Who was I to argue with such logic? A double date with a Steven it was.
‘I can’t believe you’ve talked me into this.’ I pulled my coat tightly around me as we walked from Seashell Cottage into town for the second night in a row. I reached into my pockets for my gloves and gratefully thrust my icy fingers into the soft fleece.
‘Stop moaning. We’ll have a great time. And stop being such a wimp; it’s not that cold.’ As Clare spoke, her breath hung in the air. ‘Okay. I lied. It’s bloody freezing. But I’m not lying when I say we’ll have a great craic.’
We were meeting Stevie Barnes from Little Sandby, a cutevillage about ten minutes north of Whitsborough Bay. According to his profile, he’d recently turned thirty-three. He’d married and divorced young, had one dog and no kids.
‘I’m nervous,’ I admitted.
‘There’s no need to be, especially when I’m here to hold your hand. I reckon you two will get on brilliantly. Although isn’t he the IT geek?’
I nodded. ‘Something to do with IT and publishing but he said on his profile that he won’t put off prospective dates by explaining it because it’s not that interesting.’
‘Just as long as he doesn’t try to explain it tonight or we may have to walk out. IT geeks bore the hell out of me.’
‘Most people bore the hell out of you.’
‘True. Which makes it odd that I’ve put up with you for so many years.’
‘Rude!’ I playfully whacked her with my bag.
The plan was to meet Stevie and his best mate Rob in Minty’s at eight. Stevie had messaged to say that Rob had recently moved back to the area after splitting up with his long-term partner. He was happy to make up the numbers providing Clare knew he wasn’t looking for a relationship.
As soon as we walked into Minty’s,I recognised Stevie from his photo online. He wasn’t gorgeous – just very pleasant-looking in a boy-next-door kind of way. He had short, sandy coloured hair, dark brown eyes, dimples when he smiled – something he did the second we walked through the door – and was slightly overweight, which suited him. I just hoped that, unlike Stéphan, he would have a pleasant personality to match his pleasant looks.
‘Sarah?’ He smiled warmly again and confidently placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. ‘I’m Stevie. It’s great to meet you. And you must be Clare?’ He kissed Clare too then introduced his friend. Rob was also very nice-looking rather than gorgeous, but the opposite of Stevie in colouring and build – a mop of dark wavy hair, blue eyes and a very toned-looking physique. He looked a lot like my brother.
‘Thanks for meeting us at such short notice,’ I said.
‘It’s our pleasure. Can I get you both a drink?’
‘He’s lovely,’ whispered Clare when the boys headed for the bar. ‘Nice one.’
‘First impressions are very positive. And his mate seems pretty nice too.’
‘Absolutely,’ Clare said. ‘Probably not Britain’s Next Top Model but you’ll hear no complaints from me. And if he needs some help getting over his relationship breakdown with no commitments, I’m the woman for him.’
‘You’re terrible. You should come with a warning.’
It was a lovely evening full of warmth and laughter. Before we left shortly after midnight, I arranged to meet Stevie again on Monday night for the cinema and drinks. He kissed me then Clare on the cheek again before heading in the opposite direction with Rob.
‘Disappointed?’ Clare linked my arm as we headed towards the Old Town.
‘With Stevie? No. He was great fun.’
‘I mean with not getting a goodnight kiss.’
I pondered for a moment. ‘Actually, no. It wouldn’t have seemed right. We were there as a group and it was good that way. What did you think of Rob?’
‘Seemed like a nice guy.’
‘Did you think he looked like my brother?’
‘I guess he did a bit,’ Clare said. ‘Did Saint Ben tell you we went for a curry when I was in Leeds last month?’ Clare had christened him ‘Saint Ben’ thanks to his charity job and all the volunteering work he did. In return, he always called her ‘Irish’ – highly original.
‘It’s becoming a bit of a regular thing, you and our Ben.’
‘Oh behave, you. Saint Ben has a girlfriend and, even if he didn’t, there’d be nothing going on. Your brother’s always been a good laugh and it’s nice to eat in company when you’re on the road as much as me. I’m spending more and more time with my Leeds-based client and I’d rather meet up with your brother than stare at a hotel TV all night. That’s all.’
