Chapter Twenty-Three
Zola
Zola headed back to Cowcaddens that evening with an unsettled feeling lingering over her.
She understood that Ella had to finish the Alexander campaign and how important it was to the firm, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel guilty for another cancelled date with Alvaro.
As she tried to shake off the feeling, she found her fingers hovering over his unopened messages on Tinder.
He was due to be meeting ‘Bella’ in half an hour and Zola still hadn’t cancelled.
But she felt worse at the thought of Alvaro getting dressed up and heading to Ashton Lane only to be stood up.
Zola knew she would likely never cross paths with him and even reasoned that people ghosted dates on a regular basis, right?
But, at the same time, she felt sick about letting him down.
Zola spotted Curtis lying on the sofa as she crossed the road from the subway station to her flat.
She felt a large sigh come out of her when she saw him lying there, with a headset on, looking like an oversized child, gaming his life away.
Zola knew he’d want to spend another evening glued to the TV, while she’d be tidying up the mess he’d created in the flat throughout the day.
She put out her hand to open the door, then paused. She couldn’t.
Instead, Zola took a deep breath of bravery. She quickly sprinted away from the door, glancing over her shoulder to check that Curtis hadn’t seen her, but of course he was too fixated on the screen. Before she knew it, she’d hopped in a taxi and asked the driver to take her to Ashton Lane.
From the back seat of the taxi, Zola took out her phone and messaged Curtis.
I’m going out with the girls tonight. Don’t wait up x
Then, she opened Alvaro’s last message.
Hi, Bella. I am here? I will wait for you. X
Nausea struck Zola in an instant, and she lowered the cab window.
What am I doing? she wondered. But still, a spark of excitement ignited in her.
She wanted to meet Alvaro, apologise in person that Bella couldn’t make it, and do the right thing by him.
He was one of the good guys, after all. Surely he deserved an explanation and not to be left ghosted in a town he hardly knew?
Curtis: Sweet. Have fun x
Zola read his message and instantly closed it, feeling another pang of guilt. I’m not doing anything wrong , she told herself. This is the right thing to do.
The taxi pulled up at Byres Road, and Zola clicked on the ApplePay option to pay the cab driver.
She stepped out onto the street and skimmed over her clothes.
She was still wearing the mini skater skirt and V-neck jumper she had worn to work all day, along with a pair of Doc Martens.
She pulled down her jumper, pushed back her shoulders, then headed down to Ashton Lane.
Zola walked along the cobbles and under the picturesque twinkling fairy lights of Ashton Lane, glancing around the small groups of people enjoying the Scottish sunshine, until she clocked Alvaro.
He was also scanning the crowds, waiting hopefully for blonde Bella to join him for casual drinks.
Alvaro was wearing a pair of jeans, brown trainers and a cute cord blazer.
Zola approached him from behind, gently tapping on his shoulder.
‘Alvaro?’ she said.
The handsome Spaniard turned and smiled welcomingly at Zola, trying to figure out who she was. ‘Yes?’
Zola immediately blushed; she had imagined his voice so many times and it sounded even sweeter in person. He was gorgeous too, exactly as his photos suggested. With sun-kissed skin, dark brown hair and large eyes that looked just like Bambi’s.
‘My name is Zola. I’m friends with Bella,’ she began.
A look of confusion instantly washed over his face. His head tilted as she continued.
‘I work at the same marketing company as Bella, and she’s unable to make it tonight. I’m really sorry!’
Zola watched his welcoming smile fade. ‘Oh, I see. No Bella?’
Zola nodded. ‘No, Bella, I’m sorry.’
‘And she sent you? No message or anything?’ he asked, bringing out his phone to check up on Tinder.
‘She erm .?.?. she asked me to come and cancel in person. She was caught up, and she honestly felt too awful to cancel you again.’ Zola paused. ‘Look, I know she’s let you down several times, and she didn’t want you to think—’
‘That it was me?’ he interrupted.
Zola smiled widely at his innocently sensitive nature. ‘Well, yeah. Exactly.’
‘Ahh, I see.’ Alvaro eventually shrugged. ‘Well, thank you for coming to tell me .?.?.’
‘Zola,’ she clarified her name once more.
‘Zola,’ Alvaro repeated.
They gazed at one another for a few seconds until Zola was forced to look away.
‘Well, look, I better head then, Alvaro. It was really nice to meet you,’ she said, turning and taking a few steps.
‘Wait. Erm .?.?. Zola!’ Alvaro called softly. ‘You don’t fancy having a drink, do you? I mean, you could always tell Bella how great it was afterwards and make her eyes turn green?’
