I should never make friends with colleagues, but Miguel and I have worked together for three years. It’s hard to keep things strictly professional, especially when you spend twelve hours a day together in such close contact. I should also never have mixed my private life with my work life. But I’m here six days a week, almost all day. I have little spare time to go out, see friends, or meet people.
I leave the kitchen and head into the main room, where my bad decision is waiting for me at the bar. I look over at the people sitting there, drinking or eating a quick snack. When I see someone who could fit Jake’s description, I take a few seconds to study him, before he realises he’s being stared at.
I’ve never met him in person, in spite of Jake’s best efforts. There’s a photo of him in my friend’s house, though it’s not a recent picture. I think it was from when they were at school together. I’d never have recognised him from that.
He’s sitting at the bar, a glass of wine in front of him, his fingers drumming the counter. He looks as if he never wanted to set foot in this place – not tonight and not ever.
Jake was right. He doesn’t seem bad. He’s not like the guys I usually go out with, which is working in his favour. I just hope he’s capable of pretending to like me for one night. I hopeI’mcapable of the same thing.
I slip behind the bar and rest my hands on the counter in front of him, clearing my throat.
“Waiting for someone?”
He lifts his eyes slowly onto mine. They’re light – green, I think, or maybe grey. The bar isn’t very well-lit, so I can’t be sure. He’s wearing a pair of nerdy glasses and his hair looks as if it hasn’t seen a pair of scissors for a long time; his jacket is dark and lifeless, looks as if it should belong to a droning professor. Underneath it is a shirt of unidentifiable colour which seems to need a good steam or iron.
The barman was right – heisweird for someone like me. But I think he’ll do just fine for the evening I need him for.
“You must be Jake’s friend Sean.”
“In the flesh.”
He reaches his hand out and smiles at me, making me immediately regret ever accepting to be part of this farce.
I rest my elbows on the bar and lean closer to him, hoping to hide from prying ears.
“Let’s get a few things straight before we begin.”
He raises an eyebrow and scrutinises me.
“You and I are not friends.”
“We’re off to a good start, then.”
He takes back his hand and grabs his glass, sipping his wine calmly. This only makes me even more agitated than I already am.
“I hope Jake has explained our agreement. This is a one-time thing. Nothing will change between us – I don’t want you getting in the way every time I’m out with Jake, or something.”
“Can I just remind you thatyou’rethe one who needsme? I’m doing you a favour here, not the other way around.”
“I don’t need anyone – especially not someone like you.”
“Someone like me?” He frowns. “I’m trying to think of every possible option here, and none of them are positive.”
“Forget it, don’t bother.”
“Wow. Got it.”
He rests his hands on the bar and slowly gets to his feet, sliding his wallet from the inner pocket of his jacket and leaving a note on the counter. He replaces the wallet and meets my gaze.
“Could you please tell our mutual friend it wasn’t my fault, and that you showed up already pissed off?”
My mouth falls open in shock. I don’t have time to come up with a response – he’s already leaving the bar, under my incredulous gaze. I wait for a few seconds, trying to process what has just happened, before deciding to follow him. I step outside and spot him on the pavement, walking slowly towards the end of the block.
“Hey!” I yell, but he doesn’t turn around.
I quickly stride over to him, touching his shoulder to make him turn around.
“I need a date. And the idea doesn’t thrill me.”
