Page 22 of The Wedding Game

‘Might be a good idea,’ I say, mock-seductively.

A waitress takes our drinks order, although we’ve not looked at a wine list yet, and so I suggest a bottle of house red and Josh agrees.

‘Did youhonestlythink I wasn’t going to turn up?’ I ask.

‘I don’t know,’ he replies. ‘I’m glad you did, though.’

I’m starting to feel more curious about Josh and ask him, ‘When did you last go on a date?’

He pauses, and his gaze moves gently to the side as he works it out. ‘A proper one? Like this?’

I nod.

‘Maybe two years ago.’

‘Twoyears…? You’re joking? Have you just been released from prison or are you freshly divorced?’

‘No,’ he answers, laughing. ‘Neither of those things. Do I look like enough of a bad boy to have been incarcerated? I’m not sure how to take that,’ he says with a shocked grin.

‘Why so long, then?’ I ask.

‘I’ve dated – sort of – but I’m so busy with work and life and … all that stuff. You know?’

No, I think. IwishI was so busy with work that I’d lost the ability to date. I’ve dated a bit since my last disaster of a relationship. A swipe here and a swipe there. But it’s been one and done, with each of them. Soulless guys in soulless bars. All of them combine into one immemorable man – the cut-out-and-keep proverbial bad date.

The waitress saves me, returning to take our order. We both opt for fried courgette with flaked truffle to start, followed by roast beef.

‘Is it boring that we’re both having the same thing?’ he asks.

‘Nope. It means we’re in sync, food-wise,’ I say and lift my glass of wine. ‘We’ll have to choose different puddings, though.’

‘Cheers,’ Josh says and we clink glasses. ‘I thought aroast dinner was probably an OK suggestion for a Sunday, especially given it’s not too hot out there. Sort of autumnal enough today, now it’s almost September, to get away with being indoors for lunch.’

‘You know summer’s over when there are no more weddings. Well, for now,’ I say.

‘Have you had a lot?’

‘Too many. It’s all got very expensive. But I am seeing a lot of the UK.’ I tell him about Scarlet and me being each other’s plus-ones throughout the wedding season last year, and again this year. ‘They all sort of merge into one. Hence why we initiated the bingo game.’

I watch Josh smile, dip his gaze down and then back up to me again. ‘Oh yeah,’ he says slowly, softly. ‘The bingo game. I must admit that worked out well for me.’

‘I didn’t do too badly out of it, either,’ I say as our starters are placed in front of us. ‘Although it is all a bit upside down, this way round, isn’t it? Kissing first and then going on a date.’

‘Do you know,’ Josh says, ‘I think everyone should kiss first, date after.’

‘Really?’ I ask, my fork halfway to my mouth.

‘Hear me out,’ he continues. ‘If you and I hadn’t kissed, we wouldn’t be here right now, would we?’

‘We might,’ I say. ‘You asked me to dance, remember. If I hadn’t had to rush off to hand someone a drink, who knows where that might have led.’

He looks at me as if he’s not quite sure what I’m insinuating. Am I being suggestive? Is he? I quite like this.

‘You tried to turn me down?’ he says. It’s a question, not a statement. ‘Don’t think I didn’t notice. You didn’t initially want to dance with me, but youdidwant to kiss me?’ He draws out the next word: ‘In-ter-esting.’

‘Perhaps it was the dance that sealed the deal for the kiss?’ I suggest. ‘You asked so sweetly as well, but I’d already agreed to go back to the terrace with drinks for someone else. I left them standing alone for ages so that I could sway awkwardly with you.’

Josh laughs loudly.

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