That sounded cheesy didn’t it?
Alice is leaning against the bookshop’s window, watching me with her mouth slightly open.
The nerves kick back in and I make a show of shrugging the idea off.
‘Yeah, no, it’s a lame idea. We could do something else instead? Bowling? Bird-watching? Obviously not bird-watching, that’s even worse.’
What the hell?I’m babbling now.
After a painfully long pause, Alice playfully bumps her shoulder into mine then says, ‘You can’t stop thinking about me, huh?’
Sometimes I worry that I’m too much of an open book. Growing up, all my friends operated on a ‘treat them mean, keep them keen’ policy but I was never good at playing games in relationships because I will always wear my heart on my sleeve. It’s not exactly worked out well for me and maybe I should learn to play it cooler but Alicehasbeen on my mind. Although now I’ve said that out loud I’m feeling embarrassed. ‘Also, the cinnamon buns in the café here are ridiculously good,’ I add.
She laughs.
‘I see your buns and raise you the apricot tarts. Have you tried one? They should be made illegal. I’d actually banned myself from coming here because I was using “flower research” as a shameless cover for my developing pastry habit. You’re leading me astray today, Zach.’
Now that I can handle. Grinning, I take her hand and we head inside.
Right, I really need to improve my date chat and just relax. So far I’ve asked her if she reads much and cringed hard at myself for sounding like I’ve just googled ‘questions to ask on a date’. Seeing Alice again has got me tied up with nerves and I try to remember a technique I’ve learned through running. It’s pretty much just breathing, so perhaps calling it a technique is a bit much, but if I focus on that simple task I might stop talking crap and start being cool again. Or at least just be able to chill out enough to enjoy myself.
Luckily Alice appears to be undaunted by my shit chat. ‘Reading is one of my favourite ways to wind down so a bookshop is the perfect date for me.’
‘Good to hear. And after such a strong start, it looks like we are on track to make date three, then.’ That’s better! Flirty. I’ve got this.
‘Well, don’t get ahead of yourself, Zach,’ she grins, letting me know that she’s joking. Or at least Ithinkshe is. I’m struck with the impression that Alice has got the measure of me already. I do have a tendency to rush into things at a hundred miles an hour.
Alice is still chuckling about the fact that we’ve gone shopping for books on our second date when I pause by a display of Japanese literature.
‘I think I’m choosing this one for you,’ I say, handing it to her.
Alice takes the book from my hands and flips it over to read the back page. ‘It says it’s “a gripping tale of sixteenth century missionaries in Japan” Zach.’ She turns to look at me, amusement etched across her face. ‘I mean, come on! The word gripping sounds a bit misleading there.’
‘It was very good, actually. If alittlelong,’ I concede.
Alice flicks through. ‘Over six hundred pages! I’d say that was six hundred pages too many on the topic of missionaries in Japan, no? Are you seriously telling me that this is what you read when you want to relax?’
Disarmed once again. At least let me pretend to be deep and interesting, Alice!
‘All right,’ I laugh. ‘I do also read a lot of Scandinavian crime stories. The type of book where someone inevitably ends up dead in a bath in a beautiful fishing village in Sweden.’
She rubs her hands together. ‘That’s more like it! I was really getting into true crime documentaries before Nat moved in but she’s not a fan.’
‘Seriously? I’m into true crime too.’ We lock eyes and I feel a spark of connection as we find common ground. ‘Come with me.’ I weave my fingers into hers as we make our way through the shop to the crime section, feeling like a teenager with my first crush all over again.
Having established that Alice’s preferences lean towards the gorier, the better, I select the most gruesome book I can find while she deliberates what to pick for me. She has this endearing habit of chatting away, making me feel like we’re floating along on a cloud of easy conversation. I guess it’s a confidence thing. I’m constantly worried that I’ll say something ridiculous whereas Alice seems so easy-going and free of insecurities.
‘At first my mind went straight toSweet Valley High,’ she’s saying. ‘I devoured those books when I was younger, along with every Point Horror I could get my hands on. But I figured they would not be cool enough for Zach the artist …’
Her breezy confidence must be infectious because I find myself leaning in conspiratorially. ‘I’m not so sure about that. If you ever tell anyone this, I will strongly deny it because I’ve a reputation to uphold …’
‘Oh? Tell me! I’m quite good at keeping secrets.’
‘How good?’
‘Very good,’ she bites her lip. I’m not sure she’s telling the truth.
‘I used to read Point Romances when I was younger,’ I whisper.
