Chapter Eight
We’re at The Ghost – again. Well, there aren’t many other places to go (not where Mel gets free drinks) and I am actually obsessed with looking for my dream man, who I am starting to think I dreamt, because in hindsight he does seem a bit too perfect to be true. Actually, scratch that, if he was perfect then he would have been wearing a name badge.
Mel and Angie have gone to the toilets – no doubt to talk about me and how they’re going to get me a man tonight – so I’m currently on my own. When Mel said she was going to give me smoky eyes she wasn’t kidding, I look like a goth, and my lip stain is an intense shade of red, almost like blood, and it still feels so wet on my lips, I’m scared to touch it.
It’s absolutely packed in here tonight, and I don’t have much luck with getting served at the bar, so I’ve no choice but to order a drink from Tim, Angie’s husband – Angie’s husband and my ex.
‘Can I have a Kapop, please.’
‘What flavour, gorgeous?’ he asks.
‘Whatever the green one is, please.’ I remember my lips. ‘And a straw.’
Tim has been weirdly flirting with me ever since I got back. Only in a small way, and not with any sort of intention, I think it’s just the novelty of me being his ex and suddenly reappearing.
‘This is on me,’ Tim says as he hands me my drink, but before I have the chance to say anything he opens his mouth again. ‘Actually, I don’t get paid until the end of the month, but I’ll give you the money for it then.’
‘It’s fine,’ I say with a laugh, handing him some money.
‘So, you got dumped, eh?’
Wow, good news travels fast. That must have come from Angie, who got it from Mel – I wonder how much my mum told them.
‘Bye, Tim,’ I tell him, grabbing my drink before wandering off through the crowd. No way am I going to sit here chatting to my ex about what a mess my love life is.
I take a sip and, oh my God, green flavour tastes like toxic waste. I cough and splutter, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, trying to stop myself from spewing out a cloud of Kapop like some kind of crappy fire eater.
I make my way across the dancefloor, waving through the crowd, clutching my drink carefully. I can see Mel and Angie at the other side of the room so I set off in their direction, only for someone to collide with me, knocking my bottle from my hand. I stumble, almost losing my balance, but a firm grip catches me by the hand, keeping me upright.
‘I’m so sorry–’ he begins, but his voice trails off. He looks at me, his eyes widening in recognition. I stare back, my heart skipping a beat as I realise who it is. Oh my God!
‘Si?’ I blurt, almost breathless.
I can’t believe it. It’s really him. It’s Si, my brother’s best friend. He still looks just as I remember, but even more handsome now that he’s matured. He’s in his forties now, with laugh lines around his piercing blue eyes, a bit of grey threading through his dark hair on the sides, and a rugged jawline that seems even more defined. He’s wearing a black jacket over a t-shirt, paired with jeans and trainers. Ugh, I’m still getting cool guy vibes from him, even now we’re grown up.
‘Leah! It’s so good to see you. I almost didn’t recognise you,’ he says, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
‘I could say the same about you,’ I reply. ‘You look great.’
He chuckles, looking down at his hands – suddenly his expression changes.
‘Oh, God. I’ve got blood on my hands,’ he says. ‘So do you. I think I cut you when I knocked your drink out of your hand.’
I glance down, noticing the red smears on both our hands. Panic flashes through me for a split second before I realise it’s my blood-red lip stain, which I must have accidentally smudged.
‘It’s just my lipstick,’ I quickly explain, laughing again. ‘Honestly, I’m fine.’
Si lets out a relieved sigh, then laughs with me.
‘Thank God, I thought I’d assaulted you,’ he replies. ‘I did spill your drink though. Let me buy you another one to replace it.’
‘That would be really nice,’ I say, smiling back at him.
As we walk to the bar together, I can’t help but feel a pang of excitement. Si is giving me attention, talking to me, buying me a drink. It feels like a dream come true. When I was younger, I had the biggest crush on him. He was always kind to me, making me laugh whenever he came over to hang out with my brother. Back then, I was just Rory’s annoying little sister, but Si never treated me like I was a pain.
