Page 68 of The Best Book Boyfriend
“Yeah, pint, OK. I’ve got the book club that night, so maybe before. Or come along?”
“Ha, unlikely. I’ll swing by for a quick one after work, though.”
Work is a welcome distraction. I focus on staying busy. Each customer, each coffee, each refill of the beans. Concentrate on the work, take each hour as it comes, and push my feelings aside. Rob arrives at the same time as Kara, just after I’ve flipped the door sign toclosed. I let them in and feel a hot sensation at the back of my neck. I don’t want Kara to know it’s Heather’s birthday, and I don’t want Rob to know anything about Kara at all. The three of us stand there awkwardly until I break the silence
“Rob, this is Kara, who runs the book club,” I say, my eyes pleading with him to keep his mouth shut. “Kara, this is Rob, my oldest friend.”
“Nice to meet you, Rob,” she says, heading to the back of the cafe to shift furniture into position.
“Likewise, though I’m not that old,” he says with a wink that makes me want to punch him. It’s weird them being in the same room together.
“We’re just gonna grab a quick pint before book club. You OK on your own here for a bit? Katy will be back soon to handle drinks.”
She waves us off with a smile. “Sure, have fun.”
“She’s cute,” Rob says as soon as we’re out of the door, nudging me with his shoulder. “Have you fucked her yet?”
“Shhh.” I look back to make sure she didn’t hear him. “Don’t speak about her like that.” I haven’t told him about her birthday. If he knows we slept together he’ll think I’ve gotten the first time after Heather out of my system. He’ll want to go out on the pull with him, start setting me up on dates. I won’t be able to explain that I want that even less now.
“I think I might have matched with her on tinder, you know?”
“Please tell me you are joking.”
“Of course I am, mate, but come on, you should see your face. You’re clearly into her.”
“We’re just friends,” I insist.
“I don’t buy it. I don’t think you can be friends with women without wanting to get into their knickers.”
“Did you want to get into Heather’s?” I ask, my tone accusing.
“That’s different. She was yours, and she was something else.”
“Yeah, she really was.”
Chapter 29
Kara
Ihate,hate,hatedating. I’m trying my best, but I am over it.
“Have you ever killed an animal?” Ryan, 27, asked me last Thursday. When I shook my head and edged further away from him, he told me about a time he hit a badger and dragged it for miles down the road.
The son of another friend of Claude’s stood me up last Saturday. It was rude, but I didn’t care. I was grateful for a night in the bath with my book. As bad as those were, tonight’s date takes first prize.
Kara:This is the worst date I have ever been on.
Kara:I can’t believe you made me skip girls night for this.
Megan:What’s happened? Are you OK?
Kara:I’m in a taxi on my way home. Come over immediately and bring fish and chips.
I’m dumping kitchen paper, ketchup, and mayo onto the coffee table when Megan rings the bell.
“Just you?”
“Hattie is with someone. What happened?”
