‘Ah, Clauds, how is she? Sickeningly loved up and on a honeymoon high?’ asked Alex.
‘Actually feeling a bit sorry for herself now that it’s all over. You know, not being the centre of attention anymore – it’s hard for a woman!’ said Lucy, shrugging her shoulders with a grin.
Alex chuckled and they fell into an easy rapport, catching up on the last few days as the guy on the door checked their tickets and they made their way downstairs to the underground comedy club. They sat down at a little round table a few rows back from the stage, not wanting to be in the comedians’ direct line of vision in case they became the target for some improvisation. There was nothing more cringeworthy than being used as cannon fodder when on a date. Lucy was sure that comedians could spot a couple in the early stages of a new relationship from a mile away; perhaps like a bloodhound they could smell their fear.
Happy with their choice of seat, they perused the menu, deciding on different variations of burgers and fries: cheddar cheese for Lucy and blue cheese and bacon for Alex. Lucy ordered their food and a couple of bottles of Budweiser at the bar and returned to the table, where she filled Alex in on the rest of Claudia and Dan’s news as they sipped their beers.
When their burgers had arrived, Lucy suddenly had an idea, a way of tempting Alex to agree to a third date. Everyone knew what could happen on the third date, after all, and that tantalizing thought was never very far from Lucy’s mind. ‘Have you tried the burgers in Borough Market?’ asked Lucy. ‘They have this burger shack which has all sorts of different toppings like blue cheese or caramelized onions… you can choose whatever you like and the meat is so tender it is unbelievable. I have never eaten anything so delicious!’
‘Sounds amazing!’ said Alex, enjoying Lucy’s enthusiasm for food.
‘I should take you there,’ suggested Lucy. ‘Are you free this weekend?’
‘I’m free on Saturday. It’s a date!’ said Alex, chinking his beer bottle against hers. ‘I shall leave myself entirely in your hands.’ The way he looked at her when he said that made Lucy flush a deep red, she knew he wasn’t talking entirely figuratively, and the prospect of what might happen on Saturday night was too much for her to handle. Distracting herself by dunking her last remaining chips into the little pot of mayonnaise, Lucy was relieved when Alex went to buy them another round of beers. Just as he was sitting back down, the lights began to dim and a spotlight shone brightly onto the small stage. A sweaty, northern MC came on to warm up the crowd and announce the first act, Dermot O’Donnell, and Lucy and Alex settled in to be entertained.
At the end of the evening, on their way out of the club, they agreed that they had been given a particularly amazing line-up. Apart from the one act who had absolutely failed to get a laugh, a standard feature of any comedy night it seemed, they had all been hilariously funny. Lucy and Alex had cried with laughter at an ancient old New Yorker’s sardonic take on London. They had collapsed with mirth at some wry social observational comedy in the vein of Michael McIntyre, and finally, they had been treated to a preview from a well-known Iranian female comic who was testing her set on the 99 Club before taking it toLive at the Apollothe following week. Lucy and Alex both felt in perfect sync with each other in the way that only shared laughter can achieve, it was a relief to find out that they shared the same sense of humour. They had noticed a couple next to them who were also clearly on a first or second date. The girl was having a fantastic time, hooting with laughter at every joke, while the guy sat there looking disparagingly at her, shaking his head in despair, clearly wishing he was elsewhere.
The evening air felt warm as they walked to the tube side by side. Lucy was desperate to reach out and grab his hand in hers, the distance between them felt torturous. Just as she thought she couldn’t wait another second, Alex stopped and turned to face her, indulging in another set of lingering, stomach-churning kisses.
As soon as Lucy left him she started to count down the days, minutes and seconds until she would see him again. Her body tingled with the possibility of what was to come. She wanted to make sure that their third date, the date she was in charge of organizing, was amazing. And she also wanted to ensure that she could have her wicked way with him at the end of it. She texted Tor and Claudia on the way home.
Just had second date, he took me to the comedy. Such fun. He is SO amazing. I’m taking him to Borough Market on Sat! Call me tomorrow for full debrief! L xx
