Page 93 of It Was Always You

He nodded emphatically. ‘Yeah, yeah, it’s great. We had a lot to talk about, you know? No awkward silences. She flirted with me a lot and kept touching my leg… I think… I think she really wants me, Lil.’

Placing two mugs of freshly brewed coffee on the table, she said, ‘Why do you sound so surprised?’

He pursed his lips. ‘Oh, I don’t know. I think it’s been so long since I’ve fancied a woman it’s all a bit bizarre.’

She nervously fiddled with her cup. ‘So… you fancy her, eh?’

He laughed. ‘Lil, there’s nothing to not fancy. She’s sexy, she’s intelligent, and she laughs at my jokes.’

She snorted. ‘Well, then, I’d ditch her immediately. Finding your jokes funny is a good reason to avoid her, I’d say.’

‘Thanks.’ He threw a dishtowel at her, and it landed on her head, so he burst out laughing, almost falling backward off his chair.

She pursed her lips. ‘Funny man.’ She tried her best not to laugh.

‘Yeah, well, she loved the shirt you picked out. I’ve never liked stripes. That’s why it still had the tags on, but she commented on it straight away. Said I looked very handsome.’

Lily threw up her hands. ‘Ha! The woman is clearly delusional. She thinks you’re handsome and laughs at your jokes. Poor, poor woman.’

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Yeah, well, just you wait until I get my own back.’

Her heart skipped a beat and her mouth dropped open. ‘Meaning what?’ she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

‘Funnily enough I have access to the Internet and photos of you, too. I could always return the favour and set you up on a dating site, so be very, very careful, Lil.’

She threw the dishtowel back at him. ‘Don’t you bloody dare. It’s different for me.’ Heat rose in her cheeks and she suddenly felt flustered.

He chuckled for a few moments. ‘Seriously though, Lil, you should date. In fact, remember Doug Jenkins from our Science Department?’

She frowned as she remembered the man in question. ‘Yesss?’

‘Weeeell, he always asks after you. He’s asked me for your number before, but I never gave him it because you were always overseas when he asked. Now you’re back for a while, you should go out. He’s a really nice guy. And I’m told he’s considered quite attractive.’

She curled her lip. ‘He’s not my type, Adders.’

He shook his head and huffed in frustration. ‘Why won’t you allow yourself to be happy, Lily? And who the hell is your type? Does the thing even exist? Or is he some kind of mythical creature? ’Cause I’ll be damned if I can tell!’

Offended by his comment, she folded her arms over her chest as heat flared in her cheeks again. ‘That’s a lot of questions, Adders. Not really necessary. And of course he exists… somewhere… but I’m not going to dive into a relationship with someone I don’t fancy just because I’m lonely.’

Anger flashed across his features and his cheeks coloured. ‘And what? You think that’s what I’m doing?’

She sighed. ‘Of course not, you prat. I didn’t say any such thing, did I? I just want to find my own man. When I’m ready.’

His jaw ticked beneath his skin. ‘Oh? But you couldn’t leave me to do that?’

She stifled a giggle. ‘What? Find your own man?’

He pulled a face at her. ‘Funny. Come on, Lil. Why were you so hell-bent on setting me up when you won’t accept the same help? You’ve pretty much just admitted that you’re lonely. So what’s the problem?’

‘For pity’s sake, it’s like the Spanish Inquisition. Can we just change the subject?’ she snapped.

After an uncomfortable silence, he asked, ‘So do I tell Doug no then?’

‘You do.’

TRACK 38

‘WHY CAN’T THIS BE LOVE’ (VAN HALEN)