Page 93 of The Gin Lover's Guide to Dating

After what feels like an inordinate amount of time spent fearing for this man’s safety and sanity, the woman eventually pays up and drags him off to what I can only assume is her lair.

I spend the rest of the evening wondering what became of the poor bloke, and whether, once out in the open, he was able to make a successful bid for freedom.

This week I’m making two recommendations – one for each scenario. If you believe he got away, toast him with a Raspberry Gin Bellini (a lively, fizzing combination of champagne, raspberry gin liqueur, a dash of lemon juice and fresh raspberries), and if you think he was a goner at the hands of this predator, please raise a Black Widow (a dark, mildly foreboding mix of gin, fresh blackberries, basil leaves, fresh lime juice and agave nectar) to his memory.

As usual, featured cocktail recipes are below. Looking forward to your verdicts!

‘Hola, Chica. You are good?’ Reyes greets me with her usual European-style kisses as I enter the bar the next afternoon at 5 p.m.

‘I’m great actually.’ I give her a big smile.

‘What is this?’ Reyes cocks her head to one side curiously. ‘I am seeing different chica today.’

‘I think you are,’ I agree. ‘For the first time in months…no… make that years, I feel genuinely content and free.’

‘Dios mio!’ Reyes pretends to faint. ‘I am not knowing this chica at all. Where is Liv? What you do with her?’

‘Very funny.’ I laugh, giving her a playful nudge. ‘I’m serious. I feel like everything is going well again. Better, in fact, than it was before I lost my job.’

‘I am very happy that this is true.’ Reyes starts to empty the glass washer, and I pitch in to help. ‘But you must tell me, why you are thinking this?’

‘For lots of reasons.’ I shrug. ‘I feel like I’m being myself again for a start. My blog has really taken off – I have over twelve and a half thousand subscribers now – and I’m starting to make some money from it—’

‘Chica, this is amazing! Come to me.’ Reyes puts away the glass she’s holding, and gives me a huge hug. ‘I am subscribing, and I read your new post this morning. It is so much fun. And so real. That chica last night, she is…wow!I never see anything like this.’

‘Me neither.’ I shake my head at the memory. ‘I’ve seen her in here before, with friends or colleagues, but never with a man.’

‘I am very hoping that this man is still living.’

‘Me too.’ I giggle.

Reyes stops what she’s doing and looks at me. ‘I am thinking this is not all. You areverydifferent chica today. There is more with Josh, or your online hombre?’

‘Actually, yes.’ I nod slowly, weighing up how much to share. ‘Not with Josh though. With Graham. Last night—’

‘You meet him?’ Reyes interrupts me with wide eyes. ‘Dios mio – again! I say you meet him only with me and Dylan. What you are thinking?’

‘I didn’t meet him. Calm yourself.’ I shake my head at my friend. ‘I just had a really… enlightening conversation with him. One that made me realise two things: he’s bloody incredible, so I need to meet him soon or I’ll explode; and that I’ve been really shit to myself.’

‘I tell you this.’ Reyes shrugs. ‘Why this is news?’

‘No, you don’t get it.’ I suddenly feel almost wired with exhilaration. ‘He helped me see things in a way that no one else ever has. And he’s helping me make peace with things I’ve never shared with anyone. I mean, it will take a while, but I’m on my way – and that feels good. We were chatting again this morning, and I just felt such a connection with him. He really understands me… gets what makes me tick.’

‘If this is true,’ says Reyes, ‘then you are right. You must meet this man. But what this is meaning for you and Josh?’

‘That I don’t know.’ A creeping sadness begins to smother my positivity. ‘I think Josh is amazing. He’s so loyal and affectionate – and the chemistry between us is explosive. The thought of ending things between us makes me a bit sick. I’ve got strong feelings for him, no doubt about that. It’s such a horrible dilemma. And it’s not fair to Josh – me being so divided. He deserves better.’

‘Unless he sees other chicas too?’ Reyes suggests.

‘Yeah, that would make it all totally fine.’ I let out a weak laugh. ‘And for all I know, he might be. But from his actions, I suspect not.’

‘I tell you this.’ Reyes puts her hands on her hips, signalling that she’s about to make an important point. ‘I am thinking you must not end with Josh until you know who this Graham really is. If Graham is not what you have in your mind, and you are realising Josh is more than you think, then if you are losing him, this will be very bad. Youcomprende?’

‘I comprende.’ I nod apprehensively.

As we’re chatting away easily, preparing for the busy evening ahead, Amir enters the bar, looking uncharacteristically troubled.

‘Hola, little man. Why you are looking so…’ Reyes searches for the right word.

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