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“Actually, the reason I stayed is really because I wanted to see you again, I was enjoying our time together. The money is just an excuse. I do want to give it to you because I owe it you, but I also want a chat as well.”
That lifts up my heart, I can literally feel my chest swelling with happiness. Of course I don’t want to get carried away but I also can’t ignore the little voice in the back of my head that’s screaming at me maybe this is it, maybe this is the moment I’ve always been waiting for. Maybe this is the dramatic moment I’ve always wanted, the start of my real life...
“Well, I’m just walking home.” I still don’t really want to go to a bar, even if I am more alert. “But you can walk with me, if you like.”
I hope he knows I’m not inviting him in, I don’t want him to assume that I’m some sort of easy girl who will just have sex with him like that. He doesn’t look like he thinks that way, but I still need it to be clear... only I can’t find the right words for it.
“Sure, I can walk you home. I’m a gentleman.” He places his hand on his hip allowing me to link my arm through his. That’s a friendly enough gesture, right? He isn’t holding my hand. I would like him to hold my hand, but I’m glad that he’s not pushing me. “Where is it you live? How many more questions do I get to ask?”
“Not many,” I giggle. “Because it’s not too far from here. Maybe three or four more questions. Five at a push.”
“I’ll take that challenge. Let’s see what I can come up with.”
We walk through the streets under the street lights and moonlight which glows down on Ben’s face in a way that makes him look devastatingly handsome. As we go I try to work out his motivation for staying behind. I mean, I know that I like him, but he can’t honestly like me, can he? I imagine he has the most beautiful women in the world throwing themselves at him. There’s no way he can like me... is there?
The way he looks at me suggests that maybe he does. There’s certainly something floating between us, a chemistry maybe. Whatever it is it feels good.
“So, what animal do you identify most with?”
I burst into laughter at Ben’s unexpected question. I thought it would be something else entirely. I don’t know what though. “Really? That’s what you’re going with?”
“You have to answer quickly. I want to fill this time wisely, I need to get in as many questions as I can.”
“Alright, alright.” I pause for just a second as I plan my answer. “A seal.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. They’re sweet.”
“Okay, so what country would you most like to visit in the world?”
“Easy, Japan.”
“Ooh, good one. I’ve been to Tokyo, it’s a fantastic country. How did you end up working as a shot girl?”
“I was temping, doing all kinds of different, equally horrible, jobs and my roommate, Jenny...”
“Wait.” He turns to face me to stop me in my tracks. “The blonde girl, that’s who you live with?”
“Yes... why?”
“I don’t know.” He purses his lips in confusion. “I just can’t imagine the two of you being friends that’s all. You’re really nice and she’s... I mean, I don’t mean this in a bad way, oh God, I’m digging myself into a hole here.”
I could let him stew but I don’t want to. He already looks upset that he’s spoken badly about Jenny, not that he’s really said anything. “I know what you mean, she’s very different to me. She’s much louder and more confident. I know I’m probably too quiet for that job really, but I’m giving it a go, trying something new.”
“Well that’s really brave of you.” Ben looks at me like he’s proud of me, which only makes me laugh again. I don’t even know why. I feel like I’m a bit of a mess around him now during this one on one time. I guess it’s because this isn’t work anymore and I don’t quite know what it is. I think he might like me and I don’t know where that’s going to lead. It scares me and excites me all at once. “You’re facing something you fear head on.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” I give a modest shrug as a reply. “Thank you.”
“So what movies do you like best of all? I know it’s too hard to pick just one, so what genre?”
I can’t admit rom coms because that comes too close to my dream of something magical happening in my life, so I say the first thing that comes into my head instead. “I like world cinema. Especially drama movies.” I don’t know why I say that, but it’s too late. It’s out there now. “Right, well this is me so I suppose you’re out of questions now.”
Ben’s hands move up to my shoulders and he spins me round to stare deeply into my eyes. My breath catches in my throat, all of a sudden everything intensifies, I don’t know what to think. My head spins with a heady lust, I feel like my knees are knocking together in shock. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I don’t want the moment to end.
Then his lips crash against mine and everything becomes all too clear. The world rushes around me, then stops dead leaving me and Ben alone in this utterly perfect moment that I never want to end.
Chapter Seven – Ben
