Page 72 of The Gin Lover's Guide to Dating

‘Thank you for keeping your promise last night,’ I murmur.

‘Of course,’ he replies gently. ‘Always.’

An hour or so later, when Josh has gone home to get ready for work, I log on to my admin page on my blog site to check my stats, and also to reply to the comments on my latest post. Though I can’t really face doing anything resembling work, it will at least distract me from how awful I feel.

It’s a good decision: I’m delighted to see that there’s been another jump in my subscriber levels, most likely from people sharing my latest piece, and I’m now edging towards to four and a half thousand. Feeling the need to share this news I tap out a text to Dylan that simply says ‘Approaching 4.5K!’ and hit send.

Next, I work my way through the comments in response to my second post. There are quite a lot more this time.

Magpie556:Full of the cold this week so tried the gin twist to see if it would help (like a gin version of a hot toddy). Still feel like crap today, but it was seriously tasty!

MissGinFizz:Glad you enjoyed it, Magpie556, even if it didn’t make you feel better. I can’t help wondering about your username. You don’t own 556 magpies, do you!?

AK1987:Ha! Love what these two women did. Cheating scumbags should all get this treatment. Wish I’d done the same with my ex when he ‘forgot’ he was in a relationship.

MissGinFizz:Sorry to hear you’ve had a similar experience, AK1987. Hopefully you’ll meet someone more deserving of you, if you haven’t already.

FinnBear:Wish I could pull two hot birds at once. Can’t help but salute this guy. LOL.

MissGinFizz:I can see by the response you’ve had from other readers on the site that your comment hasn’t gone down well, FinnBear. Each to their own I say, but if you’re having trouble ‘pulling’, then perhaps you might want to review your approach – and whom you choose to idolise.

SexySeventySeven:French 75 is my fave cocktail ever! Love your blog, MissGinFizz.

MissGinFizz:It’s one of my favourites too, SexySeventySeven. Try swapping the simple syrup for elderflower cordial for a slightly different flavour and experience. It’s delicious!

About two-thirds of the way through answering the comments, I come across a familiar username:

GrahamLeeton:Another captivating piece. You may have reduced the humour in this one and gone for more mystery, but it flowed perfectly and drew me in just as effectively as your last. You tell a great story in 500 words.

MissGinFizz:Well hello again, GrahamLeeton! Great to have your comments once more. You’re the only person on here who comments on my writing rather than what I write about. Are you a writer yourself?

I quickly move on to the next comments, responding to one after the next until I’m done. Just as I’m about to log off and shut down my laptop, I instinctively seek out the comment from the subscriber who goes by the name GrahamLeeton again. My mind wanders off into a daydream where he’s some hotshot magazine editor who becomes so enchanted by my blog that he simply has to have me work with him.

As I’m rereading his comment, I’m surprised to note that he’s already replied to my response.

GrahamLeeton:Let’s just say I have a keen interest in literature of all kinds. And I know talent when I see it.

I blink at the screen. What on earth does that mean? Whether he’s in the publishing industry or not, he’s certainly caught my attention. Impulsively, I tap out another response.

MissGinFizz:That’s very cryptic. Means you could be a million copy best-selling author, or you work in a bookshop…

I click the ‘post’ button, and my comment appears at the bottom of the emerging thread. I read it back, chuckling to myself as I do. This is actually quite fun. I wait a few minutes, but there’s no response. Mildly disappointed, I’m about to log out of my blog site, when another comment appears. It’s him again.

GrahamLeeton:Would you be disappointed if the bookshop option was right?

I cock my head to the side, contemplating his question. It’s a good one. Would I be disappointed? And if I was, would that make me shallow and snobbish? Or would it just mean I’ve been conditioned to look for the Hollywood-style happy ending in what is actually a rather ordinary world – one where Oscar-winning plots are definitely not the norm.

I compose and post my answer.

MissGinFizz:How is it that in a matter of three short exchanges you have me questioning my personal values? My answer is ‘no’, I wouldn’t be disappointed – at least that’s what I’d like it to be.

This time, his response is almost instant.

GrahamLeeton:I very much like your honesty, MissGinFizz. It would have been tempting to just go for the textbook answer there. :)

Who is this guy? He knows nothing about me, yet he’s managed to get under my skin in a matter of minutes. I start to construct a response, then delete it. Then do the same again. I’m frustrated at being tripped up. But the reason for my hesitation is clear: I’ve met my match.

After a few further attempts, I post my next comment.

---