‘Come,’ he says simply.
I look at him directly for the first time. His eyes are warm and sincere and hold the same invitation as his words.
‘Maybe. I’ll see if Amy and Rach are up for it.’
‘Pretty sure Amy is, if Dan has anything to do with it.’
He gives me a cheeky grin and this time I mirror it back, placing his Coke down and reaching for a second glass.
‘What was that first song you played?’ I ask.
‘“Go with the Flow” by Queens of the Stone Age. It’s an oldie.’
‘And the last?’
‘“Space and Time” by Wolf Alice.’
‘Cool. I want to add them to my playlist,’ I explain casually. ‘I really liked the fifth one too.’
He cocks his head to one side, then shakes it. ‘I can’t remember. I’ll pull up the set list later for you if you like.’
‘Thanks.’ I smile at him and my insides feel fizzy when he smiles back, dimples showing.
‘So what else have you got on this playlist?’ he asks, propping his chin on the palm of his right hand and gazing at me.
Maybe his eyes are turquoise, I muse, trying to put a name to their colour. They’re not dissimilar to the colour of the sea around here: Celtic Sea green.
‘All sorts,’ I reply.
‘Like what?’
On a whim, I flip off the tap and seek out my phone from my bag under the bar, open Music and pass it over.
He has a black metal ring on his thumb that glints under the bar lights as he scrolls through. ‘Whatisthis playlist?’ he asks with confusion, his brows pulling together as he glances up at me.
‘What do you mean?’ I’m halfway through filling the first of the two beers.
‘It’s so random.’
‘It’s my playlist,’ I reply a touch defensively, not sure what he’s getting at.
‘You say that like it’s youronlyplaylist.’
I shrug at him and start on the final pint.
‘Wait,’ he says with a frown. ‘Isthis your only playlist?’
‘Yeah. It’s just a bunch of songs that I like.’
‘So you don’t have a rock playlist or an acoustics playlist or any specific type of playlist?’ He’s regarding me with open disbelief now.
‘How many times can you say “playlist” in a single conversation?’ I ask with a laugh before answering. ‘No. I don’t really listen to that much music, but I know when I like it.’
‘Who’s your favourite band?’
‘I don’t have one.’
‘Favourite song?’
