‘I’m not trying to be.’
‘I gathered.’
Olivia rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest. ‘So how long are you planning to be in India for, then? I imagine there’s only so much to see when you’ve done it three times.’
‘I’m not sure.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean, I’m not sure,’ he stated again. ‘As in, I don’t know yet.’
‘But how can you not know?’ Olivia frowned. ‘Don’t you have a job to get back to?’
‘No.’
‘But how do you survive? What do you live on?’
‘Jesus, I didn’t realize this was an interview.’ He moved a few paces forward, so they were now standing inside the cafe.
‘It’s not. I’m just intrigued.’
‘And as much as I’d love to answer you, it’s our turn to order in a second. What do you want?’ He pointed up at a faded chalkboard that hung over the counter.
Olivia tried to quickly scan the menu, but it was hard to read all the options whilst being shoved around by the other restless, hungry customers.
‘I don’t know, I can’t see very well.’ She craned her neck. ‘I’ll just have whatever you’re having.’
‘Great decision.’ He turned to the man behind the counter.‘Two paneer paratha, please,’ Jacob ordered. ‘Oh, and two chai.’
The server nodded and held his hand out for payment.
‘How much is it?’ Olivia began rifling in her bag for some change.
‘Don’t worry about it, I’ve got this.’
‘No, thank you. I’ll pay my half.’ She tried to pass over some coins, but Jacob pushed her hand away.
‘It’s fine, I’ve got this.’
‘But I don’t want you to.’
‘Well, you can get the next round, how about that?’ Jacob steered Olivia over to the side, before she could even process the fact that he was expecting a second round. ‘Now, it’s rammed in here – why don’t you wait outside, and I’ll bring it out for us, OK?’
Olivia was speechless. The way in which Jacob took control was unsettling. She wasn’t used to it. Back home, it was her that took charge of things, and it was her who took care of the money. Her high salary afforded her the luxury to treat everyone else around her. On dates she always insisted on paying half, regardless of whether the guy was a total creep or not – which, more often than not, they were.
As Olivia reluctantly made her way outside, she caught her reflection in the cafe window; she’d be lucky to date one of those creeps now, judging by the look of her! Lank, dusty hair; sweaty face, blotchy from the heat. It was a far cry from the meticulously put-together person she was back home. In fact, it was possibly the least attractive she’d felt in her entire adult life. Not that it mattered. Rough and ready was part and parcel of the travelling life, wasn’t it?
‘Two paneer paratha and two chai!’ Jacob burst from the door, holding a bag of food aloft.
Olivia hastily smoothed her hair away from her face and averted her gaze from her reflection in the window, taking from Jacob a warm, heavy parcel and a cup of steaming spiced liquid.
‘Thank you for this.’
‘My pleasure.’ He raised his cup to hers. ‘Now enjoy, madam, and let me know what you think.’
Olivia cautiously peeled back the greasy brown paper and took a bite. The buttery, flaky bread dissolved on her tongue, as the salty cheese and spices hit her taste buds.
Holy. Shit.