‘What were you drinking?’ he asks. ‘What can I get you?’
‘I’ll have a green Kapop, please,’ I say, owning it.
He pulls a face at my request and laughs.
‘My God, I really am too old to be here,’ he jokes. ‘So, how have you been, Leah?’
I pause while Si orders our drinks.
‘I’ve been good,’ I reply, trying to sound cool and casual even though my heart is racing. ‘I just moved back here, actually. How about you?’
‘I’ve been alright. Keeping busy with work,’ he says, handing me my drink. ‘Wow, it’s really great to see you again. It makes me feel like I’m not a thousand years old.’
I laugh – I feel myself blush a little too.
‘Well, I was feeling old myself but, I guess you’ll always be older,’ I tease. ‘So, it’s great to see you too.’
‘Oof, shots fired,’ he replies. ‘You were a cheeky kid as well, I remember how funny you were.’
I smile, but before I have a chance to say anything Mel and Angie sweep past me like a hurricane, grabbing me and ushering me away from Si.
‘Back in a sec, babe,’ Mel tells him. ‘So, who the fuck is that?’ she asks as soon as we’re out of earshot.
‘That’s Si,’ I tell them. ‘We bumped into each other - literally.’
‘Do you know him?’ Angie asks.
‘Yeah, he’s an old friend,’ I reply. ‘He was my brother’s best mate, growing up – I’m not actually sure if they’re still friends, he never mentions him. But… yeah.’
‘Oh, you like him,’ Mel says with a knowing smile.
‘No, yeah, well, I mean… I used to,’ I babble. ‘He was my first crush.’
‘Is he not a bit old for you?’ Angie asks. ‘How old is he?’
We all glance over at him and he gives us a wave before pointing at the green Kapop still waiting for me on the bar.
‘He’s just buying me a drink, ladies. Chill out.’
I head back over to Si, flanked by my friends, and thank him again for my Kapop.
‘Listen,’ he says to the three of us, ‘I’m here with my mate and he’s boring me senseless. Do you girls want to join us for a chat?’
Oh, I would love to talk more with him, but I’m not sure I want to do it with an audience. Not if Mel is going to spend the whole time trying to get me to try to shag him.
‘I’ll tell you what,’ Mel pipes up. ‘We’ll go and talk to your friend, and leave you and Leah to catch up. How does that sound?’
Oh my God, I can’t believe she’s doing this. It’s so weird, he’s never going to say yes.
‘Yes,’ he says, almost instantly. ‘Okay. That’s him, over there, and he’s not used to talking to beautiful women, so cut him some slack.’
Mel practically giggles.
‘Great, you guys have fun,’ she tells us.
Mel gives me an encouraging wink as she walks off, whereas Angie gives me a disapproving shake of her head.
So, he’s a little bit older than me, he’s still gorgeous, and maybe it’s all the alcohol I’ve put away over the course of the day (it’s the pre-drinks that get you) but maybe spending a little time catching up with him wouldn’t be a terrible idea.
Si and I find a small, cosy table in the corner of the pub, away from the dancefloor, which is where most of the noise is coming from.
‘So, what have you been up to all these years, Si?’ I ask, taking a sip of my new drink. Oh, God, it’s like this one is more potent than the last.
‘Well, after uni, I started working for a law firm,’ he explains. ‘I worked in Leeds for a bit, before moving back out this way. I missed the sea, more than anything. What about you, Leah? You've grown up so much since I last saw you. What have you been doing with yourself?’
‘I lived in London for a while, working for a company that managed tours for musicians, festivals and things like that, but now I'm back,’ I reply, trying to keep my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach. ‘I missed the place too. It's been an adjustment, but it's nice to reconnect with old friends.’
He smiles.
‘Old friends, huh?’ he says with a laugh. ‘I’m not that old.’
‘You know what I mean,’ I remind him with a smile.
‘I remember when you used to follow me and your brother around,’ he reminds me. ‘You used to want to hang out with us, and he would always say no.’
I laugh, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.
‘Yeah, I guess that’s the age gap,’ I reply. ‘He didn’t want his annoying little sister hanging around.’