Zola started to giggle. His accent was so undeniably charming, and she felt herself swaying.
Well, she had told Curtis she was out with the girls, she thought.
And he’d ask too many questions if she came home early.
But was it wrong to have a drink with another man? Even if it was just to be polite?
After a slight delay, Zola finally answered, ‘I suppose I could have one drink?’
‘Agh. Perfecto.’ His face lit up. ‘Will we go here?’ Alvaro pointed to the Gardener bar, a pretty cocktail bar draped in ivy, which seemed lively. Zola watched groups of young students cackle outside on the terrace enjoying their cocktails together.
‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘Sure!’
Alvaro headed inside for a table and Zola followed, as he held the door open politely.
She glanced around, ensuring no one at the office was around.
You’re not doing anything wrong , she reminded herself.
Alvaro pointed to a small empty booth snug in the corner of the room, and together they weaved their way towards it.
‘What would you like to drink, Zola?’ he asked.
‘Erm .?.?. A vodka and diet Coke, please.’
As Alvaro went to the bar, Zola sat on the grey leather seat and felt her hands turn sweaty against it. She thought about Curtis alone at home and wondered how he’d feel if he knew where she was. A stab of anxiety pierced her heart and suddenly she stood up.
‘Hey! Hey! Where are you going?’ Alvaro asked, returning with the drinks.
‘Look, I’m sorry! It’s just .?.?. I have a fiancé, Alvaro. I probably shouldn’t be doing this,’ Zola admitted, completely panicking. It all came out before she could stop it.
Alvaro seemed deflated, yet sat down regardless. ‘Probably.’
‘It’s just that Ella told me all about you, and she showed me some of your messages. I suppose I thought you seemed genuine and like one of the last remaining good guys out there. I was curious. But now I’m here, this all seems wrong.’
‘Zola. You can’t have me getting abandoned twice in one night, eh? Look, it’s just a drink. Tell me about yourself.’
Zola hovered, hesitating.
Alvaro pushed her glass towards her. She glanced at his innocent face. She knew if she left now, it would ruin his night completely, plus Curtis would definitely think something was off. Eventually taking a seat again, Zola swigged some of the alcohol.
‘Well, what do you want to know?’
Alvaro shrugged. ‘Everything, I guess.’
*
Two hours later, Zola was laughing hard with Alvaro, feeling tipsily drunk.
They were enjoying a fantastic night, sharing one another’s dreams and ambitions for the future, even if she had to act at least slightly surprised when Alvaro repeated a lot of his from the messages he’d sent ‘Bella’.
Alvaro planned on graduating in Scotland and working here for a few more years before travelling the world, particularly Asia.
Zola shared that she wanted to launch her own online marketing and social media business, which would allow her to travel, read more, plus spend time with her loved ones back home in London.
She felt alive speaking so openly with someone equally as passionate about success and making something of their life.
With Curtis, Zola felt like she always had to dampen down her dreams or ambitions around him, as he seemed to lack any sort of drive himself.
Zola snorted with laughter at Alvaro’s encounters on the 240 bus, when he first arrived in Scotland; he told her how he’d been completely baffled at the accents and how he’d been witness to a knife fight following an old firm bust-up.
Zola also shared her thoughts about the people she’d encountered since relocating north of the border; ultimately, she said, she did love it here, but it did take a bit of readjusting.
As time passed far too quickly, Zola became aware of how much quieter the bar was becoming, and although it seemed inevitable that the night would have to end, she wasn’t ready to leave him just yet and so the pair carried on drinking.
But, eventually, the bell on the wall rang for last orders.
‘I’ve had so much fun tonight, you know,’ she admitted.
‘I did, also, Zola,’ Alvaro agreed. He opened his mouth to speak again, then stopped himself and shook his head.
‘What?’ Zola giggled. ‘Come on! What were you going to say?’
Alvaro laughed, looking flustered. ‘I was just going to say I’m glad Bella decided not to show. I know it sounds unkind, but I can’t imagine having this much fun with anyone else.’
Zola nodded. ‘I’m glad she didn’t show, too. Hey, it’s her loss!’
‘Drink up, people!’ the barmen called out loudly once more.
Alvaro groaned, stood up and put on his cord blazer. ‘Where to now?’ he asked.
Zola shook her head as she stood. ‘Well, I suppose I need to go home.’
Alvaro lightly brushed her hand. ‘And you have a boyfriend at home?’
