Nora couldn’t think of a legitimate reason for her not to do this, aside from Dylan’s not-entirely-riveting conversation, and compared to the sandwich she was currently eating and the state of the rest of her fridge, Mexican food sounded promising.
So, Dylan booked them a table. And they carried on talking as dogs barked in the building behind them. It emerged during the conversation that they were thinking of moving in together.
‘We could watchLast Chance Saloon,’ he said.
She wasn’t really listening. ‘What’s that?’
He was shy, she realised. Bad with eye contact. Quite endearing. ‘You know, that Ryan Bailey film you wanted to watch. We saw the trailer for it. You said it’s meant to be funny and I did some research and it has an eighty-six per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and it’s on Netflix so ...’
She wondered if Dylan would believe her if she told him that in one life she was a lead singer of an internationally successful pop-rock band and global icon who had actually dated and voluntarilybroken up withRyan Bailey.
‘Sounds good,’ she said, as she stared at an empty crisp packet floating across the sparse grass.
Dylan rushed off the bench to grab the packet and dropped it into the bin next to the bench.
He flopped back to Nora, smiling. Nora understood what this other Nora saw in him. There was something pure about him. Like a dog himself.
Why Want Another Universe If This One Has Dogs?
The restaurant was on Castle Road, around the corner from String Theory, and they had to walk past the shop to get there. The familiarity of it felt strange. When she reached the shop she saw that something wasn’t right. There were no guitars in the window. There was nothing in the window, except a faded piece of A4 paper stuck on the inside of the glass.
She recognised Neil’s handwriting.
Alas, String Theory is no longer able to trade in these premises. Due to an increase in rent we simply couldn’t afford to go on. Thanks to all our loyal customers. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right. You Can Go Your Own Way. God Only Knows What We’ll Be Without You.
Dylan was amused. ‘I see what they did there.’ Then a moment later. ‘I was named after Bob Dylan. Did I ever tell you that?’
‘I can’t remember.’
‘You know, the musician.’
‘Yes. I have heard of Bob Dylan, Dylan.’
‘My older sister is called Suzanne. After the Leonard Cohen song.’
Nora smiled. ‘My parents loved Leonard Cohen.’
‘Ever been in there?’ Dylan asked her. ‘Looked like a great shop.’
‘Once or twice.’
‘Thought you would have been, what with you being musical. You used to play the piano, didn’t you?’
Used to.
‘Yeah. Keyboards. A little.’
Nora saw the notice looked old. She remembered what Neil had said to her.I can’t pay you to put off customers with your face looking like a wet weekend.
Well, Neil, maybe it wasn’t my face after all.
They carried on walking.
‘Dylan, do you believe in parallel universes?’
He shrugged. ‘I think so.’
‘What do you think you are doing in another life? Do you think this is a good universe? Or would you rather be in a universe where you left Bedford?’
