‘Oh, OK. What is it?’ I ask, hoping it will be something that I can use as an excuse not to see him again.
‘Well, my Granddad likes to think he knows me well, and I mean to some extent he does. But, well, the thing is...I’m actually gay.’
‘What?’ I almost shout. A few people at the bar turn round to stare at me and I laugh nervously.
‘I know. I’m so sorry for wasting your time Poppy. But my Granddad was adamant I had to take you out and I just wanted to please him, you know?’
‘Actually, I know exactly how you feel,’ I say imagining my Mother. ‘So, your long term relationship, that was with a guy?’ I ask intrigued.
‘Yep. Paul. We were at the stage where we were either going to move in with each other or break up and...Well, it just seemed he was scared of commitment.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. And I’ve kind of been there myself anyway,’ I smile.
‘Well, you actually seemed kind of relieved when I told you. Was I that much of an awful straight man?’ he asks smirking.
‘No! It's just that...’
‘There's someone else isn’t there? You’ve got that puppy love look in your eyes,’ he laughs.
‘No! Not like that anyway. But...well, I like someone.’
‘Oooh, really? Do tell!’ he says, suddenly very camp.
‘Well...oh, why not! It's my housemate, Ryan. He’s actually your Granddad’s friends Grandson. If that makes sense,’ I say realising how confusing this must be to him.
‘Ryan Davis? You’ve got a crush on Ryan Davis?’ he asks, his eyes widening.
‘Oh my God, do you know him?’ Shit, I should have kept my big mouth shut.
‘Yes, of course. We practically grew up together. He was actually a great help at school. Thugs used to pick on me for being...well, shall we say flamboyant?’ We both mutually laugh. ‘He used to stick up for me and saved me getting my arse kicked a few times.’
‘Oh God, he’s so great.’ I physically swoon at the thought of him.
‘I know. I actually had a crush on him myself at one stage.’
‘Really?’
‘Oh yeah, but can you blame me? That jawline, with those abs – wow! But...’
‘But what?’ I ask, intrigued by his sudden change of facial expression.
‘He had a rough time about a year ago.’
‘Really? Before he went travelling?’
‘Yeah. That's actually the reason. He had a long term girlfriend, was mad about her. Anyway, she suddenly ran off and got married to his best friend.’
‘Oh my God, that's terrible.’
‘And then his friends that he’d spent years building up, they were all suddenly gone, not caring if he were dead or alive.’
‘Oh my God.’
I really can't believe this.
‘Yeah, my heart broke for the poor guy. But he was back to his old self when he got back from travelling. The guy I used to know before he got swallowed up in all of that corporate bullshit. He’d gotten so serious and stuffy.’
‘I think he’s pretty serious now,’ I laugh.
‘Yeah, he comes across as that. But that's only because he’s a massive thinker.’
‘Oh. I don't know why I’m bothering anyway. I haven’t got a chance.’
‘It's not something you can control. He just has something about him.’
‘I know,’ I swoon, despite myself.
‘Well, anyway, I have to scoot. But it was so lovely meeting you. We should go shopping or something soon.’
‘Yeah I’d love that,’ I say as he kisses me on the cheek.
‘Oh and good luck with Ryan. Maybe get a push up bra?’
* * *
When I get home I throw my shoes off at the door and stumble into the kitchen to make myself some toast. I flick the kettle on and jump when I see Ryan still up at the kitchen table.
‘Fuck! You scared me!’
‘You’re so jumpy,’ he says, rolling his eyes as if I’m a massive inconvenience.
I sigh and put some toast on, trying not to stare at his massive black eye.
‘So...how was your date?’ he asks raising his eyebrows in interest.
‘Yeah, good thanks,’ I say not feeling generous enough to elaborate.
I get some hot chocolate powder from the cupboard and start mixing it with water. I need the sugar.
‘What are you doing?’ he asks.
‘Making a hot chocolate. You want one?’
‘No thanks, I’m thirty-two,’ he says, sniggering to himself. I turn back, choosing to ignore him.
‘Which grandson was it anyway? Lewis or Graham?’
‘It was Lewis,’ I say, busying myself by buttering my toast.
