Page 70 of The Little Board Game Café

‘Ludek brought them.’

‘You asked him?’

‘No. He brought them off his own bat.’

Emily was on her way back to the kitchen when Alan stopped her.

‘Fantastic selection of games, Emily,’ he said.

‘I hope they’re all insured,’ Malcolm added.

‘They’re Ludek’s,’ she said.

‘Ludek’s?’ Alan almost choked on pierogi. ‘But Ludo never lends out his games. He must be – excuse my language –shitting himself. What if someone spills something? Or pieces get lost? Where is he anyway?’

‘In the kitchen doing the cooking.’

‘He can cook?’ Alan shook his head in disbelief.

As Emily went back to the kitchen, she heard him saying to Malcolm, ‘She’s got him twisted round her little finger already.’

She stood in the doorway. ‘Ludek, your games. I can’t thank you enough, but what if something happens? I mean, food, drink, strangers. They could easily get damaged.’

‘It’s a risk I’m willing to take, Em.’ He looked up from the frying pan and his eyes met hers. ‘For you.’

She felt her jaw drop. She stood there for a second, then remembered to close her mouth. Gawping wasn’t her best look.

Marjory poked her head round the kitchen door at that moment and called, ‘Service please!’

‘What?’ said Ludek, turning to her.

‘I said, service please. We need more pierogi out here.’

‘No,’ said Ludek. ‘It’s the chef who says, “Service please” when the food is ready and the waiting staff then come and collect it. The waiting staff don’t tip up and say it when they want the food. You’ve got it the wrong way round. I’ll send some out in a minute.’

‘I don’t think she watches enough MasterChef,’ he added as Marjory disappeared. He plated up another pile of pierogi. ‘Here you go.’

Take That’s ‘Patience’ was playing as Emily left the kitchen. Honestly, Kate must have spent hours finding all these games-themed songs. Emily bit her lip, wishing her friend was here. She was pleased that Kate had met someone, but she did miss her.

‘Good choice of song,’ said Mr B suddenly, appearing at her side.

‘I can’t claim credit. Kate made a playlist.’

‘You know, this song spent longer in the top ten than any other Take That song until the release of “Rule the World”.’

‘I didn’t have you down as a Take That fan, Mr B.’

‘You don’t know everything about me, Emily. Far from it.’

When everyone had had their fill of pierogi, Ludek emerged from the kitchen.

‘Big hand for the chef, everyone,’ said Emily. The café erupted into spontaneous applause and Ludek gave three bows, and then, as an afterthought, a curtsey. She glanced at Peter. He wasn’t clapping. She wondered if Ludek had noticed; she’d have to find a quiet moment to explain to him why she’d felt obliged to invite her ex along this evening. She didn’t want Ludek thinking there was still something between them.

Take That gave way to ‘Quit Playing Games with My Heart’.

‘The Backstreet Boys,’ piped up Mr B. ‘Another good choice.’

And with that, he picked up two empty plates and disappeared into the kitchen.