Page 37 of Calling Frank O'Hare

Her lips parted. A little crease appeared on her perfect brow. ‘What?’

‘Did you find your friend with the top hat and tails? You were looking for her in our kitchen.’

‘Oh yes. That was ages ago. Fancy remembering that.’

‘It’s not a question I’m asked every day. Especially when I’m being asked by a beautiful woman.’ God almighty, did he just say that?

She did a little smirk and gazed straight into his eyes. ‘I suppose not.’

Frank was sure his knees were buckling. How could he come back from that look? But before he had a chance to, some guy had his arm around her. ‘Sorry pal, she’s taken.’ He had a cockney accent. Not what Frank was expecting. He’d thought she’d be with someone as posh as her.

He remembered golden rule number one, stay out of trouble. ‘No problem. We were just talking.’

She winked at him. ‘Catching up on old times.’

The cockney dragged her away and Frank went back to the others.

‘Boyfriend?’ said Adrian.

‘Yeah. I think she likes me though.’

‘Still a chance then. The Belfast lads have gone outside. Finn passed out. He likes a drink, doesn’t he?’

Finn was back in the land of the living when Frank found them, although he was raging drunk. ‘I love this place, FB. I’m gonna move over here. I’ve decided.’

‘I think your mammy will have something to say about that,’ said Martin. ‘Who was that girl you were talking to, Frank? Is she a student?’

‘Aye. I don’t know her really. We’ve just bumped into each other once or twice.’

‘Feck off. You fancy her,’ snorted Martin.

Frank shrugged, trying to play it cool. ‘Who wouldn’t?’ Of course he fancied her, but he didn’t want Martin to know how much he fancied her. Because if he knew, he’d be bound to make a play for her, just to prove he could.

‘I’ll tell Eve you’ve forgotten about her then, will I?’ said Billy.

Frank twisted round to face Billy. ‘Have you seen Eve?’

‘Aye, a few times.’

‘She stayed in Belfast then?’

‘Yeah. She’s at Queens.’

‘Does she ask about me?’

‘Now and then.’ Billy glanced over at Martin as he said it.

Martin’s eyes dropped to the ground. Frank put two and two together and turned on him. ‘You said you hadn’t seen Eve.’

Martin shoved his hands in his pockets. ‘I haven’t. Well, only a couple of times.’

The lying wee shite. Frank pushed him. ‘Are you going out with her?’

Martin steadied himself. ‘Fuck no.’

Billy laughed. ‘You really think Eve would go out with a loser like him? You’re soft in the head, FB.’

Frank gave Martin the narrow eye treatment. Billy was right, he was being soft. Martin might be good looking but he didn’t have a lot going on up top. Eve would never go with someone like him. ‘Next time either of you see her, give her my address and ask her to write to me.’

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