Page 10 of The Midnight Book Club
“I’m not canceling.It’s too late now.”
“It’s only just five!Your text said to meet him at eight.”
“Exactly.Much too late to cancel.I’m sure he’s looking forward to it and you don’t want to disappoint him.”
“Seriously, David—I’m not ready to meet anyone right now.”
“As your oldest friend, I’m insisting that you go.One date.”
Aurelia pulled a face, trying to think of a way to get out of it.
“Look, it’s been a wild week—truly.The idea of going on a date right now—”
“It’s not just an idea, Aurelia.It’s happening.”
“How about next week instead?”
David said nothing, prompting her to add quietly, “Or never?”
“I heard that, and no.You’re going.”
“I’m sure he’s lovely, but—”
“He is.You’re going to like him, but even if you don’t, it’ll be good for you to get out again.Have some fun.Drink some wine.Snog a boy.”
“Oh, now we’re snogging?”
“Don’t scoff—he’s cute.You’ll want to snog him,” David said with what she just knew was a wicked smile, even if she couldn’t see it.“Meet the man for a drink and see where the night takes you.”
She looked around the shop, at the Recommended Reads table where she was sure she’d seen a man’s hand vaporize and reappear in the wee hours; at the mezzanine, where she’d peered down and been certain she’d seen people gathered in the shop late at night.Maybe getting out for a bit wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
“You’re really going to make me do this?”she asked, her resistance fading.
“I am.And you can thank me later,” David said, clearly pleased with himself.
“Fine,” she said on a dramatic sigh.
“And put in some effort,” he said bossily.“I’ve talked you up, so don’t go meeting him in a frumpy old jumper.”He paused, then added a little more gently, “It’s just a date, Aurelia.You’ll be fine.”
9
WhileAureliadidn’twantto doom the evening with low expectations, her expectations still weren’t particularly high.After changing out of an oversized jumper (Daviddidknow her all too well), she tried to strike a balance between looking like she’d tried to smarten up without going overboard, though she wasn’t sure she’d actually succeeded.It didn’t help that she looked drawn and tired after so many sleepless nights.
Aurelia walked to the hotel bar in South Kensington where David had told her to meet Oliver for drinks.Once she was in the lobby, she spotted the bar, which was very posh and not at all the kind of place she usually liked.Standing in the doorway, she glanced around, trying to identify a lonely-looking man who might be waiting for her.No one seemed a likely candidate and she was just about to wander around the lobby to wait for him when she sensed someone standing behind her.
She turned and found herself uncomfortably close to a man who was a few inches taller than her.He had dark brown hair that was creeping backward, and brown eyes to match, though they were a lighter shade of brown than his hair.He was wearing a black jacket over an ice-blue oxford shirt, open at the neckline by only one button.
They both took a step back, which gave them more room to assess each other.
“Are you Oliver?”
“Yes.Oliver Pearce.”
She had to admit he was attractive—David hadn’t misled her there.But he had the slightly haughty, bored look of someone who was fulfilling an obligation, which instantly annoyed her.She was fulfilling the same obligation, after all.
“I’m Aurelia Lyndham.Hi,” she said, leaning in for a friendly kiss on the cheek in greeting.Her movement was halted by Oliver’s hand, however, which shot out to shake hers.
“Oh, right,” she said, reaching out and shaking his hand.
