Chapter 6

Dan

“It’d be you.”

Those words have been swimming around my head for the last few days. The last few days that I’ve not heard from Ivy. I mean, I know her and Fallon had an overnight spa break booked, but it’s not like Ivy not to message. We’ve messaged pretty much constantly since that day in the café. So, I can only surmise it’s something to do with what happened, what I said, the kiss.

What the hell made me so arrogant to think that if I did date, she’d even look at me twice? I know she’s said I’m good-looking, but she could just mean it in a generic way and I’m not her type at all.

The problem is, I’m stressing over the fact it’s bothering me. I’m telling myself it’s because I don’t want to lose her friendship, that we get on great and the girls are best friends. But even I realise I’m lying to myself. I knew it the second I said ‘It wouldn’t be hard to fall in love with her at all. She’s super special’ and I still know it now. It hit me, the words, this punch in the gut that momentarily shook me to my core, but one look at her and it all made sense. It wouldn’t be hard to fall in love with her because I already have. This wasn’t meant to happen. And now I might have just fucked things up with her and lost even her friendship.

My phone pings with a message.

Dinner tonight? My place at 8pm? I’ll cook. X

Or maybe I haven’t. I pop my head around the door to the living room and see both Fallon and Cass sitting on the floor, chatting away as they work on some homework project they’ve been set over Easter. There’s no way that either of them sent it this time. Fallon isn’t at home to use Ivy’s phone. I type out a reply but delete before sending, repeat the process several times. In the end, though, I decide I don’t want to risk saying something stupid and having her cancel. I’ll just turn up at eight and see where things go.

As 7.45pm approaches, I give instructions not to burn the place down or have any mad parties, and I head out. The girls don’t ask where I’m off to, but Cass grins like she can read my thoughts.

It’s a short walk to Ivy’s, one I take at a leisurely pace even though my mind races at a thousand miles a minute. Everything boils down to just one thought. How am I going to tell Ivy that everything I said about not dating has changed? It’s a question I ponder repeatedly as I take the shortcut along the river, the spring air still with a little warmth to it.

Something’s wrong.

Ivy looks me up and down, frowns, and then confirms what I knew the second she opened the door.

“You’re looking fancy. Going out?”

She’s no idea why I’m here. How the hell did those girls pull this one off?

“No, just … fuck. It seems our kids are still trying to set us up.”

“What?”

I show her the message. “Despite being at mine when I got the message, Fallon somehow managed to invite me here for dinner tonight.”

Her eyes go wide. “How the hell… What is she playing at? I’m so sorry. Look, I’m about to make myself dinner, it won’t be fancy, and I’m not dressed up, but you’re more than welcome to stay.”

I could. But then I’d be sitting opposite her all evening trying to hide my disappointment. “It’s fine. I’ll go on into town, take myself on a date, get a couple of drinks.”

Without wasting any time, I retreat down the path, don’t wait around for the sting of humiliation to hit.

“Dan.”

I stop at the gate and look back.

Her voice is low, but on the quiet street I hear her perfectly. “You came.”

“I did,” I reply, and then I’m gone.

****

Dinner. Tomorrow night. 7.00pm. I’ll cook, or at least order take-out.

The message pings in as I’m sitting at the bar in some random pub in town. I don’t really care where I am, I just needed a drink. Or four. This whole feeling something for someone again is hard. Especially when she doesn’t feel the same. What am I doing? I need to get a grip, need to accept that Ivy isn’t looking for anything. Hell, I’m not looking for anything. Or I wasn’t. Until her.

I know her invite is just to make up for tonight, but I can’t ignore it. Before I reply though, I need to confirm Fallon and Cass haven’t found out their plan failed and are trying again. I really don’t think it’s them this time, but I’ve been fooled before.

How do I know it’s you?

There’s nothing for a couple of minutes and then another message pings in, this time, a video one.

“Dan Hunter, I’m inviting you to dinner. Me, Ivy. Not Fallon. I’ll even wash my hair and put a dress on. What do you say?”

She looks perfect, her curls wrapped up in a messy bun on her head, tee slipping off one shoulder. She could wear that forever as far as I’m concerned. She has no need for fancy clothes or make-up. She’s beautiful just as she is.

You’re kind of crazy, you know that, right?

The little dots dance instantly.

I do. But I’m still hoping you’ll say yes anyway.

How could I not?

I like your brand of crazy. It’s kind of sexy.

Oh. Maybe I’ve had more to drink than I thought. She’ll definitely rescind the offer now.

Behave yourself, you. You don’t want to be flirting with me.

Don’t I? I think she’ll find I do.

I probably shouldn’t. We’re friends. And I don’t think it’s allowed. There’s probably something about it in the rule book.

Her reply is instant. And it surprises me. And confuses me. Which after several pints isn’t hard to do.

We’re adults, we get to make our own rules.

Fuck! She’s flirting back. I’m not imagining it. I may be a little tipsy, but I’m pretty sure on this.

So, you won’t throw me out if I flirt over dinner tomorrow?

There’s a little more of a delay before her reply comes through, and I wonder ifshe’s having second thoughts.

Not at all. By the way, just discovered scheduled messages and sent this as one. You can set a time to send messages on this app. Guessing that’s how Fallon sent one while she was at yours.

That explains the delay.

Good to know. I better get home, make sure they’ve not taken over the world while I’ve been out. X

The moment I walk through the door, I hear the girls giggling in the living room and can’t help but pop my head in.

“Me and your mum are only going to communicate in code from now on,” I say to Fallon.

She grins widely. “I’ll crack it, sort you two out.”

I can’t be mad at her, not really. To be honest, I quite admire her ambition and tenacity, and so with a roll of my eyes, I leave them to it and head to bed. I play Ivy’s video over and over, and eventually fall asleep to her smile, her voice.