Page 74 of Just Date and See

I notice the slide next to me, the one that goes into the ball pool, and before I’ve really thought about what I’m doing, I’m sliding down it.

‘Follow me,’ I just about manage to call out before I disappear.

I cackle like a child as I disappear under the balls at the bottom. Eventually, Rocco joins me.

‘Isn’t this better?’ I say through a smile. ‘Just me and you, away from everyone.’

Rocco laughs.

‘Are you drunk?’ he asks. ‘Is that why you’re being so… so whatever this is?’

‘Maybe,’ I reply. I purse my lips to hide my smile. ‘Okay, yes.’

‘I knew it,’ he says with a laugh. ‘Well, that’s a relief, I thought maybe me inviting you to dinner, without the others, was making you feel uncomfortable or something.’

‘No, no,’ I quickly insist, as I hook my arms around his neck. ‘I was the first one here, and it turns out I know the guy who painted the clown, and he gave me free drinks, and then whenever I passed the bar, they gave me another one and I suppose I just lost count.’

‘Is it weird that I find that cute?’ he replies.

‘Who am I to say what’s weird?’ I say. ‘I’m a thirtysomething-year-old in a ball pool.’

I fling myself backwards and let the balls cover me again. Rocco quickly scoops me back out.

‘This thing is a terrible idea for a bar,’ he muses. ‘Someone is going to suffocate.’

‘Not me,’ I point out smugly. ‘Because I’ve got you.’

‘Yes, you do,’ he replies through a smile.

For a moment, we fall silent, neither of us moving a muscle. I feel my heartbeat quicken, as Rocco holds me in his arms. This would be a really good time to kiss, if it weren’t also somehow the worst time, place and scenario to do it. Still, I’m sure I could live with it.

‘I think your phone is ringing,’ Rocco says.

‘What?’ I reply.

‘Yeah, I can feel your watch vibrating against my neck,’ he replies, loosening his grip on me.

I rummage through my bag until I find my phone. I have three missed calls from my dad. Shit. There’s a message too.

House is flooding! Pick up! Hurry home! Where’s the stop tap?

‘Oh, my God, it’s my dad, I’ve got to go,’ I tell him, sobering up suddenly as I try to find my feet. ‘He says my house is flooding.’

‘Shit,’ Rocco replies. ‘Do you want me to help you to get home, or to come and help?’

‘No, no,’ I insist, perhaps a little too firmly. ‘I’ll be fine. I’ll grab a taxi. You stay here, have fun, explain to Leila and Tobias that I’m okay.’

‘Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he says. ‘At our dinner date.’

‘Absolutely, I can’t wait,’ I tell him honestly, in a way that is far more enthusiastic than we’re encouraged to be around men after knowing them for so little time, but I don’t have time to be cool, I need to grab my family and head home ASAP. I just hope there isn’t too much damage. I just spent the last year fixing it up, for crying out loud. I can’t face doing more repairs, more decorating – and just a few days before Christmas too. My house is the only one we have between us, without it, God knows where we’ll be eating Christmas dinner.

I just need to hurry home and assess the damage. Perhaps it’s not as bad as it seems?

27

After I set my curls with a generous blast of hairspray, and touch up my lipstick, I check myself out in the mirror. Against all odds, I am date ready.

I woke up this morning seriously hungover, and as I attempted to brush my teeth with bottled water, I honestly though there was no way I was going to be able to have a shower before my date tonight, but here I am, fresh and clean, and good to go.