Chapter22
Martin
Iarrive at the restaurant late, as usual, nerves jangling like it’s a first date.I push open the door, heading for the reception desk to ask if my date has arrived, but then I spot Jamie at a table.I let the question go and press two fingers to my wrist, checking my pulse.
No heart attack.Just anxiety.
I force myself to walk over to him, slow and steady.As I rest my hand on the back of the chair, he looks up and sees me.
“I’m late, and I’m absolutely mortified.”
“Ah, just sit down, will you?”
I do what he says, trying to centre the chair and not make a holy show of myself by falling.
“I’m sorry.”
He puts up a hand.“Right, stop there now.I know exactly where you’re going with this.”
“Oh.Grand… okay.”
“Let’s get one thing straight from the start.”
I nod, nervous.
“If we have to… if this… I mean, if you want to…”
“Go out with you?”
“Exactly.If you want to go out with me, you’ve no need to apologise.Stop mortifying yourself.”
“Okay.”
“This is bullshit.We don’t need it.”
“But this time, it really was my fault.”
He looks at me suspiciously.
“It wasn’t because of work.I was right on time, but…” I exhale deeply.“I stopped by the house first to shower and change.I didn’t want to come here still smelling like the hospital.”
He flashes me a half-smile.
“I’m absolutely making a fool of myself.”
“You are not.”
“Oh yes, I am.I’m sure you’re dying to mess with me.”
“Not at all.I don’t give a damn if you smell like the hospital anyway, just to clarify.”
“You wouldn’t say that after a twenty-four-hour shift, believe me.”
“Try me.”His tone is challenging, but I decide to drop it now.I’m not sure I can compete with him.
“Thank you for coming all this way.I know you live on the other side of town.”
He shrugs.