Zola felt another gut punch. She nodded back, feeling slightly ashamed.
‘I understand why. You are the most beautiful woman in the whole of Glasgow that I have seen! It makes sense to me you have a boyfriend.’
Zola couldn’t help but smile, lapping up the compliment. Something about how he spoke English, with a few tiny idiosyncrasies, was even sweeter in person.
‘Well, there aren’t many Glaswegians who look like you either, sunshine.’ She winked playfully, returning the compliment, and they headed outside.
Ashton Lane was much quieter now, with only a couple of people staggering in the distance. Zola smiled at the twinkling strip of fairy lights above them, which seemed so much brighter now against the dark night sky, and together they strolled down the old, cobbled street.
‘I’ll flag down a taxi on the main street,’ Zola said.
‘Me too.’
They continued chatting before turning down the quiet alleyway between Ashton Lane and Byres Road. Suddenly, she felt Alvaro pull on her hand. Zola shut her eyes briefly, then opened them again. His hand felt soft, warm, gentle.
‘Zola,’ he said calmly.
She turned.
‘We have to see each other again, no?’ Alvaro’s hazel eyes were heavy and honest. There was no denying the sparks that flew between them.
Zola lowered her gaze to the ground. She knew she wanted to, but she also knew she couldn’t.
‘Alvaro, I can’t. I’m afraid that if we did, then .?.?.’
Alvaro pulled her closer to him, resting his forehead against hers.
She could feel the warmth of his body incredibly close.
He felt safe, good – and right. Zola’s eyes fell on his.
She felt his hand carefully touch her face, his eyes remaining locked on hers as he leaned forward, kissing her gently.
Zola froze. She couldn’t move. His soft lips broke away from hers, and she could feel adrenaline surge through her body, making her shake.
‘I’m sorry.’ He pulled away.
Zola wasn’t. She grabbed hold of his arm and dragged him back to her, kissing him more deeply.
She opened her mouth wider, allowing his tongue to caress hers.
It was the most passion she’d felt in years – the most excitement and lust. Alvaro’s hands skimmed down her body, brushing past her breasts in a way she found almost unbearably exciting.
She panted through the kissing, trembling at every touch he offered.
Zola pushed herself against him, urging him to continue as his bulge pressed between her legs.
Then she felt his fingers slowly travel up her thigh, beneath her skirt.
She parted her legs a fraction, wanting him to continue exploring her body.
With his other hand, Alvaro pushed Zola against the wall, pinning her into place.
Zola could feel every nerve in her clitoris pulse.
He tugged her underwear to the side, gently rubbing her clit.
‘Fuck, yes!’ she panted as he continued working her up, pushing his fingers in and out of her at the same time. He was kissing her in between moans, enjoying the moment just as much as her.
Zola briefly opened her eyes, examining the quiet lane; she could see people passing by on the main street, but never giving them a second glance.
There was something so thrilling about the risqué situation.
Alvaro licked and bit her neck, continuing to caress between her thighs.
More! she urged, not knowing if she spoke out loud.
She felt herself build up; warmth travelled all over her body, and with a groan of delight, Alvaro brought her to orgasm.
Panting and tingling, Zola momentarily rested her head on Alvaro’s shoulder, her whole body pulsating. It was amazing, exciting, like nothing she had ever done before. She almost wanted to laugh.
When she finally opened her eyes, he smiled back. But then a sudden rush of fear took over. What the fuck am I doing? Zola wondered. Alvaro removed his hand gently from her underwear and pressed his forehead against hers.
‘Good?’ he asked.
Zola could feel her heart quicken and stood up straight. She pushed past Alvaro and shook her head.
‘I shouldn’t have done that,’ she said, feeling her bottom lip quiver with a rush of regret.
‘What? Zola? Are you OK?’ he asked, looking confused while readjusting his erection in his tight jeans.
Zola just shook her head, almost imperceptibly, then kept walking quickly down the lane onto the main road.
‘Zola.’ Behind her, he picked up the pace.
‘Don’t fucking follow me, OK?’ Zola called back. She took out her phone and searched for a nearby Uber – two minutes away.
‘Zola!’ Alvaro said. ‘You can’t go? Not like this.’ His sweet voice sounded upset and entirely in disbelief at what she was doing.
But Zola ignored him and rushed to the next corner of the road. She crouched down on the kerbside, running her hands down her braids.
Why did I do that? she asked herself over and over. What the fuck?
The Uber driver pulled up, and Zola jumped in, speeding to Cowcaddens without a backwards glance.