‘I’d like to pay my share.’
He gave a little smile and took a drink from the chilled water on the table.
‘That bad, eh?’
‘Pardon?’
He smiled, but it didn’t have the twinkle I’d already become accustomed to. ‘Usually when the lady wants to pay her half it’s because the date hasn’t gone all that well.’
‘What? No, it’s not!’
‘Or you’re standing up for feminism.’
‘Or you’re making fun.’
‘Not at all. OK, a little. But either way, I’d still like to pay. Call me old-fashioned. I asked you to dinner, and I’d like to pay, whether you enjoyed it or not.’
‘Alex.’ I raised an eyebrow at him. ‘I did enjoy it. I promise. I think I’m just… used to different things. My last boyfriend… well, if I wasn’t paying outright, we just split the bill most of the time.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Yes.’
‘Right.’ He paused. ‘Was he a feminist?’
I laughed and shook my head. ‘No, he was just tight. I like to pay my share. It makes me feel comfortable. And I like treating people when I can, but he kind of took the pee a bit. I never really saw it at the time. You know, you sort of think something’s normal after a while. But after it was all over, little things start prodding at your memory, don’t they? You begin to realise that maybe, once in a while, it would have been nice to have not bought my own birthday present or meal. And yes, I do realise that a few feminist fairies just died when I made that declaration, for which I am truly sorry.’
Alex laughed. ‘I’m sure there’s something magical we can do to revive them.’
My eyebrows shot up and a moment later, so did his. ‘I didn’t mean… I meant… honest to God, Libby. You’re seriously ruining my belief at having the ability to be cool and suave on a date.’
‘Cool and suave are overrated.’
‘They are?’
‘In my opinion.’
‘Well, that’s the only one that counts right now, so maybe I’m in luck.’
‘Maybe you are.’
He smiled slowly at my reply and the look he gave me set off little flip-flops in my stomach and chest. Of course, it might have just been indigestion. But I was pretty sure it was mostly Alex.
We left the restaurant, Alex automatically holding my hand as we descended the steps, watching my feet as I did so.
‘Amazes me how you women walk in those things.’
‘Don’t you like them?’ I asked teasingly as I reached the bottom step, staying on it so that, with its help and the shoes, I was more on a level with him.
‘Now, let’s not jump to any hasty conclusions.’
‘That’s what I thought,’ I said, half smiling and walking over towards the car. In two strides, Alex was back beside me.
‘So, if the wanting to pay thing wasn’t a signal that this date was going horribly, does that mean you’re not quite ready for me to take you home yet?’
‘What did you have in mind?’
‘We could go for a drink, or maybe a walk on the pier?’
