Fiona appeared beside the table. ‘Good evening,’ she said, grinning in an entirely unsubtle way. She was always on at me about my lack of a social life, so I knew she’d be loving this. ‘I’m Fiona, and I’ll be your waitress tonight. Can I get you both some drinks while you look over the menus?’
‘Fiona,’ I said, willing her with my eyes to calm the hell down. ‘This is Taylor.’
Fiona’s hand shot out in greeting. ‘It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve never met a friend of Jack’s before. Well, apart from Hannah, but she doesn’t count because she’s afriendfriend, you know, not a… whatever this is…’ She trailed off when saw me cringe. ‘I’ve just gone and put my foot in it, haven’t I?’
‘It’s nice to meet you too.’ Taylor smiled.
‘I know I’ve said too much already,’ Fiona continued. ‘But can I just add, that dress is gorgeous on you. I’ve never seen anyone in this town look so glamorous.’
In one of those moments that the universe likes to create just for fun, right at that second a woman ventured past our table on her way to the bathroom. She was a wearing a tiny, butt-skimming denim skirt, a tight T-shirt that said MINNESOTA ROCKS and Ugg boots.
‘Thanks,’ Taylor said. ‘But I think I might be a tad overdressed.’
‘Not at all,’ Fiona protested. ‘If anything, everyone else in this place is underdressed. At least you guys have made an effort for your date. That’s more than most people in this town bother with.’
‘It’s not a date,’ Taylor and I said at exactly the same time.
‘Sure it’s not.’ Fiona smiled smugly.
I changed the subject. ‘What do you feel like?’ I asked Taylor. ‘Wine or cocktails?’
‘Oh definitely cocktails,’ she replied emphatically.
‘In that case, I’ll have a Nor’easter, please,’ I informed Fiona, passing her the menu.
‘What’s in that?’ Taylor asked.
‘Bourbon, maple syrup and ginger beer.’
She looked skeptical. ‘Maple syrup?’
I nodded. ‘The good stuff. Direct from Quebec.’
‘Sounds sweet, but interesting. What the hell, I’ll have the same, thanks, Fiona.’
‘Coming right up.’
Taylor rested her elbows on the table and leaned forward. I tried really hard not to notice how her breasts swelled out of the top of her dress when she did so. ‘Is this the point of the evening when we make small talk and get to know each other better?’
‘You tell me. I’m a little rusty at this.’
Her eyebrows arched. ‘Really? Someone like you? I would have thought you’d have dates lined up every Friday and Saturday night.’
I smirked. ‘Someone like me?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Meaning?’
‘You’re not too horrible to look at, I suppose.’
I laughed. ‘And also ridiculously buff, don’t forget.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘How could I forget when you remind me every three seconds?’
‘Well excuse me for not wanting to let go of the best compliment anyone has paid me in years.’
‘I find that hard to believe.’
