Page 5 of Heartbreaker

I wait a few minutes and watch surreptitiously as she takes out her phone then reads it. Her lips crease into a smile and it hits me in the balls.

Tinkerbell: Who is this?

Jackson: ‘The Man with the Child in his Eyes.’

I see her smile grow bigger and her fingers move over the keys.

Tinkerbell: Did you quote a Kate Bush song at me?

Jackson: Haha. Yes, I did. Want to hear more? Okay what about ‘Take My Breath Away.’

Tinkerbell: Oh please, Berlin. Try harder lol.

Jackson: Okay this next one is harder. ‘Love Hangover.’

I watch as the little dots tell me she is writing a response and I haven’t felt this much excitement in forever.

Tinkerbell: The one and only Diana Ross.

Jackson: ‘You've Lost that Lovin Feelin.’

Tinkerbell: Righteous Brothers! Okay, my turn. ‘When a Man Loves a Woman.’

I smile when I read it and thank God for the hours of romantic shit my mum made me listen too with her.

Jackson: Percy Sledge lol.

Tinkerbell: Damn you're good.

Jackson: I think you’re the most stunningly beautiful woman I have ever seen.

Tinkerbell???

Tinkerbell: I don’t know that one.

Jackson: That one was all my own ;)

I see my Tinkerbell start to reply but then she looks up smiling, my eyes travel to where she is looking, a tall blond man sits next to her and by the familiar way he leans in to kiss her, I know she is his.

Tinkerbell: That’s so sweet. Goodnight, and thanks for the music lesson.

That’s it, just like that she has blown me off. She has a boyfriend. I was a fool to think a woman like her would be single. Any man would break his back to be with her.

I continue my night with the lads, it doesn’t stop me looking over at Tinkerbell every now and again. I keep telling myself that I need to move past her, she’s taken and there’s nothing I can do about it, yet somehow, she’s still on my mind when I leave the club.