‘Will you be thinking of me because you fancy me or thinking of me because it’s my first full week?’ I said to the phone. Auntie Kay and Elise were convinced he was into me, but I kept having doubts about that too. What if he just wanted friendship? I could make a fool of myself if I wasn’t careful. I shook my head and put the phone down before I typed an appropriate text for my pro-Nick moments that would be completely inappropriate for my search for Steven.
Lying back on the sofa, I phoned Clare, figuring she was probably home from her working weekend.
‘Sounds like your first day was grand,’ she said. ‘So why do you sound so down just now?’
‘I’m not down. I’m just tired and stuffed full of Sunday lunch, courtesy of my Mum. I was fine when I was there but, now that I’m back at the cottage, I don’t really know what to do with myself.’
‘Once you get into a routine at the shop, I guarantee you’ll be grateful of Sundays off. No Elise?’
‘I don’t see her every day, you know. She helped in the shop yesterday but I probably won’t see her again till the end of the week.’
‘You know what you need?’ Clare said. ‘A night on the beers with me. I’m seeing my Leeds client on Friday so I’m coming to stay for the weekend whether you want me to or not. What time can you be home on Friday?’
‘Shop shuts at half five so about six.’
‘I’ll be there for six.’
‘I might have other plans.’
‘Doyou have other plans?’ she asked. ‘Because I’d love to hear that you had plans for a night of steamy sex with a stranger.’
‘I might have.’
‘Hmm.’ Clearly dismissing that as a possibility, Clare continued, ‘Make me something full of calories for dinner.’
‘You’re on.’
‘I should let you cook for me more often.’ Clare spooned another huge dollop of lasagne onto her plate on Friday night. She’d already devoured an enormous plateful, a jacket potato, a side salad and most of a garlic ciabatta. ‘You’re not too shabby at it.’
‘Thanks. I think. Have you not been fed this week?’
‘I get sick of living off hotel food and pre-packed sarnies. This is real food. Lots of cheese. Lots of garlic. Yum.’ Clare broke off another piece of garlic bread. How the hell she stayed a perfect ten was beyond me.
‘So one of your online favourites turned out to be a sex offender?’ she said.
‘The bloke from Mario’s? I didn’t say that. I just said he was creepy.’
‘Have you had any more messages?’
‘I had a bad dream about creepy bloke and it put me off. I haven’t checked them all week.’
‘Sarah!’
I grimaced. ‘I was a bit too busy the week before too.’
‘Sarah!’
‘It was opening week this week so it’s not like I haven’t been busy.’
‘And the week before?’
‘Getting ready for opening week. I looked on the Monday night but I honestly haven’t had the time since then.’
She narrowed her eyes at me and sighed. ‘I suppose you do have a legitimate excuse, but the shop is open now which means excuse time is over. It’s time for a serious action plan, but before we log on, have you got any pudding in?’
‘Syrup sponge and homemade custard; your favourite.’
‘Oh my God, Sarah. Not only do you cook the most amazing lasagne in the world, you get old school puddings in, make your own custard and have a fridge full of wine. I think I may change my name to Steven and marry you myself.’