‘You weren’t annoying, you were cute,’ he replies. ‘I had a little brother – now those things are annoying.’
‘Older brothers aren’t much better,’ I reply. ‘Rory still annoys the hell out of me. I wish he ignored me now, to be honest.’
Si laughs.
‘It’s weird because I know it’s you but… I don’t know, I can’t get over the fact you’re this beautiful woman now.’
‘I see you’re still as charming as ever,’ I point out.
‘I know, I don’t understand how I’m still single,’ he jokes. ‘Well, single again – I haven’t been single all this time.’
I smile. It’s cute, to see him losing his cool a little.
‘I’m single too,’ I tell him. ‘People clearly have terrible taste.’
‘They really do,’ he says softly.
I feel my heart flutter at his words. I’m not sure what it is but there is something about him, something about the look in his eyes. I wish I could read his mind.
We chat away, about anything and everything, laughing together and drinking, as time ticks by. The bell rings for last orders and I can’t believe it’s that time already.
‘Wow, is it that late?’ I say. ‘This evening has flown.’
‘It really has,’ Si replies. ‘But I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you.’
Should I tell him? Again, maybe it’s the drink talking, but I think I should. I think he’ll find it funny.
‘You know, I had such a crush on you, when I was a teen,’ I confess. ‘If I’d known then that one day, when I was grown up, I’d be sitting in a pub with you, I think I may have burst into flames with excitement.’
Si laughs.
‘You had a crush on me? Really?’ he replies. ‘Wow, I never would have guessed.’
‘Well, there you go,’ I tell him.
‘I mean, I take no discomfort at all in telling you that the feeling wasn’t mutual back then, given that you were so much younger than me,’ he replies. ‘But, now… now you might have a shot, of me liking you back… if you still had a crush on me now, that is.’
It sounds like all of his drinks are talking too.
‘I might…’. I reply. ‘I’m still figuring it out.’
‘Maybe this will change your mind,’ he says.
Si takes my chin between his thumb and his index finger, gently pulling me close, before kissing me on the lips. It only lasts for a few seconds but… wow.
As he finally pulls back we realise everyone around us is heading out.
‘Do you want to share a taxi?’ he asks.
‘I, er…’
‘Leah, it’s kicking out time,’ Mel says, interrupting us.
‘Yeah, er… Give me a second, Si,’ I say, carefully pulling myself to my feet, walking off to one side with Mel and Angie.
‘He’s asked me if I want to share a taxi,’ I tell them.
‘To yours or to his?’ Mel checks.
‘He didn’t say,’ I reply.
‘He’ll mean to his,’ Angie points out. ‘He just kissed you – obviously he wants to go home with you.’
‘Well, my mum and dad are at my home,’ I remind her.
‘So, just say you want to go to his,’ she replies.
‘What do you think?’ Mel asks. ‘Are you into him?’
‘He’s nice,’ I say.
‘Yeah, but his friend is a fucking dick,’ Mel replies. ‘He’s all over me but he’s wearing a wedding ring. I might, though, if I were single. So, are you going to go with him?’
‘I don’t know, Mel.’ My head is spinning. ‘I know I need to get back on the horse at some point…’
‘And Si is the perfect guy to break you in,’ she replies.
‘You really are awful with expressions… and words in general,’ I dare to point out because I’m a bit drunk.
‘You’re welcome,’ she says, kissing me on the cheek. Then she beckons Si over with her hand. ‘Go with him.’
She hooks her arm with Angie’s before the two of them walk away.
‘Is she okay?’ he asks me with a laugh. ‘She seems fun.’
‘Oh, yeah, she was just going on about horses,’ I reply. ‘Your friend is lucky she has a boyfriend, I think she was eyeing him up.’
‘Yeah, well, my friend is in the middle of a messy divorce, that’s why I’m out with him, to cheer him up,’ he tells me. ‘So, I bet your friend will have done him the world of good.’
We’ll see.
‘So, do you want to go home together?’ he asks.
I guess we’ll see about that too.