Chapter 3
Chapter Three
My head was pounding. The morning light tried to seep through my closed eyelids, but I was not budging.
I wanted to keep them closed for as long as I could.
I had never been more grateful to my previous self for not making plans today.
But then again, the plans that I was hoping for involved getting whisked away to a mansion, calling my boss and telling him that I needed a couple of months’ leave.
I was so sure that I was going to get in that I had even rehearsed the speech that I was ready to give him.
Fuck. My eyes flickered open and goddamn it was bright.
Previous me fell asleep straight away last night not even bothering to close down the blinds, but previous me was smart enough to put a large glass of water by my bedside before I went to sleep.
The light had hit me now, and as much as I could try, I knew that there was no way that I was getting back to sleep now.
I sat up in bed, as I slowly drank the water, my eyes darting around the room, stopping on a packet of Pringles sitting on the bench of my kitchenette.
I knew it was the least nutritious thing that I should be giving my body right now, the slight grumble of my stomach took over, and it was the easiest thing that I could try and drown out what may have been my still drunken state.
I launched myself out of bed, grabbing the Pringle container before curling myself back up.
One hand reached for my phone as I fed myself with the other.
Munching down on the thinly cut, salty potato chips as I checked the time.
It was ten thirty. I got home just after one, would have fallen asleep by two, actually that was not a bad sleep, maybe I wasn’t still drunk, maybe I was just waiting for the hangover to fully hit me.
Just as I went to place my phone back down on my bedside table, it buzzed in my hand twice, two Instagram notifications that I instantly clicked into.
One DM from @iamraven, she had sent Lotte and I a group message that read: Last night was fire!
Thanks for such great night you girls are the best. I’ve got some boring family catch up tonight but there’s live music down at the Barton on Sunday afternoon if you would like to catch up before the week starts?
Without even contemplating, I instantly replied: Count me in! Meet there at 2pm?
That could have been too eager. I was not someone who dealt with hangovers well, and I had no idea what was going to hit me later today.
But even if it was bad, I guess having a drink tomorrow, the day before I had to go back to work would soften any sickness that may take over my body the next two days.
And besides, this is what I wanted, this is what I had been patiently waiting for, friends who I so easily vibed with!
I clicked out of the group message and clicked straight onto the next notification.
It was another DM. A DM that made my heart stop, my jaw stop munching and pulled my hand straight out of the Pringles container, grabbing the phone with both my hands.
My whole body flooded with adrenaline, and I couldn’t think straight, I couldn’t read properly, and I couldn’t breathe.
Oh my God, what was wrong with me? Maybe this was the hangover really kicking in.
I couldn’t remember the last time that I felt this way about anyone.
There must have just been way too many toxins flooding around my body right now, trying to find a way out and due to that everything was heightened, because as I sunk back under the sheets, resting my head back on my pillow, I read the message clearly, once, twice and then a third time to make sure that I had got it right. And all it said was.
Good morning, Miss Molly. I hope you slept well.
Apologies for not asking for your number.
I don’t have an excuse as to why I didn’t.
So now I’ve had to resort to this form of communication by digitally stalking you.
I’m reaching out because I had a great time getting to know you last night and there is a lot more too you that I would like to spend some time getting to know, if you would be free for dinner tonight? ”
I threw my phone down by my side, pulling my bed covers to just underneath my chin as I took the message in.
Repeating his words in my head. Yes, I wanted to go on a date with him tonight.
This is exactly what I wanted, so why did I feel like such a chicken.
Why did something about him make me so unsure, nervous but at the same time I wanted to know so much more.
With someone who possessed his looks, I wondered how many women he took on dates each week.
I was sure a Saturday night date with a new woman was actually his specialty, something that he thrived on and if that was the case, then I was going to make sure that this night was going to be one that he remembered.
I placed the lid back on the Pringles container and threw them off the bed.
Nutritious food only today, no bloating allowed, and I needed to go shopping.
I wanted to buy something very nice for this date.
Maybe I should wake up and have a wine now, or I’ll have a glass for lunch and then that is all I would need to stop the hangover from hitting me, at least I hoped so.
I picked up my phone, a couple of minutes left on read would have been enough and simply replied: Pick me up at 8.