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living room?”
    She recoiled. “I found it in next door’s skip. It was too good to waste. Besides, what’s with the bad mood, fuck face?”
    I slumped down onto the sofa and rubbed at my forehead. “Work.”
    Steph made herself comfortable next to me and passed me my tea. “Oh, anything to do with that boss? What was he like?” She sat up, her body more alert. I groaned, not wanting to get into it. What could I say? He was an arrogant, but gorgeous, intense son of a bitch?
    “Not what I was expecting.” I settled with that, brushing her off with an exhausted yawn.
    “Anyway, you got your date tonight with Alex,” she sang in an annoying tone, prodding me in my shoulder.
    I smiled, took another sip of my tea, and pushed to my feet. I had to start getting myself decent. “What are your plans for tonight?”
    “I have an Ann Summers party to host. I got some new samples and a new catalogue. Want to look?” She winked at me and walked to a box that had been delivered that morning to rifle it out. “Check out the gyrating egg. It’s small, but one of my ladies said it’s the only toy that’s ever made her come. Her legs tremble and all sorts. I mean, her legs actually trembled.” She scoffed in amazement. “Shall I order you one?”
    “Sure.” I took the catalogue out of her hands and made my way into my bedroom.
    Steph was also an Ann Summers rep and would gift me with samples and ask for my feedback. I didn’t complain. Especially if I hadn’t had a one-night stand that week. Yes. That was me. One night and that’s the lot. I didn’t get tied to men. I never could. Never wanted to. One-night stands for me were pointless, emotionless sex with both parties using each other for our own purposes. Which was fine by me. But I had calmed down of late. I always used to go out partying and getting absolutely legless, shagging the first man I liked the look of. But since I cut out alcohol, I didn’t go out much because I didn’t want the temptation. I still had my Alcoholics Anonymous sessions every Thursday, which kept me on an even keel, but I didn’t let slip that I would have a glass or two at home, because that was all I had, and it was rare if I even did that. That particular day, though, I felt like I needed a drink. Not because I had a bad day but because that damned Wade Parks was on my mind. I didn’t want him to be there. He was everything I despised about a man.
    After getting into my bedroom, I threw the catalogue onto my single bed and made quick work of gathering the essentials to take a shower. I threw my up hair, washed quickly, and then stared at the rack of clothes I had in my stand-alone wardrobe. I had so many, yet I never had anything to wear. I knew I was going on a date, but late March in London was fucking arctic. I had a choice of dressing chic and freezing my tits off all night or dressing appropriately for the weather. But Alex wasn’t a man I was going on a first date with. I’d known him all my life, so it wasn’t like I needed to make the effort. In the end I decided to go for a pair of skinny jeans—after battling to pull them up over my arse—and paired them with a white jumper and boots. I also wrapped a thick scarf around my neck and threw on my coat.
    As I was about to leave, my smartphone began to ring. It was Alex.
    “Hey, Evey. You still coming?”
    I frowned and glanced at the wall clock. It was eight o’clock. Shit. I was meant to be there at seven.
    “I’m on my way.” I wasn’t on my way, but we’ve all lied about it. I hung up on him in a rush, waved good-bye to Steph, and called a taxi.

 
    Chapter Four
     
    “I thought you were going to stand me up.” Alex’s pale, baby face was all smiles and sweetness when I marched my way into the chicken place in a rush, trying to hitch my bag back over my shoulder where it kept falling off. I felt bad. I was an hour late and all because of that jerk. I couldn’t believe Alex actually waited. The poor