“I didn’t promise.” He rubbed a hand over his forehead. “I got a bit tongue-tied and didn’t really say anything.”
“Smooth!”
“Shut up.”
“You should call her,” Trystan said firmly.
“It feels as though that would be asking for trouble.”
“If it all goes sideways, you’ll be home again in a couple of months and never have to see her again.”
“But what about if I really like her? What do I do then?”
“Bash her over the head and drag her home with you.”
“Which is about the only way I’d get anyone to move back there with me.”
“It’s the best place in the world.”
“And yet you live in London!”
“Fair point. Anyway, I need to get to bed, but let me know if you score yourself a date. Oh, by the way, have you booked your flight back for Mum’s birthday?”
“Not yet. Have you?”
“No. I was waiting to see if Jenny would come, but I guess she won’t be up for it.”
“It’s still a couple of weeks away. Plenty of time to get back in her good books.”
“Fingers crossed. Let me know when you book the flight and I’ll get on the same one.”
They wished each other goodnight and ended the call. Again, Noah idly scrolled to Keira’s number before setting the phone aside. An image of her up on the karaoke stage with flaming red cheeks made his lips twitch upwards. Maybe heshouldgo out with her. It might be the only way for him to get her out of his thoughts.
Or it might do the opposite and cause massive complications in his life.
* * *
On Monday evening Keira couldn’t stop glancing at her phone.
“Do you know what’s weird?” she mused, casting a glance along the couch at Mel.
“That Noah hasn’t called yet? No, it isn’t weird. Heterosexuals have some weird code about waiting to call. He’ll call you tomorrow or Wednesday. Don’t stress about it.”
“That’s not what I was going to say.”
“What then? It was something about Noah.”
Keira was tempted to make up something else but couldn’t come up with anything. “I think it’s strange how we see him once or twice a week, but other than his name and where he works I don’t know anything about him. What do we even speak to him about?”
“I think we’ve had several conversations about the best kind of wood to build an ark … and we’ve quizzed him on his favourite pair of animals and which animals he’d like to leave behind when the rains start … oh, and on a few occasions we’ve asked him if he’d be kind enough to come and pick us up from our place in the event of a flood.”
“Oh my god!” Keira dropped her chin to her chest. “Have we ever had a serious conversation with him?”
“As I recall we’ve occasionally debated the optimum number of ice cubes to put in my cider.”
“He’s probably only ever seen me drunk,” Keira said.
“I’d say mostly just tipsy … but yeah, probably.”