Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Hello, Jonathan, a pleasure to meet you,” Debbie said, taking the lead. “I’m Debbie, and this is Cate, Rina, Hannah, Lewis and Cathal. And, of course, we don’t mind you joining us.”
“The more the merrier,” Hannah added with a giggle, and I had to hold in my amusement at the brief flash of irritation on Cathal’s face. Though she seemed perfectly content in her relationship, Hannah was a flirt, and she’d given the impression that she found Jonathan handsome. I had to admit, there was a certain triumph in knowing that, given the chance, she might dump Cathal if someone like Jonathan came along. I had to push down the thought. I hadn’t felt ill will towards my ex in a long time, but the way he’d been acting lately was bringing out a mean streak in me.
I retook my seat on the cushioned bench, and Jonathan slid in next to me.
“Actually,” Cathal piped up. “I think there might be a rule about the number of people there can be on a team. Eight is the maximum, and with Jonathan here, that makes us nine.”
“We’ll split up into two teams then,” Rina replied. “How about Ada, Jonathan, Debbie and I make a team, and the rest of you can form another?”
“No way!” Lewis complained. “I want to be on Ada’s team. She’s the smartest. We only ever win because of her.” He shot me a warm grin, and I smiled back at him.
“Why, thank you, Lewis. You can be on our team if you’d prefer?”
“Definitely,” he answered and slid his stool closer to Rina’s.
“But then that leaves just Cathal, Alf, Cate and me to make a team,” Hannah griped. “And we all know Alf will spend half the night chatting with his old geezer mates at the bar,” she motioned over to where Alf stood with several other men his age debating the football game showing on the TV above the bar.
“Fine, I’ll stick with you guys, then,” Lewis said glumly as he slid his stool back closer to Hannah’s side of the table.
Rina cast me a look, her eyes glittering like she was enjoying the drama Jonathan’s presence had created. I shook my head at her before being distracted by Jonathan when he leaned close to speak quietly in my ear.
“You never mentioned you have an admirer.”
I cast him a confused look before his gaze flicked to Lewis. I laughed quietly. “He’s young enough to be my, well, not my son, but definitely too young,” I responded low so no one could hear. Thankfully, the bar was loud and drowned out our conversation.
“You don’t like younger men?”
“Definitely not. I have no desire to be anyone’s stand-in mother. I like men closer to my own age,” I responded evenly before taking a sip from the glass of wine Debbie got me and noticed Jonathan was without a drink.
“Can I get you something? A beer maybe?”
“No, thank you. I’m not drinking for a while.”
“Really? Why not?”
There was a flicker of vulnerability in his gaze before he masked it. “I’ve started seeing a grief counsellor, one my sister recommended. She suggested I avoid alcohol for a couple months since I’ve found myself using it as a crutch.”
“Oh. That’s …” I trailed off, feeling emotional for him all of a sudden. It was just such a proactive step, and I couldn’t help being proud of him. “That’s wonderful, Jonathan, truly.”
Something warm filled my chest as I placed my hand on his and held his gaze. I hadn’t considered seeing a grief counsellor myself, but given the state of Jonathan’s relationship with his mother when she’d died, it seemed like a good idea to talk to a professional.
A short moment of understanding passed between us, our eyes holding, before the ghost of flirtation entered his gaze, his voice even quieter when he went on, “At least this way, you’re safe from my drunken attempts to seduce you.”
My eyes flared at his words as I quickly glanced around the table to make sure no one was listening. Thankfully, Rina was talking to Lewis, and Debbie had gone to let the quiz master know we were forming a second team.
“Oh, seduction, is that what it was?” I challenged in a whisper, unable to resist.
Jonathan’s eyes danced, his expression playful. “A sloppy attempt, I’ll admit. Perhaps next time—"
“You promised to behave,” I cut him off, though really it was my own fault for entertaining the subject matter in the first place.
“A little mischief keeps things interesting, though, right?” Jonathan responded with a flirtatious glint in his eye, and I felt the need to change the subject.
“So, how was your day?”
“Uneventful.” The sparkle in his eyes remained as he sat back, informing me he was pleased he’d managed to frazzle me. I felt his shoulder brush mine as he continued, “And yours?”