NYE Pete: Yes? Unless you’ve already eaten?
Charlie: Nope. I’m still in bed. And I’m starving
His next text doesn’t come through right away, making me reread what I just sent. Should I not have said I was still in bed? Too flirty?
Three dots appear, then vanish.
Then it happens again.
Charlie: Pete?
NYE Pete: Sorry! Was stuck picturing that image
Charlie: What? Me starving? It’s not pretty
NYE Pete: Yes, that’s exactly what I was imagining
He adds the straight-faced emoji and it makes me laugh out loud.
Ohh, we’re so flirting.
Charlie: Ahh, you meant this?
I lift my phone and take a selfie. I’ve got the quilt pulled up to my chin, so all you can see is my face. But my hair is, for once, playing nice and I look all sleep-rumpled and hopefully kind of sexy.
My finger hovers over the Send button.
We’ve already decided on just friends. Is this crossing a line or harmless flirting?
Fuck it.
I hit Send.
It’s not like it’s a dick pic.
I imagine Pete looking at my picture and feel my cheeks heat. Before I can get too up in my head about it, he replies.
NYE Pete: That’s not playing fair
Charlie: Sorry
I’m so not.
Charlie: So, I believe you promised me lunch?
NYE Pete: I did. Pick you up in about an hour?
My stomach rumbles and an hour seems like ages.
Charlie: Any chance you could make that half an hour. My stomach’s about to eat itself
NYE Pete: Best I can do is 40 minutes. Does that work?
Charlie: Perfect
Pretty sure I have some biscuits left from yesterday. They’ll have to tide me over.
NYE Pete: Ok, I’ll see you in a bit. And Charlie?
