‘Sorry,’ she said, vaguely acknowledging them, ‘but she cannot serve you until I’ve done this.’ She dropped her bag on the floor and hugged me tightly. ‘Ah, that’s grand. You can serve these nice people now. I need a wee and a coffee. Hi everyone.’ With a dramatic wave towards my team, she disappeared into The Outback.
‘I’m so sorry about that.’
Thankfully the customers laughed. ‘I assume she’s a good friend,’ the man said.
‘You’d think so, but I’ve never seen her before in my life.’ They looked so shocked that I felt I had to quickly add. ‘I’m joking really.’
‘What’s the craic?’ asked Clare, reappearing with a drink after the couple left. ‘I hope you’ve organised a night on the town with your man Stevie and the delightful Rob.’
‘I haven’t organised anything but I can text Stevie to see if they’re free.’
‘You’re busy creating.’ She indicated the half-made bouquet on the counter. ‘Why don’t you give me your pathetic excuse for a phone and I’ll text Stevie while you finish? He won’t be able to say no to me. No man can.’
Grinning at her outrageous display of self-confidence, I handed over my phone.
Five minutes later, she emerged from The Outback and thrust my phone in front of me. ‘What’s this?’
I glanced down at the message from Nick from earlier that morning and blushed.
?? From Nick
Good morning I only left you 6 hours ago & I’m missing you already. Wish I could see you tonight xxx
‘Care to explain?’
‘Shh.’ I nodded towards Mum and Cathy who were busy re-stocking the flower buckets. ‘Who said you could look through my texts?’
‘It’s the obvious thing to do when some daft muppet hands over their phone,’ she whispered. ‘Am I correct in thinking you’ve ditched the search for your man Steven and shagged some bloke called Nick?’
‘I haven’t shagged him as you so delicately put it but, yes, the search for Steven has been called off.’
‘You dark horse. I didn’t think you’d ever dismiss that CD as bollocks. Good on you.’
‘I haven’t dismissed it as bollocks.’
‘But you’re seeing a non-Steven.’
‘Yes, but it isn’t that simple. I’ll explain why later.’
‘Go on. Admit it was bollocks.’
My phone beeped, saving me from a further debate, but Clare grabbed it off me.
‘Oi!’ I tried to retrieve it but she held it high, giggling.
‘It’s from Stevie,’ she said when I gave up and she was able to lower the phone. ‘Not lover-boy. Yes! They were planning to go out tonight anyway and would love to meet us.’
‘Great. You’ve got your answer so give me my phone back.’
‘Say please.’
‘Please.’
She stuck out her tongue as she handed it over.
‘You’re being very childish today and suspiciously upbeat.’ I shoved my phone deep into my jeans pocket.
‘But I make you laugh,’ she said. ‘Now spill. I have to know everything about you and your man Nick. Who is he for a start and how is it I’ve never heard of him?’
