Page 26 of Straight to Me

I park and go through the house straight to Bex’s studio up the top of her garden. It’s empty. Being a part-time jewellery maker, I thought she'd be home. She must be out getting the cardboard boxes she found on sale in the local hardware shop.

With a sigh, I decide to make a cup of tea and open up her laptop. Not really sure what I’m looking for, I search for any job within a 10 mile radius of Jess's place. The first one to come up is ‘Bra Fitter and Retail Store Assistant’. Honestly, I couldn’t think of anything worse having completed a short stint in retail in my twenties.

A few more jobs make me chuckle before stumbling across ‘Education Worker’ in Clitheroe, near The Ribble Valley where Jess lives.

A little frantic at the prospect of it, I bring up the job description:This role is part of a pilot project delivering a support programme for children in care who have experienced significant trauma and multiple home and school moves.

This sounds interesting.

Deciding to bite the bullet, I shift my search to housing. Within ten minutes, a flat that is pretty close to Jess and the education worker job, is on my screen.

My fingers scramble over the keys as I start applying and assembling an email to the letting agency. This feels too good to be true, but maybe it’s a sign.

My phone pings, pulling me away from the laptop.

VP: Hi

Well, his timing's impeccable. A mixture of emotions starts circling me. It’s like a rollercoaster the way my mind’s suddenly racing. I'm flitting between a ‘you only live once’ mentality and, ‘don’t be a twat’.

Me: Hi

VP: Just checking you'd reply

Me: Very funny. Um, seeing as you've messaged, can I ask you a question?

VP: Shoot

Me: What part of Lancashire are you from?

VP: Preston, why?

The overwhelming feeling inside me is that this is meant to be. The Valley and Clitheroe are just over half an hour away from Preston. Should I tell him I’m moving north? He’ll think I’m moving to be closer to him. He wouldn’t be my reason for moving, but he’d be close by. It would certainly be a bonus.

Me: I have to move out of my friend’s place. I'm coming to stay with my sister for a bit

VP: Where’s your sister?

Me: The Ribble Valley

The wiggly dots stop, start, stop and then start again.

VP: Seems like meeting you was meant to be

Jesus. My whole body burns for him.

Me: This is crazy. There’s so much I still don’t know about you though

VP: What do you want to know?

How and why you became an outlaw. Probably not appropriate to ask via text though. Let’s start with the basics.

Me: How old are you?

VP: 34

Me: What’s your last name?

VP: Carter

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