“Tonight is actually perfect. I’ll be out by five. It’s my routine, so I know exactly what’s what. I’ll go home for a shower, and I can be there for six.”
“You can shower at mine if it makes life easier for you...”
Talia licked her lips when a server placed her breakfast down. “Thanks, Clare. Looks gorgeous.” And then Talia focused back on Faye. “Would that be okay? If I showered at your place?”
“Absolutely.”You’re playing a dangerous game here.“I’ll finish dinner while you’re showering. Any requests?”
“I’ll eat anything to be honest. I’ll just work it off tomorrow morning.”
Faye rolled her eyes, enamoured and slightly jealous of Talia’s dedication to everything. “Of course you will.”
“Now, may I tuck into my omelette before my stomach starts making someveryunsexy noises?”
Faye swallowed hard. That glint in Talia’s eye was painfully arousing. “Enjoy. I have work to do.”
* * *
Talia rushed downthe street from the club, pleased Faye lived so close by. Their session had overrun, she needed the world’s longest and hottest shower, and her stomach had been growling for the last hour. It was the only downfall to permanently being on the go and working out; she was constantly fuelling her body.
She slung her rucksack over her shoulder, jogging up the slight incline to Faye’s apartment block. She hated being late, and of all the times she really wished to be on time, it was now. Faye didn’t deserve shitty timekeeping when she’d been kind enough to invite Talia over for dinner.
Why am I going to her place for dinner?
Talia stopped at the corner of Faye’s street, blowing out a breath. It couldn’t mean anything, even if in her head it meant the world. She didn’t often find herself invited over to someone’s home for dinner. Talia wasn’t that kind of friend to other people. But Faye was clearly happy to have her in her home, and Talia wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
She’d spent the best part of ten years being the friend everyone went out clubbing with but didn’t invite over when their kids were around. She’d spent all her adult life being the stripper best friend—kinda like the token gay friend some people seemed to have. But with Faye, it wasn’t that way. Because Faye knew a different Talia. A Talia whowantedto go out to dinner with ordinary people, not just the girls from the club. Talia had always wished to be seen as someone who was reliable, and comforting, a friend when someone was in need. And that was exactly how Faye made her feel.
Normal.
She shook her head, willing away all thoughts of the gorgeous Faye from her mind.Just friends. That’s all this was. Someone who she could gossip with. Talk about life with. Someone…perfect for her.
She reached the apartment block, pressing the buzzer on Faye’s door. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t excited to see the place Faye Holmes lived in. She’d always been curious about that sort of thing when it came to people.
She imagined something simple, something understated. Faye didn’t strike her as a woman who embraced the latest mod-cons or technology. She struck her as the simple kind. But not boring. Simple and boring were two completely different things in Talia’s book. And Talia loved simple.
The intercom crackled to life, a smile spreading on Talia’s mouth. “Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me. I’m so sorry I’m late. I can absolutely turn around and go home if I’ve messed you about.”
“Don’t be daft. Come up. Second floor.” The intercom cut out, and the door unlocked.
Okay, she’s not the kind of woman who gets mad when someone is running late. That was already a tick against her name. Megan had always complained if Talia was even five minutes late for something. Perhaps that was why she’d come to stick to her times since they split. She’d tried to shy away from the fact over the years, but Talia knew she’d tried to change herself. To better herself. But really, she was exactly how she wanted to be.
She reached Faye’s floor, smiling when she saw that the door was ajar. She fixed her workout clothes better on her body—not wishing to resemble someone who looked like they’d been attacked by a pack of angry wolves—and approached the door. “Hello?”
“Come in.”
Talia did exactly as Faye had asked, pushing the door open slowly. Faye stood with her back to her at the kitchen counter, the smell of an Italian tomato sauce wafting towards her. Okay, she was starving now. It smelled divine. “Hi. Again, I’m really sorry I’m late.”
“It’s fine. Dinner isn’t ready yet anyway.”
“But I’m still sorry,” Talia said, fidgeting with the cord on her rucksack. “I won’t make it a habit. One of the girls was struggling with her pole routine, so I had to hang back a little longer than I thought I would.”
Faye turned, her sapphire eyes tender. “Please, don’t apologise and don’t explain. There’s no harm done.”
“Well, dinner smells amazing.” She lowered her rucksack to the floor close to the door, rubbing her hands together as she scanned Faye’s apartment.
It may have been dark already, but the apartment was south facing, so Talia knew Faye likely had the sun beaming through the windows each morning. Talia turned, struck by the look Faye was giving her.