Page 15 of Wish You Weren't Here
‘Oh,’ I say, caught off guard.
‘Like a date?’ Molly chimes in, giving away that she’s been listening this whole time.
Faye’s head snaps up so fast I’m surprised she doesn’t get whiplash.
‘Well, yeah,’ Steve says, glancing at her before looking back at me. ‘What do you reckon, Lana?’
Oh, boy. Steve and I have always got along, and sure, he’s been a bit flirty now and then, but I never thought he’d actually ask me out. It’s typical, isn’t it? As soon as I find someone I really like, someone else comes knocking.
‘Thanks for asking, Steve,’ I say, giving him a soft smile. ‘Ordinarily, I’d love to, but… I’m sort of seeing someone.’
His expression shifts for a moment, disappointment flashing across his face before he quickly covers it up with a smile.
‘No harm done,’ he says, waving a hand dismissively. ‘I totally get it. My problem has always been missing my window while I build up the courage.’
He stands up, his easy-going grin back in place.
‘Anyway, I’d better get back to work. Catch you later?’ he says.
‘Yeah, catch you later,’ I reply, watching as he walks away, cringing to myself because I do feel bad.
‘Wow, savage,’ Faye says.
‘What?’ I ask, turning to her, a little defensive.
‘There’s you, telling me off for not texting a guy back, and then you go and treat Steve super mean when he’s already keen,’ she says, shaking her head like I’m some kind of hypocrite.
‘I really am seeing someone,’ I insist, not liking the way she’s looking at me.
‘Well, you weren’t yesterday,’ Molly chimes in. ‘Everyone in the meeting was talking about their Valentine’s Day plans, and you kept your head down.’
I pause, realising she’s right, but yesterday I didn’t have a date at that point.
‘It’s early days,’ I tell them, my voice firm. They’re both looking at me like they don’t believe a word I’m saying, but I don’t care. Let them think what they want. I would rather it was true and they didn’t believe me, than have them be super jealous about something I had made up.
I’m really looking forward to tonight and that’s all that matters. I know that Ethan is real – unless I’m imagining him. Imagine if I’ve just conjured him up, desperately, in an attempt to feel like I’ve got the perfect guy. That would be a new low.
That’s the thing though, he is perfect. He really is.
And now I’m excited again.
6
Turning up for my date with my heart fluttering in that nervous-excited way is not something that I’m used to. Sure, sometimes I get first-date anxiety, but this is different. This is the kind of feeling that you only get before a second date, and only when the first date was really fucking good.
Ethan’s already there, waiting for me, leaning casually against a lamp post. He looks effortlessly handsome in dark jeans and a white shirt. His smile widens when he spots me, and I feel this warm, happy glow spread through me. It’s weird because even though I’m nervous, I’m so relaxed too – like just being around him makes everything better.
Honestly, I can hear myself, and I’m stunned. This isn’t me talking. I don’t say things like this.
‘Hey,’ he says, stepping forward to greet me, giving me a peck on the lips. ‘You look amazing.’
‘So do you,’ I reply, feeling almost shy to be in his eyeline, but also loving every second of it.
We start walking together, and I notice he’s leading me away from the usual bars and restaurants.
‘Where are we going?’ I ask, glancing up at him.
‘You’ll see,’ he says with a smile. ‘I thought you might appreciate something different.’
