‘Sorry,’ I say.
A small laugh leaves his lips. ‘That was so stupid.’
‘My joke or your actions?’ I ask.
‘Definitely both,’ he says.
I hasten a glance in his direction and catch the hint of a smile, slowly unfurling the longer I look at him. Just like that, with one unbearably awkward joke, we are back. I feel my chest lighten as the hallway fills with air once more. He looks me up and down.
‘Wait, are you in last night’s clothes?’ he asks.
I see a flash of the old Noah, the happier Noah, as he salaciously awaits my answer. It’s comforting to have him back. He needs this more than I need to be coy.
‘I had sex with Sam last night,’ I say slowly.
His eyes widen in shock.
‘You dirty dog!’
I laugh. ‘Dirty dog?’
‘It seemed like the least offensive way to tease,’ he says, shrugging. ‘How was it?’
‘Nope, not doing that.’
‘I’ll read about it anyway.’
I press on. ‘He’s asked me to come round again tonight.’
He takes the hint and moves on with me.
‘Do you want to?’ he asks.
‘I don’t know. What do you think?’ I turn to him.
I don’t even know if I want his advice on the matter any more – I’m pretty sure I’ve already decided against it. But it’s proving to be a great distraction. His smile grows by the minute.
‘The sex clearly wasn’t that good if you have to ask,’ he says, far too smugly for someone who was just caught in his position.
‘Noah! Serious!’ I slap his arm.
Clearly someone’s feeling a little better about himself. He ponders for a moment, head tilting to the side before looking back at me with his answer.
‘Keep it to the one time. It’s cleaner that way.’
‘Smart.’ I nod, pushing myself up off the floor.
We rise from the ground, nervously facing the door and everything that lies behind it.
‘Wow, Berlin, eh?’ I say.
He chuckles somewhat sadistically before shaking his head and looking back at me. ‘What a place.’ He sighs, motioning for the handle. ‘Here’s hoping Prague grants us some peace.’
I went to Prague and all I got was...
. . .a critique
‘Your dates are too small.’
