Strawberries at Wimbledon. Nikki Moore
I date.’
‘I don’t have an issue with dating. I’m just not bothered at the moment, that’s all.’ Rayne was aware her voice had a defensive tone to it as she rolled a small, firm strawberry between her fingers. ‘And it’s not like I’ve never had a hook-up before. I’ve been with guys since-’ for some reason, Adam’s name stuck in her throat. ‘The problem is that when I think about it, I want relationship sex.’ She sighed. ‘But without the relationship.’
Lily frowned. ‘Explain.’ She dipped her strawberry into lashings of cream and dropped it in her lip-glossed mouth.
‘I’m not after a serious relationship right now. Sex without strings would suit me, but,’ she sighed, ‘the sex isn’t usually that great. They don’t know what I like, and vice versa. They don’t know me, there’s no connection, no cuddling afterwards. It’s just physical.’ She held up a hand. ‘Before you say it, I know that’s the whole point of no strings sex; the physical without the emotion or affection. But if the sex isn’t that good, if I don’t get that much out of it, what’s the point?’
‘Right. Hmmm… not complicated at all then.’ Her friend sat back, plucked up another plump strawberry and chewed it slowly, expression thoughtful.
‘I know,’ Rayne groaned, stifling a laugh. ‘I’m not hard to please, am I?’ She rolled another strawberry in the cream and ate it, lush fruitiness and smooth sweetness coating her tongue as she closed her eyes and tilted her face to the sun’s glorious heat.
There was an announcement over the speakers that the match was about to start and a few good natured, excited cheers erupted among the spectators. People started returning to their seats, the general volume increasing as the commentator said something about it being a beautiful day for a match.
Lily said something, but Rayne didn’t catch it, opening her eyes and leaning closer. ‘What was that?’
‘I… something…something… perfect!’ Lily beamed, looking pleased with herself.
‘Huh? What is?’ Lily’s lips moved again but Rayne still didn’t hear. ‘Say what?’
‘You need to have sex with an ex!’ Lily exclaimed, just as the crowd around them fell silent. ‘Oh.’
A few sniggers and titters sounded, and a lady in a straw hat with a white ribbon wrapped around it turned and raised one perfectly plucked eyebrow at them. Two rows down, a group of guys sporting We did Wimbledon t-shirts looked over and let out a round of good-natured wahey’s!
‘Oops. Oh, God.’ Lily went scarlet, closing her eyes and leaning forward to bury her face in her knees.
Rayne choked on laughter, holding her side. ‘Good one, Lil.’
‘Stop it!’ Lily hissed, sitting up and fanning her face with one hand.
’S-sorry.’ Rayne sniggered.
‘I was just trying to help.’
‘I know. Sorry. Great timing though; now everyone’s going to think I’m desperate.’ Her wry smile took any sting out of the words. ‘Not that I care.’
‘Of course not. You never do.’ The red in Lily’s cheeks started fading to a pretty rose pink. ‘I do think my suggestion’s worth considering though. If you sleep with someone you already know you’re compatible with, you’d have a good time. Plus you’d be comfortable because they’ve seen it all before and you wouldn’t fall for them because you’d know all the reasons it wouldn’t work, because of the break-up. See? Sex with an ex,’ she finished triumphantly. ‘The idea rocks.’
‘Thanks for sharing your logic with me, but really I have no intention of going there.’
‘Why not?’ A sickeningly familiar, deep voice quipped right behind them. ‘I agree with Lily. Sounds like a great idea to me.’
Something in her midriff plummeted to the floor through the soles of her feet. Time slid sideways and she nearly did the same out of her seat.
Oh, shit.
She turned her head slowly. ‘Adam.’
‘Hello, Ray,’ he grinned, using the nickname he’d adopted after they’d started sleeping together. ‘How are you? It’s been ages.’
How long had he been sat there? ‘Yes. Four years, nearly five.’ Fab, now it looked like she’d been counting. Which she hadn’t. ‘Good thanks,’ she gulped, unable to believe it was really him, within touching distance, and how different but the same he looked. So grown up, with shorter brown hair, much broader shoulders and laughter lines scrunching up the corners of his pale blue eyes. Was it just the baking sun making her hot and dizzy? ‘You?’ she squeaked uncharacteristically, ignoring the smirk on Lily’s face. A few deep breaths helped secure some sanity.
‘Excellent.’ He nodded at the court as the players came on wearing their whites, the English guy wearing a sweatband round his forehead, the Spanish contender looking cool and unaffected by the high temperature. ‘We should catch up after the match.’ Adam’s voice lowered and he touched her shoulder briefly, fingertips burning her bare skin. His glance swept past her. ‘Lily.’ He nodded and smiled. ‘Everything okay with you?’
Lily craned her head around and returned his smile, eyes warm. They’d always got on well at uni. ‘Good thanks, Adam. Hello,’ she added to his companion, her smile growing.
‘Sorry.’ Adam gestured to the younger, strawberry-blond guy beside him. ‘This is Flynn, my intern.’
Rayne was surprised by his use of the word. Intern was so American and Adam had always been so British. Maybe travelling abroad had changed him. And intern for what? Not that she cared.
‘Hi,’ Flynn waved slightly, a dimple flashing, staring admiringly at Lily’s English Rose beauty.
Adam and Rayne exchanged a bemused look. At uni they’d protected Lily together. There’d always been men trailing around after her, and she’d been pretty naïve about some of their motives. More than once, while Rayne had chatted to Lily about being careful and not falling for guys too easily, Adam had taken those guys aside and warned them to treat Lily well. To only pursue her if their intentions didn’t involve bedding and then dumping her. He was old-fashioned like that. Gallant. She’d always loved that about him. It was unusual for an eighteen year old guy, but a product of his upbringing. An upbringing that’d come between them more than once.
‘It’s starting.’ Adam gazed at her, and whispered huskily, as one of the Umpires’ signalled first serve and the crowd edged forward on their seats with an expectant hush.
‘It is.’ Rayne turned to face forward. She didn’t like the fact it felt like they were talking about more than the battle to be played out on the striped lawn.
It had never been a battle with Adam, except for their last few weeks together. The majority of their relationship had been easy, playful and happy. So, so happy.
He’d turned up at her room a few days after they’d met, two mugs of tea in his hands, holding one out when she answered.
‘Hey, Nineteen. I thought you might drink this one? Three sugars, right?’
She stepped back and leaned against the door, amused. ‘You mean it’s not the same one you made the other day?’
‘Well…I can’t deny I didn’t consider trying it, after the way you ran out on me, but on balance I figured that giving you food poisoning from off milk wouldn’t be very clever.’
‘No?’
‘No,’ he said solemnly, ‘this set of halls isn’t that big and since I’ve noticed I’m the only one you’ve really talked to, I thought they’d easily trace the crime back to me.’
‘Really?’ She grinned and took the mug off him, surprised at how much better she’d felt