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I pressed the button on my car key and the van unlocked with its usual groan. I was about to open the door when I spotted a familiar set of dirty blonde curls a few spaces down.
“Bradley!” I waved at him, and he gave me a weak smile and wandered over. “I just wanted to see if you were alright? I was hoping to see you at lunch today.” I’d waited in our usual spot in the boutique garden but he hadn’t showed. I couldn’t say I blamed him.
“I wasn’t sure whether to come or not. I guess I just chickened out in the end.” He shrugged and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
“That’s okay, I get it.” At least he was honest. That was one of the things I liked most about Bradley. I never had to guess what he was thinking. “Bradley, I’m really sorry about Saturday night...” I trailed off, struggling to balance all the crap in my arms. Without a word, Bradley took the muffin box off my hands.Alfie’smuffins.
“Yeah, me too.” He avoided my gaze, looking as if wrestling with something. “Lo…do you think I’m a good guy?”
“Of course I do!”
“I think so too. I’d like to think that, even though I like you, I’m a good enough guy that I’d be okay losing you to another guy if he deserved you. But that Alfie Tell seemed like a bad person to me, yelling at you and ordering you around like that, and I saw you crying in your car this morning...” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, messing his curls even more. My stomach twisted, feeling simultaneously guilty and embarrassed that Bradley had been dragged into this. “If you want to be with him that’s your choice, but if you want my advice…do you want my advice?” I nodded, though I honestly wasn’t sure. I just wantedhim to not be upset with me. “Just because salt looks like sugar, doesn’t mean it isn’t salt. You understand what I’m saying?”
“You think Alfie’s salt?”
“Maybe. Just try and keep your head, alright? I wouldn’t want anything happening to it.”
“I’ll try.”
He pulled me in for a one-armed hug and I leaned into him, enjoying the comfort after a long day of sitting on my nerves. He sighed and surprised me with a kiss on top of my head. Suddenly, his body tensed.
“Shit.”
I looked up and he nodded across the car park to where a furious Alfie Tell was getting out of his car and heading straight for us. My stomach dropped for so many different reasons I wasn’t sure which one to deal with first.
He wore a grey suit and a black tie, and he was mouthwatering as always.
Just because salt looks like sugar, doesn’t mean it isn’t salt.
“Do you want me to stay? He looks psycho,” Bradley asked, his hand still on my shoulder.
“No, I’ll be fine, honestly. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Alright. You have my number. If you need anything just ring me. I’ll come running.” He gave my arm a squeeze, handed my muffins back, and got into his car, pulling away just as Alfie got to me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked before he could start berating me. There were still customers milling around and if I caused a scene I would be fired in an instant.
“I wanted to talk to you about last night because I thought you might be upset. It’s good to know that you have other options when you need comforting.”
“He’s my friend, Alfie.”
“He wants you.”
I took a deep breath.Patience, Lola.“I need to put these down.”
He watched me, not bothering to help as I struggled to open the door and throw the box, my hand-bag, and the orchid onto the seat.
“Where did you get this?” He fingered one of the petals of the orchid.
“Mark gave it to me as a thank you for filling in for him.” I placed the orchid in the foot well so it wouldn’t fall over.
“Well, it would seem that I have more competition than I thought.”
“What do you want me to do, Alfie? Cut out every man in my life?”
“That would be a good start.” His hand reached for the hem of my skirt to stroke my thigh. A pair of ladies walked past us to their car in the next space over, ogling Alfie and I with avid curiosity.
“Stop,” I hissed, but he just grinned at me, stroking higher. I grabbed his hand, trying to force it away without causing a scene. The ladies whispered to each other and stared as they pulled out of the space. My cheeks burned. Exhibitionism was really not my thing.