‘No one that sticks around for longer than five minutes.’
‘What about Martin? You met him at the Cathouse, and then he turned up for a date at Elliots.’
‘Yeah. He did,’ I say. ‘And then he bailed.’
‘So, what did you say to him?’
I shrug. ‘Nothing bad. We were just chatting and then he went to the bathroom and never came back.’
‘Whatexactlywere you talking about beforehand?’
‘Uni… and stuff.’
‘Did you tell him what you were studying?’
‘Erm… maybe.’
Rose sighs. ‘You have to hold back on that information for a while. No one wants to date a lawyer. Especially guys you meet in a club.’
‘But—’
‘Actually, there’s a guy in one of my classes?—’
‘Philip?’
‘Yes. He’s not completely boring.’
‘We’ve already met,’ I say. ‘We had coffee, and then he ghosted me. Have you not noticed he doesn’t sit near me in lectures, that if I happen to sit anywhere in the vicinity of him, he actually gets up and moves.’ I bite my lip. He’s not the only guy who seems to go actively out of their way to avoid me, either. ‘What am I doing wrong?’
Rose sighs and looks me up and down. ‘We could try a makeover?’
‘I want them to likemeand want to spend time withme, Rose. Not whatever they think I’m going to be like because of what I’m wearing.’
‘You dress like a nun, Niamh. I’m not sure that your clothes really give guys an accurate picture of who you are right now.’
I sigh. ‘Maybe once I’m qualified and earning decent money I’ll invest in a new wardrobe.’
‘Did you listen to what I said earlier at all? No one wants to date a lawyer. Everyone thinks that somehow when they’re with you, they’re going to do something that you think is evidence of them committing a crime, or you’re going to see something you shouldn’t and have them locked up forever.’
‘That… can’t possibly be true, can it?’
Rose sighs. ‘Okay, why don’t we try something? I’ve got a spare outfit in my bag. Nothing too revealing,’ she assures me before I start to object. ‘It’ll suit you. Come on. You’ve got nothing to lose, right?’
She winks at me and hands over a bag from a designer store nearby.
‘Rose, I can’t accept?—’
‘Yes, you can. Now come on, drink up and I’ll get us another round while you change. The bar isn’t open yet so no one will see you.’
The cocktail goes down easily, its sweetness barely making it feel like I’m drinking alcohol, then I down the accompanying shot of prosecco.
‘Right, fine,’ I sigh, standing up and heading downstairs.
It’s weird walking through the closed bar. I don’t usually come to this part of The Three Graces as there’s no dancefloor, and the clientele are usually older. Late twenties at least.
The bathrooms are in the far back corner, a long wooden screen separating the short corridor they are located on from the rest of the club. I push open the door to the ladies’, wincing at the loud squeak the door makes as it swings slowly shut.
Standing in front of the large mirror, I put the bag Rose gave me on the counter and remove my cardigan and blouse. I wrinkle my nose. Rose is right about the energy I’m giving off– uptight, prim. I start by fixing my make-up, putting on a little more blusher, making my eyes a little smokier. I’m leaning forward to apply a deep red lipstick when I hear footsteps approach. And suddenly the door crashes open. Igrab for my clothes, holding them in a ball in front of me so that whoever it is sees as little as possible.
