her properly. In a grander way, maybe. I want to do something big for her,’ Daniel concluded.
‘Okay …’ said Romeo.
‘I have to do something. I have to do something, now. Today. Strike whilst the iron is hot.’
Daniel was a little bit manic, with his eyes wild and full of half-formed plans. He looked at his watch. He needed to prep the last of some slides before a breakfast meeting to highlight the progress he’d made these past few months, ensuring the partners that he was leaving them with the formula for success.
‘I mean, okay. If you’re sure you’re not being a little dramatic here. You have her number. So, just text her back and ask her out.’
‘No,’ Daniel said, with certainty. ‘No, I want it to be bigger than that. This is going to be the last woman I ever ask out. This is going to be her last ever first date! It has to be memorable. I want her to understand that this is it.’ He reflected on what he’d just said and added, a little more measuredly, ‘You know, not to freak her out or anything. I mean, I just want to do her justice.’
Romeo understood. ‘Okay, okay. What can I do to help you? I’m here, man.’
Daniel looked around the lobby, like the answer might present itself there. ‘Wait here,’ he told Romeo.
‘It’s my job to wait here!’ Romeo said. ‘Literally, I am paid to wait here. In this lobby. All day.’
Daniel ran across the road to the florists at the train station, and paid eighty-five pounds for a bouquet of sunflowers and gerberas and green feathery stuff. He jogged back across the road and handed them to Romeo.
‘Okay, can you go deliver these to Nadia Fielding at RAINFOREST, around the corner? Will you do that for me? I’ve got this meeting …’
‘If I can get Billy to cover for me for a minute, then yes.’
‘No. Not maybe, mate. You’ll deliver them, right?’
‘Of course, mate. Yes.’
‘Okay, excellent. Make sure they let you take them up to her. Don’t just leave them at reception. She needs to get them now. In fact – fuck. Erm,’ he said, looking towards the desk to see if there was something he could use to write on the blank notecard the florist had attached to the bouquet. His energy was nervous and untamed. He grabbed the biro and pulled off the lid with his teeth. When he was done scribbling he put the notecard into the envelope.
‘There,’ he said. ‘For Nadia Fielding, yes?’
‘I gotchu, mate,’ said Romeo, taking the flowers. ‘I will deliver these personally.’
48
Nadia
‘Right then. Both of you, at the burrito place, at half past noon. No excuses. I need to talk to you.’
Nadia hit send on her voice note, sent to a new group she had made for her, Emma and Gaby. She got immediate responses from both of them.
Emma: Okay x
Gaby: Okay!!!!!!
Nadia carried the bouquet of flowers downstairs with her as she left for her early lunch. She didn’t want to leave them behind. She wanted them with her, evidence of the romance unfolding in front of her. They’d been delivered by the strangest man, who’d handed them over and said, ‘Oh, I see. I understand what the fuss is about now.’ And then he had disappeared. There was a card with the flowers.
Tonight? it read. I’ll send a clue about where later …
She was excited. She was over the moon. She wanted to show off – and to her best friends. She didn’t care what had happened, or what was happening with them. She missed her friends and needed them to share in this joy she was experiencing in real time.
‘Ohmygod – who are they for?’ said Emma, standing up to hug her. She’d cut her hair and was wearing more eyeliner than usual. It suited her.
‘They’re beautiful!’ said Gaby, standing up to kiss her too. They’d chosen a booth, and had both sat at the same side so that Nadia had to slide in opposite them, looking at them both – being looked at by them both.
‘They’re mine. From Train Guy.’
Gaby narrowed her eyes. ‘He knows where you work already?’
‘I must have told him this morning when we were talking,’ Nadia said. ‘And I mean, if you Google “Nadia” and “RAINFOREST” my surname must come up. I found him on bloody Instagram, for crying out loud. I don’t think finding out about people is a hard thing to do when the internet exists.’