I’m famished. I think we’ve missed out on the awkward post-date cake eating.’
‘I’d love to get something to eat. Maybe a sausage so I can measure it.’ I say it with a smile and the laughter from the evening bubbles out of both of us again.
Technically speaking, it’s the first time I’ve ever found myself flirting and I laugh some more at how appallingly bad I seem to be at it.
42
Clive
After the resounding success of the speed-dating night, Clive had spent the rest of the weekend helping Tess out, planning another event and wondering how things had gone. He was eager to see Keisha and catch up. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever find out if George lasted longer than he’d so loudly proclaimed, but the fact that they’d left together hand-in-hand, even if it was in jest, was a darned sight better than any of Keisha’s previous dates. And much better than any eventuality he’d been hoping for. It had also made a good icebreaker amongst the rest of the daters after the couple’s dramatic exit.
Tess had made a nice profit, especially when people had stayed on to network (if that’s what it was classed as these days). Clive and Tess were already planning the next speed-dating event, this time for an older age group, in a couple of weeks’ time, followed by some LGBTQIA evenings.
On Monday, he took the short walk to the lab. Keisha had spent the weekend with Lucy and, as this was Lucy’s first day back, Clive popped into his favourite Polish store to get some supplies. First he selected an iced sponge cake that looked delicious and then the chocolate and pink wafers that were proving so popular.
Keisha was busy on the phone when he got there and with no sign of Lucy, he busied himself with the usual duties he tried to tackle on a Monday afternoon. First was a quick clean of the kitchen surfaces and the fridge if it was needed. Then he replenished the biscuits and he’d started getting the cake on a plate when he heard someone arrive.
A young woman entered the lab and Clive had a glimmer of recognition. ‘You must be Lucy! Nice to see you again,’ he said.
‘I certainly am.’ Lucy gave Clive a broad grin and took him into a welcoming hug. ‘Anything she’s said about me isn’t true.’
Keisha was still on the phone.
‘You get yourself settled. What can I get you to drink? Have a seat and I’ll bring it over.’
Lucy took off her coat and kicked her bag under the desk. ‘I’ll have a tea with lots of milk and three sugars. I’ve heard all about your hospitality skills.’
‘All good things I hope.’
‘They certainly are.’
Lucy took a seat and Clive made sure he set everything out perfectly before taking it over.
‘Everything okay?’ Clive asked once Keisha finished her call. She looked grey. That horrible ashen colour people turn when they’ve been told something horrible.
‘It’s so lovely to have you back,’ Keisha said, embracing her friend in a long hug.
Clive didn’t miss that she was deflecting the question.
‘Who was that on the phone?’ Lucy asked.
‘It was George. Just something about the study.’
‘Did you have fun on Friday night?’ Clive bravely ventured. Perhaps the colour draining from her face meant love’s young dream was over already.
‘Was that whole evening set up purely to put more crosses on my board?’
‘Yes, eight in one go. Not bad, huh?’
‘So you weren’t just trying to set George and me up?’
‘It seemed daft not to invite both of you. I thought you might have told me off if I’d mentioned it beforehand. I didn’t want to make it any more nerve-wracking than it already was. You both seemed to handle it with good humour.’
‘I think we had to in the end.’
‘So I’m not in trouble?’
‘Not today.’
‘And is everything okay between you and George?’ Clive tried to gauge Keisha’s reaction.
‘Is there some kind of romance going on here that I need to know about?’ Lucy took the side plate and cake fork Clive offered, ready to receive her piece of sponge.
‘George and I are just friends. Same as when he was date number forty.’
‘You’ve dated before?’ Lucy asks. ‘How much have I missed since I’ve been ill?’
‘It wasn’t a proper date. It was arranged by Tess, but it was after we’d met on the ward so he only came because we had Clive as a common interest. Not because he actually wanted to date. He came to the café to talk