‘He gave Dan the business card to put in my hand when the lights went out as he assumed I’d lost his last one.’ Elle’s eyes widened and she bit her lip to try and tame her smile.
Pippa raised her eyebrows. ‘There you go. He wants you to get in touch. He’s clearly been thinking about you as much as you’ve been thinking about him.’
‘You can’t assume that from that message.’
‘Yes, you can. He’s given you his business card … again. He wants you to ring him.’
Elle lifted her hair off her neck and twisted it into a bun, then let it cascade back over her shoulders while she pondered. ‘Maybe.’
‘There’s no maybe about it. Why don’t you just add, “It was good to see you last night, if only for a split second”?’ Pippa encouraged.
Elle typed the message and hit send. She had nothing to lose.
They both stared at the phone like it was about to explode – and then there was nothing.
Elle sighed. ‘Maybe that was a little too keen and we’ve frightened him away now.’
‘It’s only been a couple of seconds. He might have nipped to make a drink or is having a shower. He might even be working.’
‘On a Sunday?’ Elle replied, swallowing her disappointment.
‘He’s a writer, isn’t he? He might be up to his eyes in edits or something.’
‘More like back to bed with a girlfriend for lazy Sunday sex.’
Pippa tutted and rolled her eyes dramatically. ‘Such a pessimist!’
They both jumped as the phone beeped.
‘Ha! This time it’s my phone,’ Pippa said, taking it from the pocket of her PJs.
‘Who is it?’
‘Aiden,’ she said, slowly swiping the screen.
‘And it says?’
‘“Are you still up for the cinema?1.30 p.m.?”’ Pippa read.
‘See!’
‘There isn’t even an apology for his behaviour last night.’ She turned the phone towards Elle.
‘Okay, maybe he thinks it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other. Here’s the thing – he still wants to go. I think this is a man apology.’
‘And how do you make that out?’ She looked at Elle as if she’d just said something absolutely ridiculous.
‘Because he’s texted first – and not only that, he’s brushed over the subject because maybe he’s a little embarrassed about last night. This is his way of saying, “I was hurt and overreacted, but only because I really like you.”’
‘A simple sorry would do.’
‘As the saying goes: men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Just go with it and if needs must, talk to him about it when you see him.’
‘What will you do this afternoon?’
‘Me? I’m going to nip over to Irene’s before I cook up a magnificent roast for when you get home. Then you can tell me all about your date.’
‘You’resogood to me!’
