I shook my head, trying to think. “I think everyone I know has flown in a plane at some point.”
“Okay, well, how many people do you know who have flown in a helicopter?”
Looking away for a moment, I tried to think. “I can’t recall that I know anyone who has flown in one.”
Jeremy nodded with a smug look. “Exactly.”
I regarded Jeremy for a moment. “Do you know that you’re the most interesting person I have ever met?”
Jeremy’s smug smile continued. “I take that as a compliment.”
I smiled back at him. “It was certainly meant to be one.” Thinking it was time to change the subject, I sighed. “So, tell me about Julie. When did you meet?”
Jeremy smiled and gazed off into the distance. “It was about five months ago. I spotted her outside McDonalds with a few of her friends. She looked beautiful. Ever since that day, we bump into one another now and then. We always say hi, but that’s about as far as it goes. Every time I turn to say more, my tongue gets all twisted in my mouth. It’s really annoying.”
“So you’re both aware of one another then?”
“Yes, but I think I am more aware of her then she is of me.”
Grabbing another one of his Twiglets, I shook my head. “You can never say that for sure. She could be just as tongue-tied as you.”
Jeremy shrugged again. “I suppose I will never know.”
I reared back again. “Don’t say that. You never know what life will bring you, Jeremy.”
He chuckled a little. “I know, I know. Maybe I need someone like you around. You’re apparent love of life is rather infectious. You even welcome strange men into your home. You probably occasionally even feed him.” He laughed loudly at his own joke, but then he saw I wasn’t laughing. “Holy shit. You are feeding him, aren’t you?”
Waving my hands in front of me, I told him to shush. “Stop it, Jeremy. I only feed him cookies sometimes.”
He was laughing harder now. “Cookies? That’s classic. He sounds like your pet.”
Now it was my turn to shrug. “He likes cookies.”
Jeremy slapped the bed. “Stop, stop. I think I may pass out from laughing so hard.”
“You can’t tell anyone,” I whispered to him.
Jeremy stopped laughing and placed a hand on his heart. “I swear I will not tell anyone.”
I winked back. “I know you won’t.”
*****
I actually stayed until I was exhausted. I was having so much fun, time just seemed to run away with me. I left Jeremy, letting him know that he had me as a friend for life and I was coming to visit him often, whether he like it or not. Jeremy just smiled at me and said he would like that. I was glad he gave into me in the end. I was half-expecting a fight from him, but the promise of Twiglets every time I visited won him over in the end.
I raced back to my flat as quickly as possible so I could prepare dinner. Ian wasn’t due for another hour, but I didn’t like to feel rushed. I liked everything planned out and ready in advance. I know Ian would approve of my last minute dashing. He always worked better under pressure and I hated him for it.
It was a little after seven-thirty when there was a knock on the door. I rushed over, glass of red wine in hand, and took a sneaky sip before opening the door. “Ian,” I sang.
“For me?” he asked, grabbing the wine glass and drinking it down in one gulp.
“Ian! You’re so fucking rude.”
Coming in for a quick kiss on the cheek, he lingered. “Do you know how hard you make me when you talk with that filthy mouth of yours?”
Pushing him away, I scowled. “Funny enough, it only seems to be you that brings out my filthy mouth.”
Placing his hand on his heart, he smiled. “I am honoured.” I giggled, but then he was looking in the direction of the kitchen. With a big inhale, he looked back at me. “Spaghetti Bolognaise?”
I nodded. “Yes, and no sneaking bits when I’m not looking.” He looked back at me, shocked. “Don’t give me that look, Ian. You know full well what I’m talking about. I’ve seen you.”
Ian waved his hand in front of him. “Oh well, what can I say? You make a mean Spag Bol, and because you’ve made it tonight, I think I may let you get lucky.” Ian winked at me, but I just rolled my eyes.
Ian and I had been in a position several times where we could have gone all the way…so many parties and so much fooling around. I think Ian was the only man who had seen all of me without it going further than a bit of playful banter. We had been friends for so long, we knew our boundaries. We knew when to stop. I knew that whenever Ian joked about us sleeping together, it was just that. He would never take it further than the odd grope when he got drunk. And it always seemed to stem from parties when we were both drunk. It was like the running joke that whenever we were out together, it would end up with us snogging or feeling each other up. It was a strange friendship, to say the least, but it worked. We didn’t want more than what we had because we didn’t want to spoil it. We loved each other, but not in the sense that we would get married and have babies anytime soon. Although Ian had joked that if we hit thirty and neither of us had found anyone, we would get hitched. I kind of agreed because I was drunk at the time and thought it was funny. There seemed to be a running pattern.