He shrugged, awkwardly crawling out of the jacket. He was a nice-looking guy, just…tired. If I was completely honest here? He looked absolutely wrecked.
“Wanna sit on the sofa? I don’t think my back can take more of this sitting on the floor,” I tried.Please. I can’t do this.
“Not sure I want to get up. I’m hoping this corner here is a blind spot for those cameras.”
“You’ve got the mic around your neck still. We both do.”
“Contract…and all that.”
“Yes. I have no idea what I was thinking.”
“Well, you must have known what you were getting yourself into.”
He smiled, the man. Good. At least he was easy to talk to, still clinging on to his paper cup. He’d chewed the edges, like a teenager. Nervous disposition then. A bit like my Ed.
I don’t know why, but in a way, I was a little calmer now.
“You want to hear something ridiculous?” I smiled. Couldn’t help it, gently spurred on by the enthusiastic way he nodded.
“I’m kind of…relieved to have been paired up with you. I mean, the pressure is definitely off. I don’t think I was ready for this, not at all. And now…I mean. I don’t have to woo you or try to make you like me…”
I fell silent. Again.
“You need to control that mouth.” He didn’t sound angry. Just amused. “You’ve already made yourself a good ten memes, and what has it been? Half an hour of being on this show?”
“I have, haven’t I? I’m not cut out for this. I’m a dentist for heaven’s sake!” He was absolutely right in that observation. I could see it all, playing out on the web, and not in a good way.
“A dentist?”
“Paediatric orthodontist,” I stuttered out. “I fit kids with braces. Fix their teeth. Do surgeries once a week. That kind of thing.”
“You give people great smiles.” He grinned. “Not being flippant. I had my teeth fixed a few years ago. My mouth wasn’t great.”
“Looks good to me?”
“Seriously. Don’t flirt with me, Granddad. It’s not funny.”
“Don’t be ageist, kid.”
We both laughed. It felt good, like a small breath of relief after what had been a crazy day. Horrid. So many mistakes already. I shook my head in unease as he gifted me a small smile. The boy was sweet.
“I’m not doing myself any favours here.”
“Nope.” He smiled. “So, what on earth did you ask for that got you coupled up with me? I can’t quite see you asking for a washed-up twink?”
“Is that what you call yourself?”
“Thought you would have asked for a nice lady. Or some young bird. Midlife crisis and all that.”
He wasn’t being mean, just making conversation. So was I as I shook my head.
“Nah, I just asked for someone nice. Someone I could talk to. Who would need me and enjoy my company, just simple things. I didn’t ask for much. If I’d known what I know now?”
“Perhaps you should have been more specific.”
“Yes. I’ve kind of…realised that.”
“Instead you got all this mess. What a let-down.”