‘Oh’ he laughs. ‘So...do you think you’ll see him again?’
I wait, pretending I haven’t heard him for a second while I butter my toast.
‘Well?’
‘Look, you obviously know he’s gay, so just stop winding me up OK!’
‘Lewis, gay? I don't believe it! Tell me it's not true!’ he says, being sarcastic and mocking.
The front door slams and Izzy comes skipping in.
‘Hey,’ she sings, smiling at both of us. ‘Oh God, Ryan! What happened to your eye?’ She rushes over and fusses, while he attempts to push her away.
‘Why don't you ask Poppy,’ Grace says, as she walks into the kitchen in just her bra and knickers. Is it really that hard for her to put clothes on?
Izzy turns to stare at me with a quizzical expression as I attempt to back out of the door. How could he tell her!?
‘You...you punched Ryan?’ Izzy asks, her mouth twitching into a smile.
‘No! Of course not.’
‘Thank God for that. I thought you’d lost the plot’ she says, relaxing. ‘What happened then?’ She looks between me, Grace and Ryan.
‘I’m knackered. I’m going to bed,’ I sigh, not feeling up to him telling them all it was my fault.
I’m barely in my room when there’s a knock on my bedroom door.
‘Hello?’
‘Hey,’ Ryan says, walking in.
‘Look, if you’ve just come in here to have a go at me, don't bother. I’ve been punished enough tonight,’ I say as I crawl into bed.
‘Your date was that good then?’ he asks, amusement showing in his voice.
‘What did you tell them?’ I ask from underneath the duvet.
‘Who? The girls or work?’
‘Fine! Rub it in even more.’ I push the covers back. ‘You hate me, I get it!’
‘God, only you could turn this round so it's me feeling sorry for you.’
‘I don't want your pity,’ I practically spit to him before turning to face the wall.
‘Well, I told Grace the truth.’
‘You total fucking traitor! Of all people, Grace!’
‘Alright, calm down drama queen.’
‘Like she doesn’t hate me enough as it is. Now I’ve gone and broken her boyfriend’s beautiful face!’
‘How many fucking times!? I’m not her boyfriend.’
‘Whatever. Didn’t you spend the night with her?’ I ask before I can stop myself.
‘Spend the night? What the hell do you mean by that?’ He looks offended.
‘You know exactly what I mean.’ I sit up in bed to glare at him.
‘No,’ he insists, moody.
‘What, have a headache did she?’ I say like a bitch.
‘Oh shut up. Surely you could see that she was kissing me last night. She cornered me.’
‘Well, I didn’t see you beating her off,’ I say, pretending to inspect my nails. ‘Or was it another girl tonight? I can't keep up with your conveyor belt of women.’
‘Well I would have stopped her if you wouldn’t have come in and smashed glass all over the floor like a clumsy idiot.’
‘I’m very sorry for being such a massive inconvenience,’ I snap.
We both glare at each other in silence for a minute.
‘So, were work really mad?’ I hadn’t had a chance to go into it properly earlier.
‘Work?’
‘Yes! About your eye,’ I say, annoyed that he can't seem to keep up.
‘My boss was actually really impressed that I’d stopped an old lady getting mugged.’
‘Oh, well, you see! You might end up getting a promotion over it.’ I smile, glad that something has worked out.
‘That's what I thought. I was going to thank you actually.’
‘Great! See! Some things happen for a reason,’ I say smugly.
‘That was until he was so impressed he organised for the local paper to come round and do a story on it.’
‘You are joking?’ My face drops.
‘I wish I was,’ he says, smiling weakly. ‘He thinks it’ll be good for the company. Lawyers You Can Trust.’
‘I’m so sorry.’ I sigh heavily. ‘It just seems that everything I touch lately turns to shit.’
‘Pretty much,’ he says, smiling and walking out of the room.
What a charmer. No wonder I fell for that one.
Chapter 25
The next morning at work I’m ringing the airlines desperately trying to change Victor’s flights to later in the day so he can go to his stupid hair appointment. I’ve finally managed to do it, but I still need to go to the E & L depot to collect Victor’s visa. Stupid courier people still sent it to the work address so I have to treck all the way down there. I just hope I have enough time.