Touched - By Malcolm Havard Page 0,36

was only just big enough to cover her modesty and carrying a hairdryer.

‘I’ll be five minutes, tops, is that OK? I’m really sorry.’ She did sound really anxious.

‘No problem.’

‘Oh you’re a darling!’ she said and darted towards him. Before he could really react she had thrown her arms around him and kissed him. He was bombarded by sensations; the softness of her still damp skin, the coolness of her wet hair against his cheek, the scent of her shampoo mingling with that of some expensive shower gel, the tang of mint from her toothpaste as her tongue sought out his. It only lasted a moment before she left, repeating; ‘five minutes, promise!’ but it left Dan slightly stunned and turned on amidst the cacophony.

Jen didn’t reappear for a full twenty minutes but even though he was slightly irritated, Dan had to admit it was well worth the wait. The dress she wore was stylish, short and invited further exploration.

‘Well Mr Jackson, I’m all yours. Take me where you will!’ she said, adding a very dirty grin.

Dan drove as quickly as he dared to get to the cinema but it was well past 8pm by the time they got there and parked, Jen chattering all the way about nothing in particular. Dan got the feeling it was out of nervousness and again he found himself wondering if she was insecure. Whatever, he wasn’t that surprised to find that she chose the chic-flick but, to be fair it was the only one where the feature hadn’t actually started.

Jen watched it avidly all the way through and, from halfway, rested her head on his shoulder. The warmth of her body close to his and the tedium of the film made it a real struggle to keep his eyes open. It was only the thought that he couldn’t fall asleep on two girls in a row that made him try every trick that he knew to stay awake. He worked through his old student repertoire, the one he had used in those early morning lectures after a heavy session the night before, digging his fingernails into his palms, biting his tongue and forcing his eyes wide open. In the end he found that thinking erotic thoughts about his companion worked best, though it did have other effects that would have made a fire evacuation rather embarrassing. Once he thought of this he had a fit of giggles which were very badly timed for the film and difficult to suppress. Jen raised her head and looked at him rather puzzled and he had to mouth ‘sorry’ at her and try to pull himself together.

He also resolved that he would listen even more carefully to what the good Doctor Kermode said in future.

‘That was great, wasn’t it?’ Jen enthused as they left the cinema. ‘I LOVED it! Absolutely loved it! Thank you so much for taking me,’ she added, linking arms with him as they walked across the street.

‘Yes, it was really great,’ Dan was hoping that he sounded at least half convincing but knowing it was doubtful.

‘Was that why you had your eyes closed?’ she asked, eyebrows raised then laughed when she saw the look on his face.

‘Yes. I was contemplating the film’s deeper message,’ he said in mock seriousness.

‘Liar!’ she said, giving him a playful punch and wriggling away from his arm, ‘I’ll forgive you if you take me to The Runaway.’

‘What’s the Runaway?’ he said, playing along by stepping towards her, letting her coyly back away, keeping just of reach.

‘You’ve never been to The Runaway? Oh you poor thing!’ She stopped, letting Dan catch her. ‘It’s just the best little bar. I’m there all the time, it’s my second home.’ She let him slip his arms around her and allowed herself to be drawn in close to him but when Dan leant forward to kiss her she broke away again.

‘Come on,’ she said, ‘Race you. It’s not far.’

The Runaway was loud and surprisingly busy for a Monday night. Young professionals mixed with partying students. To Dan everyone looked achingly, expensively trendy. Jen was immediately swept away into a maelstrom of bodies, welcomed as one of their own. Everyone seemed to know her.

Dan bought drinks, guessing at what Jen wanted from his experience of the previous night, and found the last two empty stools in the bar. The rest of the table was occupied by a group of partying students playing a noisy drinking game. Jen flitted from group to group, conversation to conversation.

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