CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Date Seven: The One
Nothing beats a long, hot shower in a hotel room. You don’t have to sniff your towel to check if it needs changing, or pause the washing machine so you’re not showering under a tiny trickle. I kicked off my hotel slippers and stepped in, using up all the complimentary toiletries. Now my hair smells deliciously of new shampoo and I’m perched on the end of my bed, applying make-up. I’ve decided to go all out for tonight’s date – shimmering eyes, plenty of mascara, bronzer and a nude lip stain. Finally, I walk over to the wardrobe and pull out a dress. Or should I say, THE dress? It’s the one I bought many moons ago for that wedding I was meant to be going to with James. The one that I spent too much money on.It’s been stuffed into a corner of my wardrobe at home ever since and for a while, I’d wondered about putting it on eBay. Something stopped me and now, in this moment, I know what it was.
I slip into the dress and whisper a little ‘thanks’ to Jasmine from four days ago for packing it. It was a last-minute addition to my suitcase and I remember laughing at myself like, ‘AS IF you’re going to find an occasion to wear this thing of beauty. On a work trip. To Dublin.’ Thank goodness I did. I feel like so many millions of dollars as I grab my bag, shut the door to my hotel room and head out for my date.
This restaurant is so cool, though the fact that I just called it cool means I probably shouldn’t be here. But deal with it baby, because I am! I’m sat at a corner table next to tropical print wallpaper, all palm trees and pink flowers. The entire ceiling is taken over with deep green vines, the chairs are wicker and I swear they’re playing one of those tropical rainforest soundtracks that are meant to help you sleep in the background. Either that or there actually are parrots and a waterfall in here somewhere. Ooh, I hope it’s the latter! I love a parrot.
I look down and give my dress a little stroke.
‘I’m so happy to be wearing you!’ I whisper. ‘It finally felt like the right time.’
A waiter clears his throat, because obviously I chose the moment when he was approaching to talk to my outfit.
‘May I get you a drink?’
I look back at the drinks menu. Initially I was planning on champagne but then I remembered that one successful work trip hasn’t suddenly turned me into a millionaire.
‘A glass of prosecco, please.’
‘Andanything for your date?’ He gestures towards the empty seat opposite me.
I shake my head. ‘I’m on a date with myself tonight.’
‘An excellent choice,’ he says, clearing away the cutlery on the other side of the table.
I used to hate standing in a queue for a Maccy D’s by myself, let along eating food solo. Even waiting for Mila to turn up at our local was an excruciating affair of me pretending to be obsessed with my phone, but there are only so many times a girl can refresh Instagram before she gets bored. Then again, I used to hate a lot of things. Like being at a party with no one I knew. Or continually taking a load of shit from Violet even though I knew deep down that I should ruddy well stand up for myself.
I chew on a piece of delicious steak, feeling completely content sat by myself. Other diners smile when they catch my eye and I revel in feeling confident and self-assured. Frazer was surprised (obvs) but polite when I turned him down. I knew that I needed to do this. To go out on a date, by myself, and let the past few bonkers months sink in.
Who knew that James dumping me on the London Eye would be the catalyst for this whole shake up?‘Date some different guys!’Mila said.‘Off you go!’Some may say (everyone will say) that I was reluctant but looking back, I’ve learned something from every single one of those dates. Too Much Thierry was the perfect starter date, even though he was handsy and way too full on for me. He taught me that getting out thereisa better option to sitting at home and feeling sorry for myself. Pie with My IT Guy was date number two and deeply unsexy. I mean, we talked about constipation for crying out loud! But though our pie and mash night didn’t sizzle, my friendship with Arnie has been one of the best things to come from this. He’s helped me so much with getting my website up andrunning, he’s always there if I need him and he has this innate way of giving me confidence when I could most do with it. Alessandro Al Fresco was, frankly, ridiculous and I will never forget the time I got papped dating Italian royalty. He was thoughtful, a true gentleman and made me realise that a breath of fresh air was exactly what I needed.
My mind moves on to date number four, Real Talk with Ralph, and I run my fingers around my glass of prosecco at the thought of his mysterious, smouldering demeanour andthosecheekbones. Oof. It’s funny to think that a chance encounter in Switzerland could have had such an impact. Turns out I find a man with ambition hot. Not ambition to make lots of money like my old type, but ambition to follow in their passion. And secondly, that it is okay to open up about my past. I felt at ease with Ralph in a way that I wasn’t used to and that will definitely be something I look for in a future boyfriend.
Date five with Charlie the Courageous was a game-changer. That hot geek got me so hot under the collar. Thinking back, his stories gave me the push to take a chance on Ben and be brave enough to finally stand up to Violet. He was cute, shy, self-deprecating and unbelievably sexy with it. Long distance is a bitch though and the date taught me that work is my priority right now. So date number six, Hot DAMN, Harry!, was never going to be the start of a long-term thing, but I guess that just reflects how different I feel about things now. I’m not constantly planning for the future or wondering how long it’s going to be before I settle down, I’m ruddy well getting out there and enjoying life! And OH BOY, skinny dipping with naked Harry most definitely ticks that box! I think that date was possibly the sexiest thing that has ever happened to me.
Original date seven has been wiped from my notes, you guys. I take a sip of wine and giggle. A date with my best friend Ben! Even though kissing Ben was wildly awkward, the questions I had over our friendship were answered on that weekend in Oxford and nowwe’re back to normal. In fact, Ben’s been on a second date with Anita, the girl he met after Mila set us up on that cringe drinks date. I feel nothing but happiness for Ben and I really hope this works out for him.
When Mila came up with the idea of dating some new guys I couldn’t even see how I’d find the time, let alone get some dates. Skip forward to the end of the summer and I’ve travelled to six different places and had dates with six different guys, none of whom ticked too many things on my old list. Now I’m in Dublin on a date with myself. You can’t really rate yourself, can you? Oh what the heck, I’m getting a ten out of ten! I never thought I’d be brave enough to step out from Violet’s shadow and yet here I am, working for myself and trying my best to make a go of it. And suddenly it dawns on me. These dates weren’t really about finding The One. Soz for the cheese, but I think they were about finding me. I feel proud of myself for following my photography dreams and, for the first time in ages, I’m not stressing out about the guy I’m dating. What happened with Dad made me focus too much on finding my own ideal man. I wanted someone who would never do to me what he did to Mum. Only, Mila was right, I ended up becoming fussy AF and going for all the wrong guys. Now I’m calm, happy and best of all, not stressing about the future.
I ask for the bill and fish around in my bag for my purse. Pulling out two lens caps, a spare memory card and a flyer for a band I heard playing on the street earlier, my fingers eventually wrap around my passport holder. I open it up and pull out the now-slightly-dogeared memo from Mila.
My NEW type on paper
1. Blond, beardy, topknot?
2. Sport is out, being passionate is in
3. ANYEYE COLOUR you fussy mo fo
4. Less flirty, more genuinely nice
5. Non-wanker job
6. Start looking past his outfit
7. Strong group of friends?
