Page 75 of The Gin Lover's Guide to Dating

‘You would not marry Josh?’ Reyes looks shocked and riveted. This takes me back fifteen or so years to my chemistry class, where my lab partner, Kyla and I, spent hours playing this game – to the severe detriment of our grades.

‘If I marry Josh, then I have to snog Amir,’ I say. ‘And I’m not sure I want to visualise that. As much as he’s a lovely guy, he’s firmly in the friend zone.’

‘And Josh is not a man that you can marriage?’ Reyes persists. ‘You tell me he is all these things, but he is not that?’

‘It’s just a bit early for that question, is it not?’ I laugh, but Reyes looks serious, so I try to give the question some proper thought. ‘At this stage, I’m not sure. He ticks most of the boxes, but…’

‘But, what?’

‘Well, we haven’t actually had much serious intelligent conversation. Don’t get me wrong, I like having a laugh and all, but it’s just daft chat and flirting. Not much sharp wit. I need someone I can have proper brain-stimulating conversations with as well. I’ve no idea about his values, his political views, what he wants from life…wow… I’ve actually only just realised all this.’

‘See, Chica!’ Reyes claps her hands together in delight. ‘This is good game. If you do not play, you are not having this thinking.’

‘I guess you’re right.’ I eye her curiously. ‘Is that why you suggested we do it?’

‘No.’ Reyes shakes her head resolutely. ‘I am not planning this. It is just… how do you say…’

‘A coincidence?’ I suggest.

‘Yes. Gracias. That is a word I am always having trouble with remembering.’

‘OK, now let’s do you now.’ I make a show of thinking up the options for Reyes. ‘Your choices are… also Amir… Piotr… and… Dylan.’

Reyes looks so serious in considering her options, I can’t help but laugh.

‘I am thinking,’ she says eventually. ‘That although Piotr is nice hombre and I am happy to be working with him, I must push him.’

‘OK. Interesting choice.’ I raise an eyebrow. ‘I thought it would have been Dylan for the chop straight off.’

‘Why are you thinking this?’ Reyes asks.

‘I just figured he might be a bit rough around the edges for you.’

‘Chica, no.’ She waggles her finger at me. ‘I am liking this about him. He is bad boy, yes?’

I look at her, perplexed. Having come from the background I’m told she has, I would expect Reyes’s taste to be a little more refined. ‘I… err… I guess so. I didn’t realise that was your type.’

‘Every chica likes a bad boy.’ She puts on a mischievous face.

‘I’d better keep you two apart then,’ I joke. ‘Because he’s got a thing for you too. And I’m sure your husband wouldn’t approve.’

Reyes puts on a face. ‘My husband, he is not—’

She’s interrupted as a customer signals for the bill, putting a stop to our chat. I busy myself emptying the glass washer, while Reyes completes the transaction.

‘I have decided,’ she announces, returning. ‘I am snogging Amir and marriaging Dylan.’

‘You’re going to marry the bad boy?’ I’m baffled by her choice once again.

‘Yes. I can see clearly that Dylan is bad boy and good hombre,’ she states this as if it is obvious. ‘He is what I think you call“for keeping”?’

‘A keeper. Yes, that’s right.’ I smile at her. ‘Well, I guess you’re probably right. He’s certainly got a good heart.’

Wait till I tell Dylan, I think to myself. He’ll love that little confidence boost. And he certainly needs one. I’ll just need to keep him on a tight leash to stop him sniffing around Reyes, and earning himself a black eye, or worse from her husband.

‘OK, one more time.’ Reyes waves to the remaining customers as they leave. ‘You have… Dylan… Piotr… and… ah, yes, Aaron.’

‘Oh man. That’s even tougher than the last one.’ I exhale loudly. ‘OK… Piotr’s off a cliff. I couldn’t do that to Dylan or Aaron – not after everything they’ve done for me…’

---