‘Give it here.’ I reach for it, but he holds it away at arm’s length.
‘I might send it to my mum.’
‘Oi. Give it back –now.’
‘She’d really like it,’ he teases.
I grab his arm and wrestle the photo from his grasp as he laughs. ‘How rude.’ I put on a prim and proper English accent. I meet his eyes and am greeted with a naughty look. For once, I don’t go red.
‘What are you doing tonight?’ he asks.
I falter for a second before pulling a lie out of my cap. ‘I . . . It’s a friend’s birthday. I’m having dinner in Manly.’
He nods and I swear he can see right through me. ‘When’s your next day off?’ I ask shiftily.
‘Monday,’ he says.
‘Do you . . . Would you fancy coming in to have lunch with me again?’
He smiles slightly. ‘Yeah, sure. Same time and place?’
‘Is that okay?’
‘Of course.’
I force a smile and indicate the plastic bag holding my new purchase. ‘Thanks,’ I say. ‘Thanks for persuading me.’
‘Now you have to get onto that course,’ he replies, backing away.
‘Absolutely!’ I practically shout, totally overcompensating for wavering a moment ago. He grins and turns away and I experience the usual horrible comedown. I walk around the corner of the building, feeling downhearted, and then I remember my new camera and the smile is back on my face in a flash.
I push through the doors to my building, all excited about showing Nicola and Mel what I’ve got, but as soon as I see them, I know something’s not quite right.
‘Who is he?’ Nicola asks immediately as I approach the reception desk.
‘Who’s who?’ I reply, but it’s too late. She’s seen my expression.
‘I saw you on my way back in from lunch,’ she reveals, smirking, as I walk around the desk to my seat.
My pulse races as I try to think what she could have seen. On her way back in from lunch . . . That was an hour ago. What? What did she see?
‘What are you going on about?’ I try to seem indifferent as I perch myself on my stool.
‘That hot, sexy man?’ Nicola persists. I can feel her and Mel watching me like a hawk for any sense of weakness.
‘Who –Ben?’ I pull a face.
‘Is that his name? He’s a bit of alright.’
‘He’s an old friend,’ I say dismissively. ‘He came camera shopping with me today.’ I pull the camera box out of the plastic bag. ‘Check it out.’
‘Wow, that’s a bit specky,’ Mel says, leaning in for a look as I get out the camera from its box. ‘How much was it?’
‘Put it this way, it maxed out my credit card. Do you mind if I stick it on here to charge?’ I indicate the power point underneath the reception desk.
‘Sure.’ Mel shrugs.
Nicola rests her elbow against the desk and grins across at me. I look away. ‘So,’ she says. ‘Who’s Ben?’
