‘Very firmly not single.’
‘Ouch,’ I sigh.
‘It’s fine.’ He shrugs. ‘El’s great regardless and I’ve got her on side – she’s willing to help you out tonight.’
Like clockwork El appears behind us, precariously balancing a tray of three new beers and three Jägerbombs. She is smiley as ever, her golden hair flopping behind her as she spots our full glasses and encourages us to down them instantly. Noah, of course, does.
‘Have you told her yet?’ El asks, smile directed right at him.
He shakes his head, which makes her grin more as she stares back at me.
‘Noah was showing me your articles – they’re really good! And I have a friend that I think you would get along with. He’s travelling too and just went through a break-up, and I keep telling him he needs to get back out there.’ She stops to check her phone quickly, eyes sparkling with joy. ‘He’s joining us at the next bar and is really excited to meet you!’
‘You’ve already told him?’ I ask, feeling my heart spike.
I have so many questions in what feels like no time. What has she said? What does he know? And, most importantly, why does Noah keep exposing my column to everyone he meets? I look back to him and he shrugs, eyes semi-apologetic.
‘You looked so bored with that guy – we thought we’d move fast. You don’t really have time to waste.’
I don’t need his reminders. I’ve got seventy-three dates left. I have been keeping count.
‘How do you know we’ll get along?’ I ask.
‘He’s so sweet! He could get along withanyone,’ Eléa says. ‘Sam’s American and very cute. Real... how do you say it? Realboyfriend material.’
‘I taught her that one,’ Noah says boastfully.
The pair meet eyes and grin proudly, while I forcefully reject the notion of being their third wheel.
‘You don’t have to date him if you don’t like him,’ Noah says. ‘Just get to know him tonight and see what happens.’
‘Oh. I told himthiswas a date,’ Eléa says, confused.
I look to her in panic, which only perplexes her more.
‘I thought that’s what you were doing? Loads of dates? I was adding to your list.’ She shrugs nonchalantly.
‘It is, don’t worry,’ Noah reassures her before looking back to me. His face is racked with guilt. ‘It’ll befine– and so good for the column! Plus, who knows? You might actually have a good time.’
He wriggles his eyebrows, an act that prompts El to giggle as the two of them lock eyes again. For someone with a partner, her eyes are awfully sparkly and they’re luring Noah in closer with every lingering stare.
‘Shall we do these shots, then?’ I ask, breaking their locked gazes.
The pair snap back to me.
‘I thought you hated shots,’ Noah says.
I lie. ‘I’m over that.’
The shot will probably make meeting Sam just that little bit easier. Plus, the way El and Noah are staring at each other screams trouble. I’ll do anything to put a stop to it before Noah breaks his own heart. We reach for the glasses.
‘What’s cheers in German?’ Noah asks.
‘Prost,’I reply.
Everyone around me has been saying it all night.
‘Prost!’all three of us say as we throw the drinks back.
