Chapter Ten
Visiting the Chinese takeaway was always a pleasure, not just because Mr Chung served good food but because Lisa had grown very fond of him since befriending him upon her return to Littlehampton. He greeted her with a smile and a knowing look.
‘Ah, Miss Lisa, you want usual for you and boyfriend, no?’
Lisa smiled. She liked the fact Mr Chung insisted on announcing thefact she had a boyfriend every time she went in. It was a stark contrast to when she had first moved home and would order chicken chow mein and fried rice for one and talk to him about her day because the alternative was to go straight home and spend yet another evening alone.
Mr Chung put the order through to the kitchen and then returned to beam at Lisa. ‘You very happy now, Miss Lisa.’
‘Yes, thank you. I am.’ It was true, and while Nathan was a big part of that, she also knew her life had been enriched by Felicity and the new friends she had made over the previous months.
Mr Chung collected the white plastic bag containing several food cartons from the kitchen and placed it on the counter. As Lisa went to take it, he held on to it and leaned forward, looking into hereyes. ‘When two people live under one skin – the heart beats strong, love grows and life blossoms … I put in extra prawn crackers for you.’
Lisa had no idea what he was talking about, but she appreciated the extra prawn crackers.
‘Have you been flirting with Mr Chung again?’ Nathan looked in the takeaway bag and raised his eyebrows at Lisa.
‘Who me? No. You know my friendship withMr Chung is purely platonic.’ Lisa reached up and took out two plates while Nathan got the cutlery.
‘Really?’
‘Yes. Although it could be verging on the mystic too, he got all weird on me this evening—’
‘On you?’
‘OK, at me. He looked into my eyes and said … well, I can’t remember what he said, but it was nice, I think. About you and me.’ Lisa followed Nathan into the living room.
Once the takeaway bag, plates and cutlery were assembled on the table, Lisa pulled her chair out and found Uno sitting on it. She picked him up, thanking him for keeping it warm, before placing him down on the floor. Disgruntled, Uno flicked his tail and headed for his usual spot on the window seat.
‘Drinks, I forgot drinks.’
Nathan fetched two glasses of wine while Lisa took the cartonsof food out of the plastic bag, along with the bonus bag of prawn crackers. Opening the lid to the chow mein, she gagged.
‘You OK?’
‘Yeah. It just smells really weird. Maybe it’s off.’ Lisa put a hand over her mouth and slid the carton towards Nathan.
‘It looks all right.’ He sniffed it before forking some into his mouth. ‘It tastes fine. Maybe you’ve just had it too often.’
‘Idon’t think it’s that.’
Nathan ate another mouthful.
Lisa’s stomach churned. ‘Don’t eat it if it’s off; you’ll be ill.’
‘Honestly, it’s fine. Here, try some.’ Nathan lifted a forkful to Lisa’s mouth, causing her to retch and run to the bathroom.
Nathan followed her and scooped back her long blonde hair with his hand, holding it loosely at the back of her neck while she heaved intothe toilet.
‘Go away. I’m being—’ Lisa heaved again.
‘Sick, I know, that’s why I’m here.’
‘But it’s … gross.’
‘Lisa, it’s fine.’
‘But … don’t … look at me.’
