“Of course.” She smiled, but her eyes were soft. “Do you still bring her here?”
“Not for a few years.”
How had she got me talking about this?Things had been difficult ever since I’d joined the service. And even worse with everything that happened since. I didn’t want to see the disappointment in my mum’s eyes.
“That’s a shame, Liam. It’s a really nice place.”
“I—yes.”
The waiter turned up, his expression hopeful.
“Yes, we’re ready.” I gestured to my date, who wasn’t a date. “Andrea, do you know what you want?”
“I’ll have the grilled courgette, then the wild mushroom pappardelle, please.”
“And for you, sir?”
“The seabass, then the ribs, please.”
The waiter nodded and floated back toward the kitchen.
“Do you thinkwildmushrooms taste better than domesticated ones?” she asked.
Thank God we were just talking about the foodagain.
“Obviously,” I replied. “They’ve lived harder lives.”
“They’re basically the bad boys of fungi.”
I laughed. “I didn’t think through the ribs, did I?” I gestured to my white shirt.
“High risk for sure.”
“I have faith in my coordination,” I said. “But you might want to stay back.”
“Maybe you could donate it to the gallery afterward?Study in Barbecue Sauce No. 5.”
I laughed again. “Andrea—”
She put down her wineglass. “Yes?”
“Thanks. For coming tonight.” I paused. “I know we—”
“It’s okay, Liam.” She tapped my folder. “I’ll take it home and study it. I won’t let you down.”
“Yes. Thanks.”
But that wasn’t what I wanted to say. I didn’t know what I wanted to say. But it wasn’t… that.
She was still looking at me, her face serious. “In the meantime, you need to work on an addendum. To your dating CV. Thewho, not the what. And if it doesn’t address why you’re so scared of cats, I’ll be sending it back.” She folded her arms. “Unlaminated.”
How did she pick up on the cat thing?I’d been a picture of stoic endurance at that damn café. I’d even held that tyrannical little fleabag of hers too, Mr. Darcy.
“I’m notscaredof cats,” I said. “They’re just… unpredictable.”
“Sure, Liam.”
The waiter appeared with our starters.
