Chapter 32 #2
‘Doesn’t matter.’ To Molly’s delight, Andy’s pale, freckled face had turned pink.
‘I did tell him it wouldn’t work and not to waste a good polo shirt on you.’
Was she completely mad? ‘What made you say that?’
‘Because you’ve told me you only go for men with dark hair and dark eyes,’ Fen reminded her.
‘You said you’d only ever gone out with men like that.
You showed me photos, and that’s what they were all like .
. . slick, well groomed, smartly dressed .
. . That’s why when Andy spotted you and said you were exactly his type, I had to warn him that he probably wasn’t yours.
’ She gave Andy’s arm an apologetic pat.
‘No offence. Just being honest, didn’t want you getting your hopes up. ’
It was Molly’s turn to blush. It was true, all true.
As their friendship had deepened, she and Fen had discussed past boyfriends, what they’d liked and hadn’t liked about them, and the eternal mystery of what it was about men that either provided the initial spark of attraction or acted as the ultimate turn-off.
She’d shown Fen photos of the ones she’d been out with, and yes, without exception they’d been olive-skinned, with flashing Italianate eyes and the kind of glossy, straight, nearly black hair that gleamed in the sunshine.
She might not have moved to Venice purely because there were so many handsome men there, but at the same time it had definitely been a plus point.
Andy was studying her now. ‘Really? That’s a shame. Oh well, gave it my best shot, can’t say I didn’t try.’
As he turned away, he raised his freckled arm to push a lock of tangled auburn hair out of his eyes, and a crystal-clear memory bounced into Molly’s brain, of her pulling a face at Fen during one of their FaceTime calls and saying, ‘Eurgh, this guy with pale skin and freckles tried to chat me up on a flight once. No way could I go out with someone like that.’
Now who was the monster?
‘Please, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it,’ Molly blurted out.
Andy shook his head at her. ‘I think we all know you did.’
The passenger on the plane had had soft, pudgy arms. Andy’s weren’t pudgy at all. He also smelled irresistible, unlike the man on her flight, who’d had a nostril-shrivelling case of BO.
Molly held his gaze, desperate to make amends. ‘OK, I might have meant it years ago, when I was young and stupid. And I know I used to like those kinds of men, but that was then and this is now. I’ve changed my mind.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Well, that’s a start. And it would have been great. Except now I know what you’re really like, I’ve changed my mind too.’
Molly’s hopes plummeted; it was like clinging to the edge of a mountain and feeling your fingers lose their grip.
‘Andy,’ Fen protested, ‘be nice.’
‘I am nice. I’m always nice. But it doesn’t always work out in my favour.’ He paused, then looked at Molly. ‘So does that mean you would still want to have dinner with me tomorr—’
‘YES!’ Molly interrupted before he could finish. It came out as a high-pitched yelp that made Fen jump.
‘Right. The only problem is, in view of recent events, I’m afraid I have to withdraw my bid of two hundred pounds.’
Nooo. Aloud, she said sadly, ‘Oh.’
‘This time I need you to bid to go out on a date with me.’
His eyes were bright with what she hoped was mischief, but was he joking or actually serious?
‘Really?’ she said.
‘Really.’
‘Fifty pounds?’
He frowned. ‘I think I’m worth a lot more than that.’
‘Eighty?’
‘Eighty what?’ said Hattie, joining them.
‘Hi, I’m Andy. Molly’s bidding to win a date with me, but she seems to think I’m only worth eighty pounds. Even though I’m sure we’d all agree it’s for an excellent cause.’
‘It is.’ Hattie nodded vigorously. ‘Can I join in? I’ll bid a hundred.’
‘Good for you.’ Fen grinned. ‘Any advance on one hundred?’
‘Two hundred,’ said Jamie, appearing next to Hattie. ‘What am I bidding for?’
Andy gave him a sultry look. ‘A date with me.’
‘In that case, two hundred and fifty.’
‘Hang on,’ Molly protested. ‘This isn’t fair. Five minutes ago, I was the one up for auction.’
‘Any further bids? No? So that makes me the winner.’ Pulling his wallet out of his jeans pocket, Jamie peeled off a wad of notes.
‘You’ve always had a thing for me, I knew it.’ Andy gave him a stern look. ‘But just so you know, I don’t snog on the first date.’
‘Tell you what, take the money and add it to the pot,’ said Jamie. ‘And whoever else wants to go on a date with you can have you, with my blessing.’
‘Me,’ Molly blurted out. ‘I will!’
‘There you go, sorted, she’s taken you off my hands.’ Jamie clapped Andy on the back, then said to Molly, ‘No kissing, mind. Not on a first date.’
Across the room, Guy was wielding his microphone and double-checking the running total online.
‘So with seven minutes to go, the money’s still rolling in.
If you want to join the bidding, the link’s right there on the screen, but you don’t have much time left, so don’t hang about, get your credit cards out. ’
He was being filmed by another of Leon’s friends and streamed live on Instagram. Molly said to Hattie, ‘He’s so good at doing that, makes it look easy.’
Hattie nodded. ‘He loves it. Stick a mic in his hand and he’s away. When we first met, he ran a mobile disco.’
‘And does the fact that you’re both here tonight mean you’re back together?’
She grinned. ‘People keep asking me that. They’re all expecting it, but it isn’t going to happen.
We had a go at being married and it didn’t work out.
The last thing I want to do is mess things up again.
Guy’s fantastic company and we spend a lot of time together, but that’s as far as it goes. We’re better off as friends.’
‘He’s crazy about you, though. I was watching him earlier. His face lights up every time he looks at you.’
‘Only because he wants me and can’t have me.’ Hattie lowered her voice. ‘The thing is, I’ve never had the upper hand before. And now that I do have it, I’ve discovered I like it. So no, there’s no way I’m going to give that up.’
They both watched as Guy, now joined by Jamie and Sadie as well as a gaggle of boisterous England rugby players, began noisily counting down to the end of the online auction.
‘You recommend it then?’ Molly raised her voice to be heard above the escalating roar of the countdown. ‘Right, sounds like a plan. I’m going to do it too.’
Back from the bar with fresh drinks, Andy said, ‘Do what? To who?’
‘Men. Treat ’em mean, keep ’em keen, and whatever happens, don’t sleep with them. It’s the way forward,’ she told him with an angelic smile.
Hattie high-fived her. ‘Works for me.’