"I go out on Friday night and I come home on Saturday morning." The Bossanova style cover of The Specials classic reminds me I'm supposed to be having fun. It is Friday night after all!
I sneak a surreptitious look at my phone. The digital readout says that its only 21.45. The evening is dragging. It's not that the company I'm in is boring exactly, just not very stimulating. Veronica is saying something about the management structure at the company she works for. I didn't quite catch all that she said. Something about who gets the use of the coffee machine I think. The bar is beginning to fill up a little more now and the clatter and hum of people having a good time has got a little louder. Perhaps I could feign a headache, say that I have to go home.
"Don't you agree, Phil?" the longer than usual pause that follows the question jumps me out of my reverie.
"Yes, maybe," I hedge. Four quizzical faces turn my way. Rhonda raises her eyebrows.
"If you don't think he's cute then why have you been staring at him like a slim fast virgin with a cream bun? Anja looks sideways at me. " If you're not interested then I certainly am. I could do with a toy boy!"
" I wasn't . . . I mean, er, I didn't," I stutter lamely only now looking at the supposed object of my attention. Although having said that, if I wasn't I should've been. Standing by the bar, taller than the average with the kind of looks I like, he smiles, raises his glass a little. Embarrassment floods my cheeks with warmth and I look away, aware that my knees feel a little weak and that my face isn't the only part of me that feels a little warmer than normal. The girls all laugh and agree that the guy at the bar is indeed cute.
" Go on! " Rhonda says mischievously. " Go and chat to him."
"You go girl!!" agrees Aimee, the American.
"What're you waiting for?" demands Veronica.
I look down coyly, shaking my head. " I can't do that."
"Ah, go on," Veronica says. " What've you got to lose?" I shake my head again.
"It's just not me. Besides I don't think he's really my type." The girls give a collective sigh. "Does anyone want another drink?" I ask hurriedly. They all nod enthusiastically.
"Yes, same again"
"Vodka tonic for me"