Page 25 of Summer at Croftwood Cinema
Oliver looked thoughtful as he offered her his arm to link with. ‘I think Pats, that when it’s the right person, it doesn’t feel hard or weird. And if it is hard, you’d at least be thinking it was worth it, right? Maybe it’s not like us being nutters together but it has to be fun, otherwise what’s the point?’
‘That’s good advice, Ollie. Thanks.’ She failed to keep the surprise out of her voice but he looked pleased that he might have helped. ‘And obviously I mention it because it does seem a bit too hard with Ed at the moment. Maybe we’re only meant to be friends.’
‘You’ll figure it out. You’re just a bit out of practice.’ He stopped walking and took her hand. ‘Have a good time and maybe don’t think too hard about it.’
They were wise words. Perhaps being out of practice with romance meant that she was missing obvious cues from Ed, and maybe it was only a bit of fun and she was reading too much into it.
‘And if it doesn’t work out with Ed, there’s always Matt. He’s single.’
‘Sorry, I thought you said it was important to have fun.’
Oliver laughed, ‘You two are hilarious. If you stopped winding each other up you’d probably get on.’
‘No way,’ Patsy said shaking her head. ‘For all your excellent relationship advice, your matchmaking radar is way off.’
‘We’ll see.’
12
ON FRIDAY LUNCHTIME, Patsy and Oliver were both working. Her phone buzzed in her apron pocket and she pulled it out to check the message while she waited for some milk to steam. It was a text from Ed to say that he was at the cinema to carry on with his work. Despite her reservations about their fledging relationship, if that’s even what it was, her heart flipped in the same way it did every time she had any kind of contact with him. She finished serving her customer but had already started wondering whether to take a little picnic over to the cinema to share with Ed on her break.
‘That text was from Ed, judging by the look on your face,’ Oliver said, laughing as he swept past her on his way to deliver a panini to one of the tables.
Patsy rolled her eyes. ‘He’s texting to say he’s working at the cinema this afternoon,’ she said when he came back to the counter.
‘Well, that’s handy. It’s your turn for a break. Why don’t you make some toasties and take some coffee and cake, make it a feast on the house. I know I said I’d pay him in beer but coffee will have to do for now.’
‘Thanks Ollie.’
‘I hope you’re taking a copy of the Gazette to show him.’
Patsy flicked him with her tea towel. The cinema story had made the front page of the Croftwood Gazette. Oliver had been thrilled at the publicity she’d managed to pull off but he also hadn’t stopped ribbing her about how it must have been a slow news week in Croftwood for her to have made the front page.
‘He’s already bought a copy.’ He had texted her a selfie of him next to it in the newsagents. Whether he had bought it or not, she didn’t know.
‘I bet he has. It’s not every day your girlfriend makes the front page of a tabloid.’
‘I’m not his girlfriend and you’re just jealous because you were too busy chatting to Matt to get in on the action.’
Oliver laughed good-naturedly. ‘Seriously, you look amazing in that picture. I hope he realises what a good thing he’s got with you.’
Patsy gathered up her food and coffee and headed over to the cinema. The blossom on the trees was in full bloom and her favourite tree in the park, the handkerchief tree, was putting on quite a display.
There were some builders around the outside of the cinema, still working on the back wall. Oliver had said it needed to be finished in one go to keep the building secure so they were working into the weekend. The front door was propped open so she went upstairs to the projection box and found Ed with his head in the projector, cleaning again.
‘Afternoon,’ he said, smiling at her as he put his cloth down and pulled out some wipes to clean his hands.
‘I’ve brought lunch. Shall we sit outside? It’s such a nice day.’
‘You’re a terrible distraction,’ he said, giving her a smile that made her blush. ‘I’ve only just got here.’
‘I know but I’ve got to get back to work in half an hour and then you can clean to your heart’s content.’
‘Well, I do want to be seen in public with the woman of the moment.’
‘Shut up!’ she said, secretly pleased that he’d acknowledged her brief media success.
They went out to the park and walked a little way away from the cinema where there was a sunny spot near a blossoming cherry tree.
