“Aren’t you going to introduce us to your date, Miss Sinclair?” Alfie’s deep voice cuts through our conversation. He’s not loud at all, but David doesn’t miss a beat.
“You know them?” He eyes Alfie curiously before taking his sweet ass time, lingering his eyes up and down Dr. Buckingham.She coughs awkwardly, and I see Alfie’s nostrils flare. Wow. Okay. So, he’s more than a little protective of her.
“This is my boss actually,” I point to Alfie, “and this is his date, Dr. Charlotte Buckingham.” She doesn’t question how I know her name, she must get that a lot.
“Please, just Lottie.” She smiles at me, leaning across the table to place a warm palm on my forearm.
Okay…remain calm. Even thoughTHE Dr. Charlotte Buckingham just asked you to call her Lottie.
“You might be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.” David laughs, twisting to face her, as the table descends into an uncomfortable silence. It’s like when your server says to enjoy your food and you respond withyou too! and you realize it doesn’t matter that you have a degree or you’ve studied for eight years at university. You will be humbled repeatedly by the big blob of electric sludge living in your skull and its metaphorical tripping over its own feet. And right now, whether he realizes it or not. David is a victim of the electric sludge.
Except David is fine. His eager puppy eyes watch Lottie intently, and I know immediately this is our first and only date. We haven’t even ordered yet.
Alfie sips his drink, biting down on an ice cube as he places the glass back on the table. He’s staring at me until a loud thump sounds from under his table and I see him flinch, gasping before his furious eyes flick back to Lottie. He straightens his shoulders after that, and I wonder what’s going through his mind right now.
“Not that you’re not beautiful, Maya. Of course you’re stunning, but I mean I’d be remiss to point out that Lottie—"
“Her name is Mia,” Alfie hisses.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought you said your name was Lottie.” David chuckles nervously as he reaches across the table to pat Lottie’s hand. I am beyond mortified. Am I having a nightmare?I run my tongue along my teeth, yep all still there. That would just about top off the evening if my teeth were falling out and I woke up in a cold sweat.
“Not Lottie. Mia. Your date's name is Mia.”
He has the decency to look embarrassed this time. The electric sludge strikes again.
“Oops, first-date nerves.”
“Wait, this is a first date?” Lottie turns to me, and I shrug. Could this night get any more embarrassing? “Alfie thought—"
Another thump but this time, Lottie winces, gripping the edge of the table and glaring at Alfie. What is going on with these two?
“Ouch, umm, knee spasm,” she murmurs, reaching down too far to be massaging her knee. It looked like she was rubbing her shin.
I eye Alfie curiously; for some reason, he seems to have perked up in the last thirty seconds.
“Have you all decided to team up?” Our server laughs.
“No,” I say as Alfie and David sternly say, “Yes.”
“Oh, boy,” I hear Lottie mutter.
After taking down our orders and bringing David and me our drinks, Lottie turns to me, effectively ignoring Alfie and David.
“Alfie told me all about you this afternoon. He said you’re a few months away from getting your doctorate?”
I flush, and my eyes snap to Alfie, who ignores me. “Yes, I’ll be qualified in around three months.”
“I’m surprised you’re not on placement. Working for Alfie can’t give you the exposure you need, can it?”
“I completed my placements early on in the degree program. I wanted to learn the business side of things in case I got the opportunity to open up my own practice, and luckily I’ve learned everything there is to know working for Alfie. He lets me run the place.”
I sip my red wine, chastising myself for wearing a creamy white sweater tonight.
“That’s genius. Not many grads have those skill sets, so you’ll be ahead of the curve.”
“Mia also volunteers at the crisis line. Her experience there will be invaluable,” Alfie adds.
“Okay, so, you work full time, study, and work at the crisis center? How do you have the time to date?”
