’d have to act as lovers before friends.