Guy asks as we leave the movies.
Before I have the chance to do anything other than nod he starts to walk down the street in the direction of Starbucks which is only half a block away.
It’s fairly packed when we get there, but I spy a table in the corner.
“I’ll grab us somewhere to sit,” I say. “Can you get me a caramel frappuchinno please.”
As he strides toward the counter I suddenly panic that I didn’t offer any money to pay for it. The last thing I want is for him to think I’m a freeloader. Mind you I did pay for the popcorn. Then again he did pay for the tickets.
From where I’m sitting I get a clear view of him from behind. You know, he definitely has a good butt. In fact he’s pretty well stacked in every department. Well, every department that I’ve been able to see. Of course, now I’m in the VC admiring from afar is the only thing I will be doing.
He seems to be lining up for ages, during which time I’ve scrutinized everyone in the place, bitten my thumb nail—which I’m really cross about—and made a tiny hole in my top from pulling a long thread.
“Sorry it took so long,” Guy says when he finally gets to the table. “There’s a new guy working and it took him ages to work out what went into each thing.”
A new guy eh? I wonder if it’s the guy Amy was talking about? Although that was days ago so you’d have thought he’d have learnt how to do everything by now.
“That’s okay.” I take a long sip of my ice cold drink. “Mmm. Well for a new guy he did just fine. You know I’m definitely addicted to these. I could drink them every day and still not be fed up.”
Guy laughs, and takes a sip from his mug containing what looks like ordinary coffee.
“I’m not keen. I prefer my coffee straight.” He definitely needs educating in the ways of caffeine—and I’m just the girl to do it.
“Are you sure I can’t tempt you with a sip?” I wave my plastic cup under his nose, but he shakes his head and laughs.
“Thanks but no.” He places his mug on the table and gazes at me in a sort of soppy way. “You’re so sweet, Suzy. You know, it’s been a long time since I’ve liked anyone as much as I like you.”
Wow. Where did that come from? And fancy him calling me sweet. That’s got to be a first.
“Thanks. I like you too.” Even if you do have lousy taste in movies and are a bit too parent-friendly for your own good. Not that it matters. Don’t they always say opposites attract?
“Excuse me,” says a soft, and vaguely familiar, male voice to the side of us. We both turn to look.
Oh.
My.
God.
It can’t be.
Quick, someone wake me before this gets totally out of control.
“Yes?” says Guy.
“Aren’t you Suzy Green?” the voice replies, ignoring Guy and looking directly at me with the same twinkling brown eyes and cute smile that haunted my dreams for such a long time.
Crap. Crap. And a million times Crap.
Chapter Ten
Okay, here are my choices:
I can acknowledge Ryan—smile sweetly in a totally unfazed sort of way and say ‘hi how are you?’ and act like he’s just a guy I happen to know from way back. Which seems like a real cool response, but I’m not sure I can pull it off. I suspect stammering and looking acutely embarrassed will let me down.
Or, I can pretend I’ve never seen him before in my life and that it’s a case of mistaken identity—except if I did that how would I explain him knowing my name? Good point. Looks like that one’s out of the question.
Or—and this is my preferred option at this precise moment—I can get the hell out of here, and scream as loud as my lungs allow. Thing is by doing that not only will I look a complete and utter freak it will also ruin any chances I have of Guy asking me out again.
So, it appears I’m completely screwed.
“You know each other?” Guy says dragging me back from the crazy thoughts charging around my mind like things possessed.
“No.”
“Yes.”
We both speak at the same time and sharply turn our heads from staring in Guy’s direction to staring at each other. No prizes for guessing who said no. Well, it just sort of slipped out. And my heart is pounding so loud