‘Is that an invitation?’
‘Steady,’ she winks. ‘Besides, that depends on whether you plan to leave this date early or not.’
‘Argh, no, don’t hold it against me. You guys were having so much fun at the eighties disco and … To be honest, dancing in public just takes me back to the primary school years where I was very, very far from being cool. I’d be the kid at the school disco sat on the side, eating all the cheesy wotsits while the popular ones were trying out their first slow dances in the middle.’
‘Oh Zach, that’s just melted my icy heart a little bit.’
‘Don’t worry, I’m over it now,’ I grin, trying to extract myself from sounding like an utter loser. ‘But you were the life and soul of a party that night and I didn’t want to be the one to take you away from that.’
‘It’s okay, I’m just teasing you. Iwasdisappointed when you headed off early but it was good to stay and blow off some steam with the girls. I really needed a fun night out. You were being very thoughtful and considerate.’
I doff an imaginary cap. ‘Pleasure. Though I’m afraid I plan to be entirely selfish with you today. I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve, actually.’
‘Have you now?’
I gesture towards the bashed up old Golf GTI I’ve parked outside her house. If all goes to plan, today will be romanticandthe chance for me to impress her. If I can stop talking about my geek days, that is. ‘Alice, meet Gerty.’
‘You’ve named your car Gerty?’ She grins.
‘Sure have. And she’s in charge of getting you to Leeds and back today.’
Casually flicking the stereo on like I didn’t spend hours painstakingly compiling the playlist for today’s road trip, I realise that I’m hyper aware of having Alice in the passenger seat. She’s fiddling with that ring on her middle finger again and I’ve noticed that she always wears it. I wonder if there’s a story behind it. We’re on date six and there’s so much more about Alice I’m desperate to know.
‘I love this song,’ Alice says, reaching to turn the volume up.
Relief. The connection between us is undeniable even though we’re different in so many ways and I’m pleased to see that my taste in music has hit the right note. She’s started singing along and I’m so distracted by the sound of her lilting voice that I almost go through a red light.
‘Easy,’ she laughs. ‘I didn’t have you down as a rule-breaker.’
‘I don’t often have such a beautiful distraction in my passenger seat.’
Alice shoots me stern look. ‘Am I a distraction to you?’
‘Ah, no. That did not come out well. I meant …’
‘Zach, I’m teasing.’
‘I’m not sure if that’s wise,’ I raise an eyebrow. ‘You know I’m not just your designated driver for the day, right? I’m also in charge of all the snacks. More wise-cracks, less snacks for Alice.’
She laughs again. ‘What are we doing, anyway?’
‘After you shared your love of cheesy eighties pop with me, I thought I’d share my own guilty pleasure. We’re off to a film festival.’
‘Is it going to be all arty films that win awards but never make any sense? Should I have packed my glasses and a black polo neck?’
‘And there go the Hula Hoops.’
‘Wait, no! Sorry, I can’t help myself sometimes. I love Hula Hoops. And I can totally get on board with arty films. The more subtitles the better, I say.’
‘That’s better,’ I grin. ‘What’s the best flavour, ready salted or salt and vinegar?’
‘It’s beef, surely?’
‘Agreed. I bought all three, just in case.’
‘Three packets of Hula Hoops and I’m yours.’
I don’t tell her I think I’m already hers.
