Chapter 7 #2
I think I do. He has a great smile, and I appreciate the way his biceps strain against the black shirt he’s wearing.
Karina always dates handsome men, and I’ve got to hand it to her, she’s chosen well for me with Jordan.
Plus, I’m already coming into tonight knowing from Karina that he’s funny and likes reading, and the main reason Karina and him didn’t work out was that he was about to go travelling for a year when they met and it was too soon to promise each other to wait which can hardly be seen as a flaw on his side.
I allow myself one little happy sigh at how well this has worked out, and another little happy sigh when he asks if I fancy a glass of champagne.
‘So who has Karina been set up with?’ Jordan asks after the waitress has come to take our order and flirt with him while barely looking at me. If I get what I asked for I’ll be amazed.
I try to read his expression, to work out if the question is loaded with left-over feelings on his part or jealousy that Karina has also been set up, but there’s nothing in the pleasant way he’s smiling at me that tells me his question is anything other than friendly curiosity.
I’m glad he’s asked about Karina. Better to get the ex-chat out of the way at the start of the night rather than let it hang over us.
‘Our friend Teddy has set her up with a guy called Matthew. They were meant to be meeting tonight, but Matthew remembered he’d made plans for a friend’s birthday, so they’ve decided to meet for brunch tomorrow instead.
’ Karina has taken the change in plans much better than I thought, but for someone so incredibly picky, it’s hardly the best of starts.
He might not know it, but Matthew is going to have to pull a blinder of a date out of the bag to have any chance of winning Karina over.
‘That’s good. I hope it goes well for her. She’s a nice girl. I’ve got to say I was surprised she rang me up out of the blue asking me if I’d like to meet you. I didn’t think I’d ever hear from her again once we split up.’
‘And are you glad she called?’ I ask before wincing, the question coming out as an obvious compliment-grab – far too close to Isaac’s am I what you thought? question on the worst date ever.
‘Of course. We ended on good terms, and honestly, I was flattered she thought of me. What single guy wouldn’t want to be called up to be handed a date with a girl someone thinks will be great for him?’
I smile, remembering how Elliot said almost the same thing when I first ran the idea past him.
He and Teddy will be well into their date now.
I hope it’s going better than both of them think it will.
With the setting up out of the way and the plan in action, I was determined not think about Teddy and Elliot’s date tonight and to focus only on my own.
But I can’t help wondering how it’s going, whether the golf has been a disaster or if it’s helped break the ice.
I keep thinking about how many silly jokes Elliot’s told, and if he’s managed to stay cool or got completely carried away with the game.
I’ve only played sport with Elliot one time, and it was doubles badminton in the sports hall at school on the last day of summer term, when a few of us snuck in instead of tidying up our classrooms like we were meant to.
Elliot and I were paired up together, and I saw a new side of him come out.
There was so much trash talk aimed at the other team and so many strategic instructions coming my way, I could barely concentrate on hitting the shuttlecock.
Much as my brain seems to want to stay on Teddy and Elliot’s date, I manage to push thoughts of them out, and I end up enjoying myself with Jordan so much the night slides by too quickly.
We talk a little about work with us both sharing our best anecdotes, me from school, him from the hospital where he works as a physiotherapist. We talk about places we’ve visited, where we grew up.
It’s all standard first-date stuff, but it’s fun.
Jordan’s a good listener, he’s warm and he laughs in all the right places.
He’s also attentive, ordering us new drinks whenever my glass is empty, offering to let me try his delicious-looking pizza without me needing to ask.
I’m amazed when we’re handed the bill, and I glance behind me to find the restaurant has almost emptied out.
Since the mug debacle, Jordan has eased into the evening and is now confident enough to call the waitress over and ask her to put the whole bill on his card.
I insist we split it, pretending not to be alarmed at the amount we’ve spent drinking champagne by the glass all night, and we stand up.
Before leaving my seat, I’d considered suggesting going on somewhere else for a nightcap, but the wooziness in my head and my unsteady legs change my mind for me.
It’s been a good evening. Jordan is sweet and every bit as lovely as Karina described him.
I’m clearheaded enough to know that it’s good to quit while you’re ahead.
The end of the meal is the right time to end the night.
Jordan must think the same, as he doesn’t mention going on anywhere.
‘Thanks for a great first date, Lizzie,’ he says once we’re outside again.
This time he bends forward and lightly kisses my cheek, his stubble grazing my skin.
He hovers for a few seconds before pulling back, and I wonder if he’s going to go for more.
I hold my breath, but he decides against it and steps back.
It’s the right end for the date – polite, sweet, just like he is – but I find myself wondering what it would have been like if he did kiss me properly and how his lips would have felt pressed against mine.
‘Thanks to you too,’ I say. ‘Would you, er, maybe want to meet up again some time?’
‘One hundred per cent I would.’
‘Great,’ I say, grinning.
‘Great.’ He grins right back. ‘And you’re fine getting home, are you? I can wait for a cab with you.’
‘No need,’ I tell him, touched by how considerate he is. ‘I live just round the corner, and there’s still plenty of people around. I’ll ring you soon, OK?’
‘Sure.’ He leans forward and kisses my cheek again, and we both laugh.
‘I’ve already done that, haven’t I?’ he says, his lovely smile crinkling the skin around his eyes.
‘Yep.’
‘Goodnight, Lizzie.’
‘Goodnight.’
I watch him walk away from me for a few seconds and am about to turn to walk home myself but remember the hello gift sitting on the floor under the table in the restaurant.
‘Sorry,’ I say as I approach the waitress who has been serving Jordan and ignoring me all night. ‘I’ve forgotten something. Do you mind?’ I’m about to walk past her back to the table, but she holds up the bag for me.
‘Looking for this?’
‘Yes. Thank you so much.’
She gives me a cold incline of her head and before shutting the door, I’m sure I hear her say ‘lucky cow’ underneath her breath.
It should offend me, but as I swing my gift bag in my hand on the short walk back to my flat, I find I couldn’t agree more with her.