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‘Ariella, talk some sense into him,’ Jack urges.
‘Caleb will get no judgement from me. I don’t have to share a bathroom with him, or a wall, so I’m fine.’
I listen to them insult a victorious-looking Caleb playfully as we all have dessert. The three of them clean up after dinner, against my protestations, before Tim playfully fireman-lifts me over one shoulder out of the kitchen and plonks me on a sofa. I leave them relaxed and roaring with laughter in the living room and head to bed happy. I hear them discover that they’ve gone through all the pale ales; and when they finish all the sake too, Caleb fetches the Guatemalan rum I’ve introduced him to, warning them to sip slowly.
Swipey was proving to be a more positive experience than I thought. So far, I was keeping the conversations friendly and platonic, which according to Caleb is basically dating suicide, but it left me with four guys I was regularly in touch with. I ended up with a journalist, a science professor, an oil rig worker and a barista.
I would have liked to keep the fifth guy, a property developer, because he was really nice, but Caleb came home one evening and saw me trying to take full-length pictures of myself in my pyjamas to send to him. He immediately grabbed my phone, blocked and deleted him. So, I was stuck with four.
I’ve met the journalist and the professor a couple of times, and they are both lovely. The journalist is cool, laid-back, and our conversations weaving around the street art of Shoreditch or Brick Lane market are always engaging. He is good fun. The only turn-off is he keeps trying to hold my hand and I don’t feel ready for it.
The professor is really sweet. I’ve only met him twice, but I can relate to him. He prefers formal dining, showing me scientific and historical landmarks around London, and challenging my perception of the future and the impact of technological advancements on the human race. He is always a gentleman, respects my boundaries, and I always leave feeling excited – but also slightly worried about the future.
The subsea hydraulics engineer is based offshore somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. He’s quite secretive about who he works for, but sends lots of pictures of him in his overalls on different parts of the rig, without giving too much away. We started chatting online just before he went offshore, but we have lots of funny conversations.
The barista works in a local coffee shop and is always good for a joke. We met when I was trying to find Nicole’s favourite ground coffee. I find myself laughing a lot when I’m with him, though he has a habit of disappearing and then popping up again.
The greatest thing about talking to so many people is that I actually don’t have the space to develop any feelings for them. They are all lovely in their own way, but Jasper still holds my heart and they have all been respectful of that. Lara has been keeping up to date with my shenanigans, and basically thinks I have turned into a promiscuous little hussy.
‘Let me get this straight, all these guys know about each other and are all aware that they’re rebound guys to Jasper?’
It is the end of the day and Lara is reclining in the chair next to mine.
‘Yes.’
‘How do you get away with it?’
‘I just told them I’m getting over a break-up, so I am talking to new people to expand my experiences.’
Lara shakes her head. ‘You’re unbelievable. So, who are you cooking for tonight?’
‘Seth, the journalist.’
‘MrTouchy Feely.’ She wrinkles her nose. ‘He’s lucky. I haven’t been to your new flat yet.’
‘You should swing by. Caleb is pretty easy-going.’
‘I can’t wait to meet this Caleb.’
‘You know Caleb.’ I point to his office dome.
Lara’s eyes widen as she almost falls out of her chair. ‘You’re living withCaleb Black?’
‘Yes, Lara. I’ve told you this multiple times. You weren’t listening. As usual.’
‘You never told me you’re living with Caleb Black! Has he tried it on with you? How has Nicole not killed you? Wait…does she know?’
‘He has never been inappropriate, and yes, Nicole knows.’
‘You know he’s slept with most of the building?’
‘Yes, but he’s only seeing Nicole now.’
‘This explains why you’re happily Swipey-ing all the men in London. He’s rubbing off on you. Yuck. I just threw up in my mouth at the thought of that.’
I shoo Lara away. Seth will be with me at eight, which gives me only two hours.
‘Have fun tonight, and maybe let the guy stand closer than twenty feet?’
