Page 24 of Swiping Right (and other disasters)

“Is this what dating is like now? After years in what I thought was a secure relationship it feels like I have to learn a whole new set of rules.” Kiera shovelled some sugar into her tea and stirred noisily.

“It’s definitely changed since I was first doing it,” said Seymour. “But some things remain the same – you have to talk to people, get to know them, be honest. There are just more ways of being in a relationship now than there used to be.”

“It’s boggling my tiny brain,” said Kiera. “I mean, you’ve seen the sort of dates I’ve had here. How am I ever supposed to find someone? I’m forty-one, miserable and seem to be cursed with Victorian ideas about dating.” She slumped her chin onto her hand.

“There’s nothing wrong with being forty-one.”

“How old are you?”

“Thirty.”

“Well, you can stay quiet – you’re still in the first flush of youth. And look at you here with Jack, with your café. It’s amazing.”

Seymour paused before speaking. “It may look like that. But I get lonely, too. Look at you, with the courage to get back on the horse...”

Kiera sniggered, “as it were...” They both laughed.

“Was it good?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” replied Kiera.

“You know exactly what I mean,” said Seymour, raising one eyebrow.

“Ok, yes. I mean, I can’t do the whole polyamory thing, but it was good.”

“So, you won’t see her again?”

“No, I don’t think so. Or at least, not like that. I’m very traditional and dull, really. I want to meet a lovely woman, move in with her and live happily ever after.”

“I think we all want a variation on that, really,” said Seymour. It seemed as if she was about to say something else, but the man Kiera had seen working there before burst in through the door.

“Oh hey,” he said, surprised to see Kiera.

“Hey, Jackers, this is Kiera, one of our best customers. She’s helping me test some new affogato flavour combinations.”

“Hi, Kiera,” said Jack, putting down the wholesaler bags he had carried in, full of essential supplies, no doubt.

“Hello. Right, thanks, to both of you. I really must be going.” Kiera stood up, not wanting to outstay her welcome. She met Seymour’s eye, and noticed the woman’s cheeks were a little pink. It was odd, as she seemed pretty unflappable. Kiera smiled at her, then left. She went back to her flat feeling significantly happier than she’d expected to.

Later that evening she received a text from Clodagh apologising again for the confusion and offering to meet up to talk if that might be helpful. Kiera thanked her for the message and said she would think about it. She switched off her phone and slept surprisingly well, all things considered.

Chapter Seventeen

Ayear earlier

Kiera walked past her old house most days, and noticed pink and purple silks had been hung at the windows. As the days went on, it increasingly resembled a hippy commune. One morning, as she was walking past, a woman came out in bare feet. She caught Kiera’s eye and flushed a deep red. She was wearing a long flowery dress and her billowing curly blonde hair was unbrushed. She stared at Kiera for a second or two more than was necessary.

“Can I help you?” asked Kiera in a sour voice she’d never heard come out of her mouth before. She regretted it the moment she said it, wishing instead she had reserved her resentment for her internal monologue, which was currently telling her to run away like a naughty child who’d been caught out.

“Um, no, I don’t think so,” said the woman. “You’re Kiera.”

“Correct.” Kiera had no idea where to take this next.

“I’m Athena.” Of course she was.

“Yes.” Kiera looked away, begging for a stray car to mow her down and remove her from the situation.

“I wanted to say how gracious you’ve been towards me,” said Athena, her hand reaching up to her unkempt hair.

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