‘Just to be clear, you’re not actually a murderer, are you?’
‘Just to be clear, you’re not actually an avid Point Romance reader, are you?’ She bats back and I turn to face her as we wait at the bus stop.
‘I can’t help being an old romantic.’
Just kiss her!I tell myself.
‘I’ll let you into a secret,’ she whispers. ‘I’m not actually a murderer. I do, however, harbour grudges on behalf of the people I love.’
‘Well then, I intend to do nothing which could encourage such grudge-harbouring on our next date.’
‘You’re assuming there’s going to be another one?’
‘I’m hoping there will be.’
There’s a very long pause and I feel that familiar sense of dread rising in the pit of my stomach. Maybe I’ve imagined it and it hasn’t gone as well as I thought. Maybe Alice hasn’t had a good time and was just waiting until she could leave. Now would be the perfect time to kiss her but what if she’s about to friendzone me?
‘You’d better leave me to arrange a C date,’ she smiles.
Relief washes over me. We’re on for another date. What a bloody result! I’m so happy she wants to do this again.
Alice is looking deep into my eyes now and I don’t need any further cues.
This is the moment to kiss her. Be confident and go for it, I tell myself. I lean down to do what I’ve wanted to do since we met, to feel her lips against mine. As my face draws closer I can smell the apples of her shampoo mixing with cinnamon. When our faces are almost touching I pause, wanting to savour the moment, training my eyes back on hers.
But, wait, she’s not actually looking at me at all.
She’s looking over my shoulder. I follow her gaze and spot the bus pulling up next to us, its doors opening by my side.
Argh.
I’m attempting to style it out when her eyes really do meet mine. ‘On time for once,’ she says with a tut as I straighten up, trying not to look like I was just about to make out with the side of her face. God.
‘Are you getting on or not?’ booms the driver.
‘I’d better …’ she says, motioning towards the open doors.
‘Yep,’ I say, holding my palm up for a high five.
Ahigh five. I’ve gone from a missed kiss to a high five faster than a sports car goes from zero to ninety. As the bus pulls away I give the curb a sullen kick, lamenting the unbelievably not-smooth end to our date.
Comedy Show
Alice
As usual, my stomach is rumbling long before it’s acceptable to start eating lunch. Friday mornings are extra busy in the shop as our customers stock up on fresh flowers ahead of the weekend. I love to see their delighted faces when we hand over expertly arranged seasonal bouquets, but even that hasn’t stopped me thinking about the halloumi salad I prepped first thing.
EAT ME, ALICE!
Stop talking to me, food!
‘Uh oh, is your lunch calling to you again?’ Eve asks from her spot by the till. ‘You’ve got that borderline hangry look on your face. I’m more than happy to hold the fort if you want an early lunch break?’
‘You’re an angel,’ I say, so grateful I could kiss her though I’m pretty sure that would be overstepping the employer/employee boundaries. I congratulate myself daily on hiring Eve. She’s brilliant with the customers and is much better at maths than me which comes in very handy with things like, you know, running a business. Pottering into our little kitchen to make a cup of herbal tea, I grab my lunchbox from the fridge and head into the courtyard out back. The sun is peeking through the clouds and I’m about to dive head-first into lunch when my phone rudely interrupts me with a message.
ALICE! Very excited to see you tonight. Shall we do drinks after the show?
DYLAN!I tap back.Yes please. I want to make the most of you while you’re back because it doesn’t happen very often.
