Noah swallowed hard. “How about I take you for dinner on Saturday night? You can tell me about your progress.”
Carmine stopped. “Is that allowed?”
“Yes, they let me eat. Plus, we’re off on Sunday so I can stay out until gone midnight.”
“Gosh. Then I accept.”
Anticipation swept through Noah’s body. He might not be as out there as Tito but he was beginning to understand the value in seizing the moment.
“Great,” he replied. “I’ll text you where and when.”
He stared into Carmine’s eyes. Of course, he was probably projecting yet there was something that instinctively made Noah trust him.
Let’s hope I’m right for once.
SIX
CARMINE
Carmine stood on the street corner and glanced up at the skies. Dark clouds threatened rain. God how he missed the Californian weather. This constant gloom of northern England took some getting used to.
He glanced at his watch. Noah was late.
Brockton had lost that afternoon. Carmine had taken to checking on the internet. Perhaps Noah would do what Carmine’s father and brother had failed at. He might spark an interest in football.
As a child he’d been dragged to matches at Brockton Park. He’d spent the time sketching or daydreaming. Now he was about to go out with a player. Life never failed to surprise.
What was more pressing now was the very real possibility that Noah might cancel their date. Carmine supposed sportsmen took losing very badly. Maybe Noah lay in a darkened room lamenting a missed ball or whatever they worried about.
Carmine’s phone vibrated.
Here we go.
Thankfully it was Samantha texting.
“Are you at your best?”
He took a quick selfie of himself and returned it. Carmine had spent ages on his outfit so he’d better look good. In the end he’d gone to Selfridges and had a splurge on some new threads. The All Saints diamond pattern jumper paired well with Diesel jeans. He’d found his ancient Converse trainers as a contrast. Ever since school, Carmine had hated new shoes. The amount of times Maria had told him off for dragging his feet along the pavement to scuff them up.
God he was out of touch with all this dating lark. The added pressure of trying to impress a younger and richer man was real.
A message came straight back.
“You are so going to sleep with him tonight.”
Carmine grinned and replied.
“You know what? You might be right.”
That’s if he even shows up.
Carmine turned the collar up on his coat and scanned the road. Still no sign. His flat lay on a small side road in the centre of Manchester. The main street of Deansgate, which cut through the city, lay to his right. So many steel towers had been built since Carmine had last visited. The skyline was unrecognisable.
Suddenly a black Range Rover came into view. Of course, Carmine’s stomach did a double backflip. As Noah drew up, Carmine took a moment. It had been way too long since he’d been on a date. He could do this.
The passenger window went down to reveal Noah. His face lit up by that gorgeous smile. Maybe he hadn’t taken the loss too much to heart.
“Good evening,” Carmine said.
