She had missed him. Dahlia wasn’t here either: maybe he was out with her. The thought grabbed at her heart with far more force than she had expected.
As if she’d summoned her, she saw Dahlia trudging up the street from the coffee shop.
‘Hello!’ she said. Dahlia sniffed.
‘What’s up?’ Carmen said. ‘Are you going to see Oke?’
The girl turned red again.
‘No!’ she said. ‘He’s all yours!’
She looked tearful again.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I really, really liked him!’ said Dahlia, choking. ‘But he said he couldn’t ever date me. Because … he’s a lecturer. Andhe can’t date students.’
She burst into tears again.
Carmen blinked. She couldn’t believe it.
‘Really?’
‘You’re not a student, are you?’
Dahlia sniffed again, her nose red. Carmen shook her head.
‘For once I’m delighted to say, I’m not,’ she said. ‘I’m … I’m sorry.’
Dahlia sniffed.
‘Aren’t you dating Blair Pfenning?’
‘I am not!’ said Carmen. Then she smiled suddenly.
‘But, you know … it’s the bookshop party.’
‘I wasn’t going to go. In case Oke was there.’
‘He isn’t. But I’ll tell you who is.’
Dahlia looked up, eyes wide.
‘He isn’t!’
‘He is.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Don’t get mixed up with him!’ said Carmen. ‘But … but do enjoy the party.’
Dahlia was already tugging out her braids, her face miraculously transformed as she almost ran up the rest of Victoria Street.
Carmen stood, irresolute, at the bottom of the stairs.
He was only in the student halls. She could just go.
Oh God. Although of course he hadn’t turned up to the party … but …
