you, boy?’ Hugo looks up and for a moment they stare at each other, complete love-in. I’m beginning to feel a bit jealous.
‘Huh, well.’ I think I have discovered why Ophelia’s other dog-sitters were unavailable – even if Hugo is in fact a big sweetie. Which he is. ‘I’m not convinced dog sitting is one of my special skills. It’s trickier than man-dating!’ I sneak a sideways look at Noah. ‘I thought I’d try it instead, dog sitting, doggie borrowing; I thought I might meet somebody nice in the park or something, with a common interest.’
‘Hugging trees?’ He chuckles, and I punch him lightly in the ribs. Mates-style. ‘You did meet somebody nice, me!’
‘This is my place,’ I say slightly surprised as we slow down near my gate. We’ve somehow got home without me noticing. And Hugo hasn’t stared at anything with suspicion or threatened to shoot off.
‘I know.’
I feel myself blushing. Of course, he knows. He’s been here before, when I was drunk, feeling sorry for myself. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘It was fun, so,’ he rubs his hands together, ‘I pick the next scenario!’ He draws out the word scenario. It makes me smile back at him, forgetting my total embarrassment. He has this knack of knowing the right thing to say, lightening things up. ‘You’ll never get past the first base with Hugo. He’ll be a crap kisser, all drool and big tongue!’
‘Eurgh, shut up.’ I punch him and laugh; I can’t help myself. Even when I’m sober, Noah makes me laugh. A lot. ‘I don’t want to snog him or you!’
‘Well, here you go.’ He hands the end of the leash over. Hugo sits down and looks up at him, then at me, then back at Noah. He doesn’t want him to go. Noah does something I’ve failed at: gives him confidence.
‘Thanks.’ I unlock the door but don’t step inside. I’m not sure I’m ready to let Noah go either. ‘I’m sorry we didn’t get much time for, you know …’
‘Seduction techniques?’ He’s got the most gorgeous dimples. How come I’ve not noticed them before? Grrr! I’ve not noticed them before because I don’t want, I must not, notice things like this. We have a business arrangement. ‘Don’t worry, it gave me a bit of,’ he pauses, eyes twinkling, ‘insight!’
I take a deep breath. This bit is trickier now we’ve drawn to a halt. In my head ‘come in for a coffee’ was easy as we walked back. But I’ve now hit that awkward silence on the doorstep. The one that is scared of letting him in to my house, letting him see ‘me’. I take a gulp and go for it. ‘You fancy that drink?’
‘Look, Rosie.’ He rests his hand on my arm. ‘You don’t have to do this you know.’ He shrugs. ‘But it could be fun.’
‘I know.’ Oh lordie, this is embarrassing. ‘But I want to.’ I think. ‘I have to,’ I blurt out before I can stop myself.
‘Have to?’
In for a penny, in for a pound as they say. ‘I need a date for my parents’ wedding anniversary party. I told Mum I had a boyfriend,’ Noah raises an eyebrow, but I crash on, ‘and she’ll tell my dad.’
‘Ahh, your dad. You can’t do this just for your dad, Rosie.’ His tone is soft. His gaze is soft.
‘I’m not, I’m doing it for me.’ My voice has gone wobbly.
‘Well that’s fine then.’ He reaches up. He’s going to touch me, he’s so close. He’s going to do that fingers along the cheek thing they do in the movies, then tangle his fingers in my hair and …‘Twigs in the hair might work for some, but it’s a bit of a niche audience.’ He holds up a leaf and grins, but it’s a grin with soft edges that matches the tone of his voice and makes me feel even more awkward than I did before, if that’s possible. ‘Lumberjacks, tree protesters, hobbits maybe.’
I gulp, try and clear my throat. ‘Not many of them round here. Hobbits that is. There’s a very nice tree surgeon in—’ I’m rambling to fill the silence that I’m expecting any minute, but he puts a finger on my lips, so I freeze.
‘What are you afraid of?’
‘Nothing,’ I squeak. But I am. I’m petrified that if he touches me, I’ll end up crushing on the wrong guy. This would be the worst kind of failure. I do not want to discover that I have been conditioned to fall for somebody like