Page 10 of All Mine (The All Mine #1)
Etienne
When Samantha turned onto the high street, Etienne let out a long sigh. He’d never had a night like it. Shaking his head at himself, he turned to head back inside.
Mile End Mickey was prepping in the kitchen, the radio blasting, so Etienne started to sort the bar for the day. There were several trays full of glasses to be polished and hung. He picked up a cloth and got to work, letting his mind run back over the night before.
It all started innocently enough. Samantha and he had matched on an app. Determined to end his dry spell, he’d messaged her. Their chat had been great, flirty and surprisingly funny, and he knew he was off to a good start.
They’d arranged to meet for a drink in town.
The bar was noisy and had a younger crowd, one of his normal venues for a date or a hook-up.
Samantha was lovely. Perched on her stool, she made sure to put her hand on his forearm when talking or nudge his thigh with her knee when she leaned in close to listen.
She licked her lips after sipping her drink, her pink tongue glistening.
Everything was going in the right direction.
A bottle of wine later, she was coming back to his, for one reason and one reason only. She’d expressly said so in the bar. And he didn’t need asking twice.
It was when they got back to his flat above the restaurant that things started to get weird.
‘You all right, mate?’ Mickey asked, jolting him back to the present. He held a tiny espresso cup in his hand and was peering at him over the bar. ‘Looking a bit peaky.’
Etienne ran his hands through his hair.
‘Late night, that’s all.’
Mickey sipped, then winked.
‘Saw you showing the lady out this morning.’
Etienne grimaced but tried to turn it into a grin.
‘Another in the long line of one-night stands?’ Mickey said. ‘I don’t know how you do it, mate.’
‘Well, actually. . .’ Etienne said, before he could stop himself. ‘I didn’t.’
Mickey paused, coffee cup halfway to his lips, mouth half open.
‘You what?’ he asked.
‘Nothing happened,’ Etienne admitted.
Mickey held his eyes for a long second before snorting.
‘Pull the other one, Et. It’s got bells on!’
‘I’m serious,’ Etienne replied.
‘Why?’ Mickey plonked himself on a bar stool, confused and intrigued. Almost as much as Etienne himself.
It was a good question. They’d got home, he’d poured more drinks, put on some music.
They’d sat on the couch, slowly getting closer until they were pressed tightly together.
When she answered his question, she let her face remain close, tilted towards him, her lips slightly parted.
She smelled as good as she looked. Normally he’d move in at that exact moment.
Kiss her. Wrap his arms around her, move things along. But last night, that hadn’t happened.
Instead, he’d found himself moving away, forcing space between them. He gave an excuse of needing some water, before returning from the kitchen to sit on the single chair, Samantha’s eyes widening in confusion.
‘Are you feeling okay?’ she’d asked, hesitantly. And that’s when Etienne said it. The thing he’d never said before.
‘No, sorry. I have a headache.’
He certainly didn’t have a headache. But he also certainly didn’t have any desire to sleep with Samantha. If it hadn’t been so serious, it would have been funny.
She was polite, caring, offered him some painkillers from her handbag, but he kept up the pretence and ordered her an Uber.
It wasn’t the service she was expecting from him, but it felt like the least he could do.
Soon he was escorting her back down the stairs again and out into the square. His first ever one-night nothing.
‘So, did she just sleep over?’ Mickey prompted.
‘No, she left last night and came back this morning because she’d left her handbag here.’
He’d been surprised– and a bit embarrassed to be honest– when she turned up again.
It was true, her handbag was lying forgotten against the side of the sofa, but it was also quite obvious that she was trying to get another date in the diary.
Etienne, whilst being pleased with the way he managed to avoid committing himself, was also questioning why he wasn’t jumping at the chance.
He’d never turned down sex since he discovered it aged fifteen.
He wondered briefly if he was ill. He hadn’t felt a spark of interest for anyone since meeting Isabella. Or, if he thought about it, he hadn’t felt anything much since the message. I want to come home .
‘Well, well.’ Mickey chuckled to himself. ‘Maybe you’re losing your touch.’
Etienne rolled his eyes and flicked Mickey with his tea towel. He might have other things on his mind right now, but he’d never lose his touch.
Brothers from Another Mother WhatsApp group
Etienne : You guys ever not fancied having sex?
Fox : I have two young kids. I don’t even have time to fancy having sex.
Walker : Depends on what shift I’ve just come off.
Etienne : Both answers make me feel slightly better. I didn’t fancy it last night.
Fox : Ha! You’ve finally broken your cock.
Walker : It just needs a break. Listen to its needs.
Etienne : Fuck off.
Fox : I have good news. I met my deadline.
Walker : Welcome back to life, mate.
Fox : And I have a babysitter for Throwback Thursday.
Etienne : Bolthole?
Fox : Bolthole!
Walker : Bolthole!