Page 108 of The Gin Lover's Guide to Dating

‘Dylan, another pint, mate?’ he asks.

‘Nice one.’ Dylan offers a thumbs-up.

‘Liv? What are you having this time?’ Amir hands me the drinks menu.

‘I’m fine thanks, Amir.’ I hold up my drink. ‘Still on this one.’

‘You’ve got three mouthfuls left – at a push.’ Amir raises an eyebrow at me. ‘Come on, what are you having?’

‘Err… OK, just a mineral water then, thanks.’ I pretend to be writing something in my notepad. ‘Sparkling, with a wedge of lime.’

‘Liv, we can keep doing this for as long as you like,’ says Amir. ‘Or you can just accept a drink.’

‘You’ve already bought me a drink.’ I don’t look up.

‘And I’d like to buy you another one.’

‘Squirt, will you put the poor guy out of his misery and choose a proper drink,’ Dylan reprimands me.

I glance up. Seeing the pointed looks, I realise that there’s no getting out of this one.

‘OK, sorry. I’ll have a Bombay and tonic. Thanks, Amir.’

‘Why do you have to do that?’ Dylan rebukes me, as Amir heads to the bar. ‘You and your bloody pride. I thought you’d got past that.’

‘It’s not just about pride.’ I put my notepad and pen down on the mahogany table. ‘I just don’t want him spending lots of money on me. It’s not like he’s loaded.’

‘Has it dawned on you that maybe he feels partly responsible for the fact that you’re in the shitter financially?’ Dylan sinks the last of his pint. ‘He may not have had a choice, but hewasthe one who sacked you. Buying you drinks is probably his way of feeling better about that. Don’t take that away from him.’

I pause while I deliberate this. ‘I didn’t think about it like that. He totallyshouldn’tfeel that way, but if he does, then I guess I can understand why he’s overcompensating for it.’

‘You always get there in the end – eventually.’ Dylan gives me an affectionate nudge.

‘All right.’ I give him a warning look. ‘Don’t go taking the moral high ground. You’re still on shaky terrain for hiding your love affair with Reyes from me.’

‘That was ages ago now,’ Dylan complains. ‘You can’t hold that against me forever.’

‘Oh, I can.’ I smile sweetly at him. ‘And I will.’

Amir returns with the drinks, and we relax and enjoy a bit of banter together: discussing possible options for my next blog post. Once they’ve finished their pints, it’s time for them to go.

‘Join us after the footie?’ Dylan asks.

‘Yeah, sure.’ I nod. ‘That should give me long enough to get some good material. Thanks again for the drinks, Amir. It’s definitely easier to sit in a bar alone after a couple.’

‘Anytime, Liv.’ Amir gives me a mini salute, and then he and Dylan disappear out the door.

Moments after they have left, one of the bar staff approaches my table and sets down a drink on a napkin in front of me.

‘Gin and tonic, from the gentleman who just left.’ He smiles at me.

‘Sorry?’ I’m confused. ‘What gentleman?’

‘The one who was sitting at your table before – with the leather jacket.’

‘Amir, what are you like.’ I mutter under my breath, then thank the barman, who returns to the bar.

As I lift my drink and take a sip, I see that there’s a message scrawled on the napkin:Some company for you when we’re away? Enjoy. X

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