Chapter Ten
Temple Bar is heaving as I turn the corner to Elephant and “Don’t mention looks,” and I did both straight out. ’
‘Well, I don’t mind your use of the word balls, and like I said, I’m flattered,’ I reassure him, trying to forget my motives and just enjoy his lovely company.
‘Once I haven’t blown our date before you even sat down?’ He narrows his eyes. ‘’Cause that wouldn’t surprise me in the least.’
I shift a little uncomfortably in my seat.
‘Not at all.’ It’s not entirely untruthful.
This isn’t a date-date, but he’s such a lovely guy.
I’ve never met anyone like Donal before.
I’ll tell him why I accepted this date. I’ll tell him about not wanting to face Logan alone after dinner and ask him to come to the party with me as a friend.
That’s the fairest thing to do. But for now, I want to relax and enjoy his easy company.
I shake out my own napkin now. ‘So how many Before Looks dates have you been on?’ I ask.
As he does a quick count on those impossibly long fingers, I think how he seems to occupy so much space. His neck is long, his arms are long, his fingers are long, he’s just a long person.
‘This is my eighth, I think?’ he says. ‘But you’re the first who’s actually stuck around this long!’ Then he laughs, and I notice his perfectly straight white teeth for the first time.
I react with a flinch. ‘No?’
He’s still laughing. ‘Ah, just like that last woman I told you about, whose granny’s cat was stuck up a tree, they didn’t fancy me, either.
I get it. Most had a quick drink and made their excuses.
Saying you don’t need to fancy someone is one thing, but proving the theorem is another.
I probably need to filter my picture, I mean the app is called Beyond Looks, but it appears to me that this modern dating world is still very superficial.
’ He takes a sip of his pint; the white froth lingers on his beard.
‘Don’t be silly,’ I tell him but I do think of his profile picture and how it’s not a great representation of him.
He grins. ‘I’m grand with it, I’m looking for a real connection, I don’t care how long it takes me.’
‘I get you.’ I admire his honesty.
‘So, are you looking for a new man after . . . Logan, wasn’t it?’ He comes straight out with it and it takes me a little off-guard.