At least not in that way.’
He was sure she was making a real effort to sound disinterested but her tone was slightly too light, too dismissive. Dan decided that retreating to his bedroom was the best policy.
‘I’m going to get dressed,’ he said again and went through.
It didn’t take long, not long enough perhaps he reflected. All he had to do was choose between one of his four suits and then find a shirt to go with it, which was very easy as he only had one ironed one. He made a mental note to do his ironing that night and, steeling himself, went back through to the lounge.
Tess had gone again.
He sighed, picked up his phone and keys and drained the last of his coffee. He then rinsed the mug under the tap and set it upside down on the drainer.
On his way out he paused at the lounge door. It was crazy but he felt like he needed to do it.
‘Bye Tess,’ he said, ‘See you tonight.’
Locking the flat door behind him he found himself really hoping that he would.
Wednesday, mid-morning
Dan, Hannah and Boris were all kept busy working on the portfolio valuation, gathering and collating comparable evidence and drafting the report. Again Dan was glad of this; it kept his mind off his problems.
Unfortunately, it also took his mind off replying to Jen, something he had intended to do as soon as he had got in. He probably wouldn’t have remembered about it at all if Hannah had herself not got a text. After she had read it she kept glancing at Dan. He caught one of these glances and briefly saw a combination of annoyance, frustration and concern all at once. He spent a full minute trying to work out what he had done to upset her before the penny dropped.
He decided he had better text back quickly before things got too frosty and decided to do it from the kitchen where he could compose a reply in private without attracting too much interest from Boris, He did, however, make a show of carrying his phone so that Hannah could see.
‘Anyone want a drink?’ he said as he got up.
‘Mines a pint,’ said Boris, ‘Boddies.’
‘Vodka and Red Bull,’ murmured Hannah, who was entering figures into Excel.
‘So that’s a tea with one and a coffee, white, no sugar, right?’
‘You got it.’
‘We could have him back as a teaboy.’
‘Nah, we’d die of thirst. This is only the second one he’s ever made.’
‘Good point. Reckon he’s got a special reason to make one now?’
‘Maybe, maybe.’
Dan decided that a silent exit with no comment was the one likely to best preserve his dignity. He tried his best to ignore the giggles behind him.
He stood in the kitchen for a long time, not knowing quite what to say in the text. In the end he decided that dishonesty – or at least partial dishonesty, was the best policy.
He wrote: ‘Hi Jen. Sorry it’s taken me a while to reply. Don’t worry, it’s not you that’s the problem, it’s me. I think it’s a bit soon for me after my divorce. I’m also worried about the job situation. All in all I’m not at my best at the moment. I also think I might be too old and boring for you! If you want to try again though that’s fine by me. X’
Hell, he thought, that’s not a text, it’s a novel. He pressed send; four pages, not bad going.
He went back into the office, pleased with himself and sat down at his desk. He had started working again when he became aware that Hannah and Steve were staring at him.
‘What?’ he said.
‘Forget something?’ said Boris, an innocent, questioning look on his face.
Dan stared, nonplussed for a moment, then shamefacedly got back up to go and make the drinks, leaving more giggles behind him.
He had his reply before he had bought the drinks back: ‘I like you the way you are :o). Lunch tomorrow? Xxx’
Great, now what? He thought she would be put off. Oh sod it, why not?
He sent a text back: ‘Ok. 12.30? Pick you up outside your work xxx’
He really hoped he wasn’t making a big mistake.
Wednesday: Early Evening
Dan headed back home quite late and quite tired.
He found he was holding his breath as he unlocked the door and went through to the lounge. Would she be there?
She wasn’t. He took off his suit jacket and threw it on the back of one of the settees. He wandered into