Chapter 35
The phone buzzed next to him and Ben picked it up to see a message from Penny.
How was the date?
It was NOT a date.
Tetchy. I’m simply asking if you had a nice evening. And Evie wants to know if her makeover worked. So, how did it go????
I couldn’t get rid of the eyeshadow so had to rub it off with a tissue.
Don’t make me come over…
It was fine.
Okay, it was nice. I had fun. We had a drink. Satisfied?
Are you going to see her again?
I don’t know.
***
I think she’s got a boyfriend.
What do you mean *think*?
She said someone wouldn’t be expecting her home till later.
Flatmate?
I don’t know. She didn’t mention sharing with anyone.
Just ask her out again. If she does have a boyfriend then she can say no, or it might be a flatmate and she’ll say yes and you can go another date.
For the last time, it wasn’t a date.
Whatevs
Knowing it was pointless trying to have the last word with Penny, Ben turned off his phone and threw it on the sofa.
He leant back, his hands behind his head.
He’d had fun last night. Jenni was good company, and as they’d stood on the roof, he’d felt a moment of pure calm that he hadn’t felt for years.
When they’d gone back to the bar, she’d made him laugh, telling him stories of her boss.
He thought she’d enjoyed it too. But her comment on the roof had thrown him.
If she had a boyfriend, why hadn’t she mentioned it when they’d met at the café?
He turned his phone back on and glanced at the time. He needed to get a move on, he had to be at the station in half an hour.
He may not have all the facts, but one thing he knew for certain, if Jenni was in a relationship he couldn’t get involved.
Grabbing his backpack, he headed to work.