Page 28 of Summer at Croftwood Cinema
‘So you didn’t fancy being a projectionist as a career? You seem to love doing it.’
‘No, it’s terrible money and terrible hours and even back in the day, in the big cinemas things were very automated compared to the Film Society set-up. Takes all the fun out of it. I prefer it as a hobby, then I get the best of both worlds.’
They finished off the bottle of wine and then ordered coffee. Patsy suddenly noticed that they were the only ones left in the restaurant and pulled out her phone to check the time.
‘Shit, I’ve missed the last bus.’
‘Don’t worry, we can sort out a taxi.’
A taxi back to Croftwood would be at least thirty pounds. Thirty pounds that Patsy didn’t have to spare, especially once she’d split the bill for dinner with Ed.
‘I might see if I can crash at Oliver’s.’ That was the last thing she wanted to do, rock up at his and Amy’s late on a Friday night but she might not have any choice.
‘If you don’t want to get a taxi, you can stay at mine. Not like that,’ he added hurriedly. ‘I mean, I can sleep on the sofa.’
‘It’s a tight time of the month, that’s all, so a taxi isn’t in my budget. I’m happy to sleep on your sofa, if you’re sure you don’t mind?’
‘Look, just so you know my intentions are completely honourable, I can pay for you to get home. And for dinner, I was going to pay for that anyway, obviously.’
‘No way. Splits on the dinner and thanks for the offer of the taxi but I’d rather not waste anyone’s thirty quid on a taxi when I should have been keeping an eye on the time.’
‘I take it as a compliment that you didn’t notice the time,’ said Ed softly, taking her hand across the table.
She smiled coquettishly at him, the wine weaving its magic and making her feel bolder than she would normally. ‘It hasn’t happened to me before, so take that as you wish.’
Ed asked for the bill and handed over his card before Patsy could object.
‘Please. Let me,’ he said.
‘Thanks.’
They left the restaurant and walked, holding hands, both hardly able to take their eyes off each other. Patsy loved the way he looked at her. His face was so open and friendly but she could see more than that in his eyes. She could see that he felt exactly the same way as her and that was why she’d agreed to spending the night, even if it was on the sofa.
‘Where do you live?’
‘Barbourne. I should warn you I have a housemate.’
‘A housemate that comes with a warning is interesting.’
‘Hmm. Well, you’ll see.’
They walked down Castle Street towards the racecourse and then along Severn Terrace. It made for a nicer walk home than along the main roads.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever walked along here before,’ said Patsy. ‘I bet it’s gorgeous in the summer.’
‘It is,’ agreed Ed. ‘Less so when it’s flooded. It was pretty bad this winter. It takes me ages to walk through town to get to work if these paths are closed.’
Ed’s house backed onto the river where the racecourse met Gheluvelt Park. It was fairly elevated so probably a safe distance from any flood risk.
‘Blimey, this is lovely,’ said Patsy, looking out of the window at the terrace which led down to the river. She could see a string of lights on the fence at the bottom which were reflected in the water. It was modern and furnished as if it were an Ikea showroom. Not at all what she’d expected for a man living alone. She spotted sage green subway tiles in the kitchen which made her the tiniest bit jealous.
‘Thanks. My sister-in-law insisted on taking me to Ikea. Obviously if it was left to me I’d have skipped on the cushions and rugs and stuff.’
‘That’s the only thing that saves it from being a total man cave.’
‘Oh, don’t worry. Andy, my housemate does the best he can to keep up the man cave side of things. Do you fancy a nightcap?’ he asked as he took her coat, hanging it on a hook in the hallway.
‘That’d be lovely,’ she said, wandering over to the sofa, a deep-seated affair which was begging her to grab a throw off the back and snuggle herself into it’s roomy corner.
