‘Ah, nice. What kind of work is it?’
‘Oh, it’s pretty dull: we do facilities management for some local businesses. But we’ve been getting some pretty big contracts recently and we’re hoping to expand to other locations in the next couple of years so, yeah, it’s all worked out quite nicely.’
‘That’s really great – I’m pleased for you.’
‘The feeling’s mutual, Amelia.’
I felt heat in my face again, and was grateful that this particular part of the forecourt was poorly lit.
‘I, er, actually go by Mally these days.’
‘Noted. Suits you.’
At that moment a tow truck pulled into the forecourt, a rhythmic honk interrupting the conversation.
‘Amelia Allister! The Double-A!’ It was Ryan Seldon, reminding me from his wound-down window about a horrific school nickname that’d been bestowed upon me when I’d been late to blossom in the boob department.
As with any attempts to bully me – which had been pretty frequent when I started secondary school given my in-built awkwardness – I’d always laughed it off. I’d figured that a smiling victim’s not really a victim, are they? I instinctively applied my idiot-repellent grin as Ryan wound up his window and switched off his engine.
Tom spoke quickly under his breath. ‘Yeah, Mally, best if you ignore the vast majority of stuff that comes out of Ryan’s mouth. Deal?’
I nodded once. ‘Deal.’
Ryan hopped down from the cab and elbowed Tom in the ribs by way of greeting.
‘She goes by Mally these days, Seldon. And it’s a hard no on that fucked-up nickname, okay?’
‘Righty-o. Well, what are the chances eh, Tom?’
Ryan gave Tom an imperceptible look that lasted maybe half a second longer than felt normal. There was definitely an element of a smirk to it and I swear I saw Tom’s neck go ever-so-slightly blotchy.
I spoke first to break the perplexing moment that seemed to be passing between them. ‘Thanks so much for this, Ryan.’
‘No worries at all. Good job your knight in shining armour was here to rescue you, eh?’
Wow, did Ryan fancy a job atThe Helix? Iancompetent would probably hire him in a heartbeat. On the flip side, perhaps I’d just had a sufficiently ‘awkward encounter’ for my trope-seeking article? After all, this ridiculous situation with my car could’ve come straight out of a Hallmark movie.
Tom spoke before I even had the chance to chuckle blandly.
‘Ryan, seriously, do I need to sign you up to another “casual misogyny” workshop?’
What was happening? A man calling out his unenlightened mate’s sexist remark? This felt… refreshing.
Tom mouthed ‘Sorry’ to me and rolled his eyes.
‘Oh, she doesn’t mind, do you? You look different, by the way – I mean I’d still recognise you. But, yeah, you look different.’
Ryan’s West Country accent was much stronger than Tom’s. While Tom’s was more of a gentle twang, a bit like mine, Ryan’s was unabashed, proud Bristolian. Lots of people found the accent harsh or grating, but I’d always loved it. It sounded like home.
‘Umm, you also look different…?’
He… really did.
‘Yes, yes, I lost all my hair in my early twenties. A painful blow. Thankfully I was already married by then – to Carly, one of the twins? The fun one.’
Oh my God, he was married to Carly? I couldn’t wait to tell Elle about this.
‘Nice – congrats!’
