She didn’t like that he was concerned about her. The best approach was to be brave and just come out with it. What was the worst that could happen? Unhelpful images of him turning the table over and storming out ran through her mind. But he wasn’t like that. The worst he would do would be to look embarrassed and leave. ‘Right. The thing is… Why is there always a thing?’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Is there?’ He didn’t know about the other things. Jay’s thing with Tasha and Dixie’s thing with Ned.
‘I’m just going to say it. Please don’t judge me or hate me. Or—’
‘Nora …’
‘Sorry.’ She took a steadying breath. ‘I asked you here because—’
‘A bottle of the Merlot?’ The waiter showed the bottle to Liam.
‘Thanks.’ They sat awkwardly while the waiter half filled their glasses, which seemed to take ages. At last he put down the bottle and walked away.
Liam had a look of expectation about him. Shethought back to their last outing when Gareth had tried to join them and Liam had said they were friends. That comment was still niggling her. It was the thing that was going to spoil things if that was all he thought of her. That was the red sock in her whites wash.
‘Liam. When Gareth rocked up when we were having coffee…’
He shook his head but was smiling. ‘He was a bit full on. How did you ever match with him?’
‘Who knows? Anyway, the thing is, when he asked how you knew me, you said we were old friends.’ She waited and watched for his reaction.
‘I can’t believe he asked about your bowels.’ Liam laughed as he perused the menu.
‘Liam, are you listening to me?’
He looked up. ‘Yeah. I said we were old friends. I thought that was the end of your sentence.’
‘It was but what I want to know is… is that it? Is that how you see our past? Just friends?’
She had to make herself keep breathing steadily, otherwise she was in danger of holding her breath and passing out.
‘Umm, it wasn’t something I was thinking too deeply about at the time.’ He put down the menu. ‘But I’m guessing you’ve been dwelling on that.’
She scratched the back of her neck. ‘Nah, not really. Not thought about it until now, or not much anyway.’ He was smiling at her. ‘OK, I have been totally obsessing about it. Because I thought maybe we had something.You know, like the thing everyone else has. And I think now that we threw it away. But maybe we shouldn’t have done. I wonder whether if we hadn’t broken up perhaps we’d still be together now. And maybe we’d be happy.’ It wasn’t at all how she’d rehearsed it in her head but at least it was said now.
‘Ahh, the “what might have been” conundrum.’ He gave a slow nod. ‘We all do it. It’s kind of fun to play out different endings in your head. I get it. Truth is that whether it would have worked out long-term is something we’ll never know.’ He picked up his menu again.
Nora pushed his menu back down on to the table. She looked him in the eye. ‘I’m asking you if you want to try again, because I think I do.’
37
It was really hard for Nora to not hold her breath while she waited for Liam to respond. A couple of seconds felt like for ever. She was about to cave and say ‘Only joking’ in her best Alan Partridge when a firm hand on her shoulder made her freeze. If it was Gareth again, she was pretty sure there wasn’t a jury in the country that would find her guilty if she chopped him into little pieces with a cake fork.
‘Is it business or pleasure?’ asked her dad, hovering at her shoulder.
This was possibly worse than Gareth.
‘Dad, now’s not a good—’
‘Praise be. You are on a date at last,’ said her mother, coming to stand at the edge of the table. ‘I recognize you. Now don’t tell me…’ Una closed her eyes as if trying to contact the spirit world.
‘Mum, it’s Liam,’ said Nora in her most embarrassed voice, one that was reserved exclusively for her parents.
‘Liam. That’s it. I would have remembered. I never forget a boyfriend. And there have been quite a few.’ Una laughed. Nora died a little inside.
‘Mum. It is lovely to see you but do you think we could catch up later?’
‘It is lovely to see you too.’ Una turned her attention to Liam. ‘We rarely see her these days, Liam. She’s either working or climbing or crafting. We don’t even have a key for her house any more. Nora has such little time for us. Are you like that with your parents?’
