Page 4 of The One That Got Away

I definitely wasn’t gonna tell him it was just before midnight.

‘I had stuff to catch up on. That’s what happens when I’m away from the office. The work piles up and it’s not gonna get done by itself.’

‘That’s why you have staff. Like I keep saying, you need to delegate more. Then you’d have time to get a hobby. And a life. All this working isn’t healthy.’

‘I am healthy. And I already have a hobby: I go to the gym.’

‘Yeah, the one you had built here in this office building. I’m talking about a hobbyoutsideof these four walls. Apart from coming to my place, I can’t remember you going somewhere that wasn’t work-related. When was the last time you had fun, took a holiday ordated?’

‘Not this again,’ I sighed and undid the top button of my crisp white shirt. It had suddenly got hot in here. ‘I don’t have time.’

‘You do and you know it.’

‘I’m running a business. I owe it to Mum to make it a success.’

‘It already is. She would’ve been so proud of what you’ve achieved. Everything’s running well here. You don’t have to work twenty-four seven any more. Take a break. You haven’t had a proper holiday in years.’

‘Er,hello! I was in Spain just last week! That’s how I brought you the stuff you’re holding right now.’

‘That was forbusiness. I’m talking about a holiday forpleasure. Remember that word?’

‘Course I do.’

I didn’t. He was right. It’d been a while.

‘Come on! Just one dating app. That’s all I’m suggesting. Or I can ask Natalie to set you up with one of her single friends. Just dosomething!’

‘I already signed up to that stupid hotel thing after you blackmailed me. And look how that turned out. Waste of money.’

‘It’s only been two months. There’s still time.’

‘Yeah, right.’ I rolled my eyes. ‘Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Not everyone wants the whole marriage and kids thing. I’m happy that works for you, but that life isn’t for me.’

Colton and I had been friends since we were teenagers and for as long as I remembered, he’d always wanted that lifestyle. It suited him too.

One Sunday morning he’d invited me around to his place for breakfast. When I arrived, he was sitting around the table with Natalie and Betty, laughing and joking. They looked like they were starring in a TV commercial advertising the perfect family life. And I told them so.

He’d wrongly assumed that my comment meant I wanted the same thing and before I knew it, Natalie had whipped out an article from one of the Sunday newspaper supplements, gushing about some place called The Love Hotel. Minutes later, the website was on their iPad and they were signing me up.

There was still a chance I could’ve backed out, but then they used the ultimate low blow tactic: their adorable six-year-old daughter, Betty.

They asked her if she thought I’d make a good dad and she said in her cute voice, ‘Uncle Max would be thebestdaddy!’

‘So do you think he should go to the lovely hotel in the sunshine and find a nice lady to marry so he can be happy and make babies?’ they’d asked her.

I immediately wanted to object and remind them that this wasn’t the dark ages and people didn’t have to get married and have kids to be happy. I wanted to say that joy came in many forms and that I was just fine with my bachelor life, but I didn’t get the chance.

‘Yes!’ Betty had cheered, flashing her toothy grin then throwing her arms around me.

I was only human. How was I supposed to say no to that?

Less than thirty seconds later, I was handing over my credit card and it was too late to go back.

But that was months ago and we hadn’t heard a bean. Other than the automated email to say they’d got my details and would be in touch.

If it meant I got Colton off my back about finding a girlfriend, it almost would’ve been worth paying the hefty one thousand pounds deposit, but that was wishful thinking because here we were again, having the same conversation about my non-existent love life.

‘It’s still early days. They keep your details on file indefinitely until they find you a match that they know you’ll be perfect for.’

---