Chapter 43
‘Ben’s heard from that girl he bought the clothes from,’ said Taz, through a mouthful of cheese and pickle sandwich.
Several of his workmates looked up from their lunch and ooohed as Ben looked at Taz crossly. ‘I told you not to say anything. And anyway, we’re not going on a date.’
‘Oh dear God, here we go again,’ said Vick, rolling her eyes and leaning over to grab the salt. ‘This is all feeling very déjà vu.’
‘Seriously, it’s not a date – she’s messaged me to ask if I’ll introduce her to the owner of the gallery.’
‘What, the time you went out for a date that wasn’t a date?’ Taz teased.
‘And didn’t contact her afterwards,’ said Vick, less teasing, more accusing.
‘I’ve told you, she’s got a boyfriend.’ Ben was really quite bored of having to go through all this again.
‘That you don’t actually know is her boyfriend,’ Dean pointed out, much to Ben’s surprise, as he could normally rely on Dean not to get involved.
‘She said this person wasn’t expecting her home till later!’
‘They could be anyone, mate,’ said Taz. ‘And you told us you didn’t even hear her properly.’
‘And then you didn’t get in touch to say you’d had a good time.
You could have asked her if she a boyfriend outright.
But no, you just ignored her. So rude!’ Vick was getting into her stride now.
‘And now she’s been in touch – despite you ghosting her – and has suggested a valid reason to see each other so you don’t freak out. It obvious.’
Ben opened his mouth to say something about it not being at all obvious, but before he could mount a defence, Taz had waded in.
‘She messaged you this morning. Have you replied yet?’
Ben looked sheepish.
‘Oh my days, man – she’s had the guts to message you and you haven’t even bothered to reply! No wonder you’re single.’ Taz shook his head, disappointed.
‘You’ve got ten minutes before we have to be back on parade. Do it now,’ Vick said in a gentler voice.
She and Taz were really working the good firefighter/bad firefighter routine today, thought Ben ruefully. But they were right.
Or were they?
‘What if…’ he hesitated.
But Vick fixed him with a firm stare. ‘Go. Now. Be brave.’
Her words struck a chord. It was what he’d written in his last note to 38. And he’d also said he should take his own advice.
He stood up to a round of applause and headed to the lockers to find his phone. Five minutes later he was back at the table.
‘Well?’ Vick asked.
‘Done.’ Ben smiled. ‘Eight-thirty on Friday, same place as before.’
Taz clapped him on the back. ‘See. How easy was that? Now let’s go. Parade then the gym, and I’ll race you on the treadmill!’
‘Ah, it’s so sweet watching you two compete for second place.’ Vick threw them a condescending smile as she walked out of the mess. ‘Come on, Dean, you can hold my towel.’