told me about this custom — it’s called introductions. Never heard of it myself, but apparently it sorts out any potential problems like that.” Jess took a glug of her beer before continuing. “Look, I know this is another set-up, but if this doesn’t work, I promise I’ll leave you alone. It’s just that Lucy thinks this has potential and I trust her judgment. My girlfriend is a trustworthy woman. Are we agreed?”
Kate grudgingly nodded. “We’re agreed, she is.”
Jess leaned forward and held up her beer bottle for Kate to clink. “So here’s to a Friday of adventure. And if nothing else, we get to have another night in Dalston where we can laugh at all the hipsters and their funny hair.”
***
A little over two hours later, Kate and Jess arrived at the Data Club, a cool Dalston hangout with the requisite low lighting, scuffed chairs and dusty flooring. Outside, the main road was just warming up for the Friday night ahead, with neon lighting coming to life and traffic fumes choking the air. Inside, a tall, skinny man with a concentrated expression was filling tall glasses with ice, ready to shake up the bar’s signature cocktail, the DillyDally.
“Didn’t this used to be an estate agents?” Kate and Jess edged their way through the crowds of people, shoulders bumping.
“Yeah — they’ve still got the sales board up at the back of the bar — Lucy and I were here last week,” Jess replied. “Achingly hip.”
Kate grinned — she had a soft spot for uber-cool bars. She knew they overcharged for sub-standard drinks and yes, she knew the furnishings were sometimes not so comfortable, but look at the ladder on the wall, hung sideways and adorned with plants! Look at the array of bicycle parts hanging from the ceiling! Listen to the DJ pumping out pulsing beats that would never be played if these bars didn’t exist!
Jess made it to the bar and ordered them both beers. She gestured with her hand for Kate to follow her, and they made it through the crowd to the back of the bar. Kate took in Jess’s new grey shirt that she’d been inordinately proud of before coming out, sashaying up and down the hallway of their flat like a catwalk model.
“Told you it was less crowded at the back,” Jess said.
“You did, oh wise one.” Kate was just about to start talking about the weekend’s football matches when she saw the smile on Jess’s face increase, which meant Lucy had to be near — accompanied by her date. Kate straightened up, loosened her hips and turned her head.
She saw Lucy first, her dark hair artfully styled, her leathers exchanged for heels. Lucy was the only person Kate knew who flew around the city on a bike during the week, then traded them in for lady attire at the weekend.
“Hello, gorgeous,” Lucy said, breaking Kate’s thoughts. She brushed Kate’s cheek with her lips, but Kate’s gaze was already dancing over Lucy’s shoulder, looking at the women she had in tow. Lucy spotted her stare and was quick to act.
“So this is Belinda.” Lucy indicated the woman beside her, who Kate would guess to be Chinese.
Kate shook her hand enthusiastically, eyes darting left.
“And this is Belinda’s friend, Tanya. Tanya, Belinda, this is Kate.”
“Hi Kate, nice to meet you,” Tanya said, offering her hand.
The bar noise dimmed as Kate assessed her catch for the evening. Slim and poised, Tanya had an unusually long neck, chiseled cheekbones and an easy confidence that radiated from her smile. It didn’t hurt that she was attractive, too. Kate’s shoulders relaxed. Maybe this date wouldn’t be quite so bad as Kate had imagined — heck, they might even get on. Kate also noted a home counties accent — she’d lay bets Tanya was from Surrey. Perhaps she did own a horse.
“So have you been here before?” Tanya asked, getting right into Kate’s personal space.
Kate shook her head, holding her ground even if she was slightly unnerved. “First time, but Jess and Lucy
Kate grudgingly nodded. “We’re agreed, she is.”
Jess leaned forward and held up her beer bottle for Kate to clink. “So here’s to a Friday of adventure. And if nothing else, we get to have another night in Dalston where we can laugh at all the hipsters and their funny hair.”
***
A little over two hours later, Kate and Jess arrived at the Data Club, a cool Dalston hangout with the requisite low lighting, scuffed chairs and dusty flooring. Outside, the main road was just warming up for the Friday night ahead, with neon lighting coming to life and traffic fumes choking the air. Inside, a tall, skinny man with a concentrated expression was filling tall glasses with ice, ready to shake up the bar’s signature cocktail, the DillyDally.
“Didn’t this used to be an estate agents?” Kate and Jess edged their way through the crowds of people, shoulders bumping.
“Yeah — they’ve still got the sales board up at the back of the bar — Lucy and I were here last week,” Jess replied. “Achingly hip.”
Kate grinned — she had a soft spot for uber-cool bars. She knew they overcharged for sub-standard drinks and yes, she knew the furnishings were sometimes not so comfortable, but look at the ladder on the wall, hung sideways and adorned with plants! Look at the array of bicycle parts hanging from the ceiling! Listen to the DJ pumping out pulsing beats that would never be played if these bars didn’t exist!
Jess made it to the bar and ordered them both beers. She gestured with her hand for Kate to follow her, and they made it through the crowd to the back of the bar. Kate took in Jess’s new grey shirt that she’d been inordinately proud of before coming out, sashaying up and down the hallway of their flat like a catwalk model.
“Told you it was less crowded at the back,” Jess said.
“You did, oh wise one.” Kate was just about to start talking about the weekend’s football matches when she saw the smile on Jess’s face increase, which meant Lucy had to be near — accompanied by her date. Kate straightened up, loosened her hips and turned her head.
She saw Lucy first, her dark hair artfully styled, her leathers exchanged for heels. Lucy was the only person Kate knew who flew around the city on a bike during the week, then traded them in for lady attire at the weekend.
“Hello, gorgeous,” Lucy said, breaking Kate’s thoughts. She brushed Kate’s cheek with her lips, but Kate’s gaze was already dancing over Lucy’s shoulder, looking at the women she had in tow. Lucy spotted her stare and was quick to act.
“So this is Belinda.” Lucy indicated the woman beside her, who Kate would guess to be Chinese.
Kate shook her hand enthusiastically, eyes darting left.
“And this is Belinda’s friend, Tanya. Tanya, Belinda, this is Kate.”
“Hi Kate, nice to meet you,” Tanya said, offering her hand.
The bar noise dimmed as Kate assessed her catch for the evening. Slim and poised, Tanya had an unusually long neck, chiseled cheekbones and an easy confidence that radiated from her smile. It didn’t hurt that she was attractive, too. Kate’s shoulders relaxed. Maybe this date wouldn’t be quite so bad as Kate had imagined — heck, they might even get on. Kate also noted a home counties accent — she’d lay bets Tanya was from Surrey. Perhaps she did own a horse.
“So have you been here before?” Tanya asked, getting right into Kate’s personal space.
Kate shook her head, holding her ground even if she was slightly unnerved. “First time, but Jess and Lucy
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