Luce instantly appeared online and started typing. I squirted. She added several water droplet emojis.
Congratulations, Rose replied. I didn’t know you could do that.
Neither did I! Was great. Although a bit like having a small wee.
In a good way?
Oh, in a very, very good way.
I wouldn’t know.
We need to find you a Squirter Gun.
A what?
That’s what I’m calling men who make women squirt.
Hahaha okay. Not sure I’ve got that in me though.
We ALL have it in us! Just need to find the right Squirter Gun.
Are you going home?
Oh, I’m already home. I came in at 5 a.m., packed up all my bits and got the first train out. Wanted to recover from my hangover in a big hot bath.
Fair enough. And you feel okay?
I’m great. George never made me squirt. Harrison did. I’ve basically fucked the Beatles. This is a special day. Did you have fun?
Rose told Luce about the two women at Intel she’d overheard.
Do you think I should tell Minnie? she asked.
No. You have no idea what even happened. It’s none of your business.
I know but what if someone did something … you know.
This is why I love you, my little Rosebud. You’re too gentle for this world.
What do you mean?
Trust me. If those women are sleeping with the editors at Intel, they’re getting something out of it.
You think so?
Yes. Also, I follow lots of the Intel editors on Instagram. And they are DILFs.
You hear so many gross stories about them.
I would fuck at least four of them.
It wasn’t until after work that Rose replied to Milo. She had kept her notifications off in fear of his name popping up on her screen while she was in the office. Whatever was happening, Rose knew it was only going to keep happening if she kept it a secret. Positioning herself comfortably at the kitchen table with a cup of peppermint tea in front of her, she composed her message.
I’m around. Don’t tell the press.
She felt a jolt of pride at the joke. Milo opened her reply instantly and began typing.
Good, he wrote. Fancy coming to mine?
Rose gulped. As forward as such an invitation would seem in regular circumstances, in this one it made sense. Of course Milo wanted to meet at his house; anywhere else and they’d be photographed together. It didn’t mean they were going to sleep together. Nonetheless, when a woman goes to a man’s home for the first time, there is always a slight sense of unease. No matter how attractive the man is, how safe he may make you feel, how polite he is to waiters, the unease is there. Spawning all kinds of anxieties and worst-case scenarios. It may fade, of course, depending on how long you’ve known the man. Rose had known Milo for five days.
Sure. When? she replied, instantly wondering if she should have been more assertive. He had chosen the place. Shouldn’t she have chosen the time?
The word ‘Seen’ appeared immediately. Seconds later: ‘Typing …’.
How about tonight? 8pm?
Sounds good.
It was already 6.15 p.m., which left her with alarmingly little time to get ready. She was about to jump in the shower when she realised that she didn’t know where Milo Jax lived. Did he expect her to find it online?
She opened her messages again.
Are you just going to guess my address then? he’d replied.
I could probably google it.
‘Seen’ immediately, again. Her heart beat violently as the next three minutes passed. There was no reply. She had taken the joke too far. He was the one feeling uneasy now. He’d never reply. In fact, he’d probably gone back to bed with the supermodel. She should’ve just asked him for his address like a normal person. She turned her phone off and opened her laptop.
