Page 83 of The Gin Lover's Guide to Dating

‘No.’ Alan shakes his head. ‘They even have the same tonic.’

‘You are magician.’ Reyes looks at him in awe, and for a moment I wonder if she’s going to follow up with the words ‘sexy Scotsman magician’, but thankfully, she doesn’t.

‘That’s what we do, isn’t it?’ I turn to Amir. ‘We have an assigned garnish for each of our gins. Maybe we need to be a bit more creative.’

‘Definitely,’ Amir agrees. ‘We can work through some new ideas back at the bar.’

As he says this, my mind automatically flits to GrahamLeeton’s comment that I can perhaps use some of what I’ve learned today in my blogging. Without thinking, I pull my phone out of my bag and illuminate the screen to see if he’s replied.

‘Who’s GrahamLeeton?’ Josh leans over and kisses my shoulder.

‘Oh… err… just a friend,’ I stammer, realising my error. ‘Someone I know from uni. We chat online from time to time.’

My eyes meet those of Reyes, who gives me a ‘busted’ look. I shake my head to signal that Josh didn’t actually see any of the message. Replacing my phone in my bag, more out of guilt than anything, I focus my full attention on him. Josh, apparently none the wiser, seems happy about this: obviously cheered by the fact that I’ve enjoyed having him along for the trip after all.

I feel immensely guilty, like a deceitful cheat. But how can it be cheating if Josh and I haven’t taken things to the next level yet – it still feels like we’re just casually dating. Anyway, I’ve never met GrahamLeeton, let alone touched him, kissed him or anything more. All we do is talk. Sure, I feel a connection with him, some sort of attachment; probably even fancy him – or the ideal of him I have in my mind. But it’s not like anything is ever going to happen. Not when I’m never likely to even meet him.

Chapter 23

‘I need to meet him.’

‘Huh?’ Dylan regards me absently. ‘You need to meet who?’

‘She is speaking about her online hombre.’ Reyes gives me a cheeky wink as she plonks our drinks in front of us.

It’s early evening, and while Josh and Amir have had to go back to work for the evening shift, myself and Reyes have taken advantage of our early finish from our gin distillery visit by heading through the now lashing rain, straight to the pub – our usual post-work haunt off Mayfield Road. Dylan, having found out via text that I’m with Reyes, has, in true stalker-style, turned up uninvited to salivate over her.

‘Her online what?’ Dylan looks confused.

‘Hombre.’ Reyes mouths this very slowly and clearly, as if this will help.

‘Like me, he doesn’t speak Spanish,’ I clarify. ‘Hombreis Spanish for man, Dylan.’

‘Right.’ Dylan nods easily. ‘Yeah, I knew that actually. Just didn’t get it because of the accent.’

‘Is that right?’ I raise an eyebrow at him, fully aware he’s just saying that to try and impress Reyes.

‘Yeah, it is actually.’ He shoots me a look. ‘Anyway, back toyourlimitations. So, you’re still two-timing Josh?’

‘Hey, I’m not two-timing anyone,’ I complain. ‘We’re not exclusive.’

‘Whatever. You keep telling yourself that.’ Dylan shakes his head at me. ‘I’d have thought you’d have canned the chat with your online stalker by now.’

‘He’s not a stalker.’ I huff, then mutter under my breath, ‘Not like some people I know.’

Dylan throws me another warning look, but Reyes doesn’t even register this frosty interchange.

‘Look.’ I exhale loudly, taking a slug from my gin and tonic. ‘I don’t mean any disrespect to Josh. He’s an amazing guy. He really is. I like him a lot, and I can almost see something long-term coming from what we have. But… there’s something missing. He doesn’t challenge me. I need him to stimulate my mind as well as…’

I trail off, realising that I can’t finish my sentence – not without sparking a domino effect, and I’m not in the mood for any smutty chat tonight.

‘Go on.’ Dylan looks amused.

Reyes also appears ready to pounce, sexual innuendos being something she is surprisingly alert to, given the other topics that go right over her head.

‘Stop it. Both of you,’ I complain. ‘I’m being serious. I need your help. Josh is a truly amazing guy. But there’s something there with GrahamLeeton too. I have a connection with him that I’ve never encountered with anyone else. He’s helping me to find the real me again.’

‘What do you mean, Chica?’ Reyes asks.

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