Page 74 of Fast Forward

“I am, but I won’t be forever. I’m thinking of starting up a homewares design company.” I smiled, the more I told people about this the more excitement surged within. “Except, I know nothing about business, I’m only good for the creative side, so I’ll need advice on all the other aspects of owning and running a business.”

“Then I’m your man,” he said, and his face flushed to match my dress, no doubt realising the possible double meaning of his words.

“I’m sure you are,” I replied softly. “Do you have a business card?”

Will’s eyes lit up, his fingers diving into his shirt pocket. “Sure do. Didn’t think I’d need these tonight, so I’m glad I brought them.”

He handed me his card, which had the same photo that was on his Facebook profile and included his office address, phone number and email address. “Thanks,” I said, unclipping my evening bag and dropping the card inside, then closing the bag with a pop.

“Well, I wish you all the best with your idea, it sounds great to me. I remember you were always good with art at school.”

“You do?” He did?

“Yeah, remember that mural all the students had to contribute to on the brick wall outside the library? You painted that little worm reading a book and he had these big googly eyes.” Will’s fingers circled around his own eyes and I withheld a giggle at the memory of our night at the fun fair with his novelty sunglasses.

“Ah yes, the bookworm.” I nodded, then struck with an idea, I opened my bag and retrieved my phone.

“You’re not doing the ‘I’ve got to take this call’ thing that Cody suggested, are you?”

“Huh? Oh no, of course not! Sorry, I’m jotting down an idea for a product. Since deciding to start this business I’ve been getting ideas at the most inconvenient times and if I don’t note them down I’m scared I’ll forget!” I jabbed at the keyboard on my phone. “Done.”

“It’s okay, I understand. So what’s the idea?”

Wow, he really was interested in what I had to say and he hadn’t even looked at my chest. His eyes fixed on mine. Unlike Cody whose eyes had done the usual ‘Going Down’ elevator trip, getting stuck on the way back up at the seventh floor instead of tenth where my eyes were.

I leaned forward, enthusiasm overtaking my body. “Well, when you mentioned the bookworm, I got this image in my mind of a bookcase, but one that’s shaped like a worm, kind of long and curvy and you attach it to the wall and it has individual slots for each book, so it kind of looks like a domino effect, with the books following the curve of the design. Make sense?” Sensing a lack of oxygen from my verbal dump, I drew in a deep breath.

“Sounds fantastic! You could simply call it The Bookworm.”

“I could. Oh, and it would look great attached to a wall beside a staircase, it could slant upwards along with the stairs.”

“Well, I’d buy one, definitely,” Will said with a smile.

I smiled back and tucked a non-existent strand of hair behind my ear. “So, are you married? Have any kids?”

“Nope. Not at this stage, but I’d like to.”

“Me too.”

“You would?” His eyebrows rose. “I didn’t pick you as the marriage and kids type. Guess I was wrong.”

“There’s a lot about me that would surprise you, Will.”

“Yeah? Like what?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.

“Um…” I looked at the crumpled Post-it note in my hand and smiled. “Do you have a pen?”

“Do I ever,” Will replied, his fingers diving into his shirt pocket again. “Red, blue, or black?”

“Surprise me.” I smiled.

He handed me a red pen. “To match your dress.”

I leaned on the drinks table and placed a cross through the c and the k at the end of the work Kick, replacing them with ss. Then I stuck the Post-it note that now read, Kiss Me, on the left side of my chest, slightly lower in position than my name tag and waited patiently for Will’s reaction.

His eyes practically popped from their sockets, resembling the bookworm I’d painted in the school mural. “Are you serious?”

“I’ve never been more serious in all my life.”

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