Don’t keep me waiting unless you want into my bad books. Oh, and I don’t share food.”
He laughs, but I’m being deadly serious, however, it’s catching and soon I start laughing too. The waiter must hear and realise it’s safe to come in because before I know it we’ve ordered and we have a delicious dinner sitting in front of us. Which makes for a much happier atmosphere.
Once we’ve eaten we start talking seriously.
“How long have you known Soph?” he asks.
“Since I was about five-years-old. We lived on the same street back then. We started at the same local primary school and became firm friends. We had the Barbie-Gate incident when we were seven. She accused me of pulling the head off her Barbie. We were enemies for three days until Saul said we were being, stupid smelly girl heads, and so we reunited to tell him he was a farty boy bum. You know, like you do…” I trail off slightly aware that I probably sound stupid. I then feel the need to add, “I didn’t do it, by the way. You know, pull her Barbie’s head off.”
The side of his mouth lifts slightly and he says with an amused tone, “I never for one minute imagined you would have,” he follows that up with something that makes my previous mirth disappear, “How did you meet Saul?”
“I, erm… Saul and Con were best friends at primary school, as were Soph and I. We constantly teased the other pair, which actually led to friendship as we got older and we grew up.” I smile at the thought of the four of us. I realise probably for the first time that I can speak about Saul with someone and it’s actually a release. Maybe because I’ve had no one to talk to about him for the last few months, and because Dane’s not part of our inner circle. Still, it doesn’t escape my mind that yet again, my mouth and thoughts flow easily when I’m in his company.
Strangely, I get the feeling that the little speech he gave me earlier about having my best interests, as his first thoughts, was from his heart. I feel like I can trust him. I just hope it doesn’t bite me in the arse.
“Let me ask you something now,” I say.
“Shoot,” he replies, but I can hear the unease in his voice, which makes me feel on edge. It’s the first time I’ve felt this way around him
“Have you got a wife and kid hidden somewhere?” I look around the restaurant and under the table, trying to ease the sudden tension. “Is that why you suddenly seem nervous?”
“No Pea. Although I do like that you’re joking about it.” His smile is back to being genuine now.
“No family then?” I ask seriously this time.
“No,” he says hesitantly. “So I guess, does that mean I can be in your club?” he jokes trying to ease the tension, but it actually cuts straight to the bone.
“It’s no fun feeling alone, is it?” It’s not a question. “I’m thankful for Soph every day.”
“Not Con?”
“I will always be thankful for Con… for so many reasons. I just haven’t got him at the moment so, well, it’s just Soph.”
“And me, I hope?”
I stare at him. He fits. Like the others I let in, he makes me feel peace.
“I have hope too, Dane,” I reply.
The night has come to an end and we start the stroll back to my house. It occurs to me that he may have thought this was a date. Hell, it may be a date and maybe it’s me who has misunderstood. I’ve been so comfortable with him, apart from our misunderstanding, well okay, my melodramatic ways at the beginning, that I haven’t even thought about the possibility that this may have actually been a date. What now? Will he try to kiss me at the door, or expect more?
Crap!
We get to my door and suddenly I feel uncomfortable. He must sense this as he backs away.
“Pea, it’s been a lovely night. I really enjoy your company. Can we go out again? Maybe make it a weekly night thing?”
I consider this for a moment. You wouldn’t arrange a weekly night out if you were dating someone, would you? No! You
He laughs, but I’m being deadly serious, however, it’s catching and soon I start laughing too. The waiter must hear and realise it’s safe to come in because before I know it we’ve ordered and we have a delicious dinner sitting in front of us. Which makes for a much happier atmosphere.
Once we’ve eaten we start talking seriously.
“How long have you known Soph?” he asks.
“Since I was about five-years-old. We lived on the same street back then. We started at the same local primary school and became firm friends. We had the Barbie-Gate incident when we were seven. She accused me of pulling the head off her Barbie. We were enemies for three days until Saul said we were being, stupid smelly girl heads, and so we reunited to tell him he was a farty boy bum. You know, like you do…” I trail off slightly aware that I probably sound stupid. I then feel the need to add, “I didn’t do it, by the way. You know, pull her Barbie’s head off.”
The side of his mouth lifts slightly and he says with an amused tone, “I never for one minute imagined you would have,” he follows that up with something that makes my previous mirth disappear, “How did you meet Saul?”
“I, erm… Saul and Con were best friends at primary school, as were Soph and I. We constantly teased the other pair, which actually led to friendship as we got older and we grew up.” I smile at the thought of the four of us. I realise probably for the first time that I can speak about Saul with someone and it’s actually a release. Maybe because I’ve had no one to talk to about him for the last few months, and because Dane’s not part of our inner circle. Still, it doesn’t escape my mind that yet again, my mouth and thoughts flow easily when I’m in his company.
Strangely, I get the feeling that the little speech he gave me earlier about having my best interests, as his first thoughts, was from his heart. I feel like I can trust him. I just hope it doesn’t bite me in the arse.
“Let me ask you something now,” I say.
“Shoot,” he replies, but I can hear the unease in his voice, which makes me feel on edge. It’s the first time I’ve felt this way around him
“Have you got a wife and kid hidden somewhere?” I look around the restaurant and under the table, trying to ease the sudden tension. “Is that why you suddenly seem nervous?”
“No Pea. Although I do like that you’re joking about it.” His smile is back to being genuine now.
“No family then?” I ask seriously this time.
“No,” he says hesitantly. “So I guess, does that mean I can be in your club?” he jokes trying to ease the tension, but it actually cuts straight to the bone.
“It’s no fun feeling alone, is it?” It’s not a question. “I’m thankful for Soph every day.”
“Not Con?”
“I will always be thankful for Con… for so many reasons. I just haven’t got him at the moment so, well, it’s just Soph.”
“And me, I hope?”
I stare at him. He fits. Like the others I let in, he makes me feel peace.
“I have hope too, Dane,” I reply.
The night has come to an end and we start the stroll back to my house. It occurs to me that he may have thought this was a date. Hell, it may be a date and maybe it’s me who has misunderstood. I’ve been so comfortable with him, apart from our misunderstanding, well okay, my melodramatic ways at the beginning, that I haven’t even thought about the possibility that this may have actually been a date. What now? Will he try to kiss me at the door, or expect more?
Crap!
We get to my door and suddenly I feel uncomfortable. He must sense this as he backs away.
“Pea, it’s been a lovely night. I really enjoy your company. Can we go out again? Maybe make it a weekly night thing?”
I consider this for a moment. You wouldn’t arrange a weekly night out if you were dating someone, would you? No! You
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