Cuckoo (aka Claire, Darling)

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

22 September 2024

Dear Diary,

The weirdest thing happened today. I bumped into Wine Aisle Guy. As in, literally physically bumped into him on the street. It’s so wild when this happens in London– I mean, in a city of so many people, what are the statistical odds of walking into somebody you know? Fate seems to be working its magic once again. It’s as though I’m living in some sort of rom-com. I actually burst out laughing at how ridiculous the situation was, and then he did as well, which I think broke any tension there could have been between us otherwise. ‘Are you stalking me or something?’ I joked, and he laughed.

‘Something like that.’

He is still the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. You know when you meet someone for the first time and they’re so gorgeous, but then you see them the second time and they look less good? I can’t really explain it any other way, but they have lost that first-meeting sparkle? Well, it wasn’t like that with Noah at all. If anything, he sparkled even more. So after this chance encounter in the street, we went to a nearby coffee shop. ‘Because it would be rude to walk into you in the street and not offer you coffee and cake in damages and compensation,’ he said, ignoring the fact that I was technically the one who walked into him.

We went to a place where he seemed to know the owners well. They were Scottish and had that easy banter you get between proprietors and regulars, and I could feel them eyeing me with interest for turning up with him. Noah told me a little more about his family, I got his number, and we’ve been texting a lot since then.

He’s a great listener; I can’t remember the last time anyone gave me so much space to talk and breathe. I know it sounds stupid as I only met the guy the other day but I really like talking to him. He makes me feel happier. I haven’t felt like this in ages, it’s as though I’m just waiting for reality to come and pop my bubble. I hope things continue to go as smoothly between us as they have so far. (Though, hopefully, with fewer surprise encounters. Knowing my luck, next time I run into him I’ll be dressed in my old scraggly leggings…)

Claire