‘Well, I am impressed. Even if I hate tennis. My ex used to make me play a couple of times a week.’ I winced at the memory. ‘It killed my knees.’
Chad seemed confused. ‘Why didn’t you say no?’
I paused, thinking back to that time. Why didn’t I say no? I wondered. Why did I always try to accommodate everything Philip liked?
‘I’m a pussy!’ I shrugged. ‘What can I say?’
He blushed slightly, opening his mouth, then stopping himself and shaking his head.
‘What?’ I asked suspiciously.
‘No, it was stupid.’ Chad smiled, his icy blue eyes still bright in the dim lighting.
‘Tell me!’
He ran a hand through his wavy blond hair. ‘I was about to say .?.?. OK .?.?. Here goes – if you need help with your ball skills, or a massage for that dodgy knee, then I could always help?’ He paused, looking slightly embarrassed, then we both burst out laughing.
‘I knew that line wouldn’t land – not with you?’
‘You would be right,’ I admitted.
‘Damn!’ He shook his head. ‘Have I turned you off? I’ve lost you now, haven’t I?’ he asked, looking panicked. ‘I knew as soon as you sat down, you were different, that you’d be more difficult to hit on.’
I couldn’t help but smile. ‘To be honest, I broke up with my boyfriend last week and I only came here tonight because my friend Katy has had this crazy bit of guy drama since arriving in New York. She wanted to do this to cheer her up. So, I was never going to give a green light to anyone.’
Chad paused, then leaned in. ‘You only got here yesterday? And she’s already having man troubles? Which one is she? C’mon, you got to point her out!’ He was turning his neck, stretching to see over the booths.
I burst out laughing. ‘Stop!’
Ping.
‘Oh, no!’ Chad replied, hearing the bell. ‘This was the first conversation I’ve had tonight that’s not fake or corny.’
I agreed, standing up, before I added, ‘You did try and make it a little corny!’
‘Yes, yes, I did. And I apologise. I guess this is it then, since you have no intention of matching any of us.’
I shrugged. ‘I guess so .?.?. unless.’ I turned back around to face Chad. ‘How about I forgive your cheesy chat-up line, and I green light you, but only if you promise to tell me some celebrity secrets?’
‘Oh, that is extortion,’ Chad called out as I moved to the following table. ‘Which means it’s definitely a deal!’
I giggled my way to the next table and found myself opposite a grey-haired gentleman named Leo.
‘Hi, I’m Ella,’ I said, shaking his hand. I wondered if he’d come on the wrong evening, as Katy had said it was a twenties to thirties thing.
‘Lovely to meet you, darlin’. I’m Leo.’ He was dressed in a cream cowboy-style shirt with a matching hat.
‘Oh, are you from Texas?’ I asked, noting his southern drawl.
‘Yes, ma’am, that’s right,’ he replied. ‘I’m in the oil business, you see, pays real good.’ He raised his eyebrows, and I watched his forehead scrunch up. I wasn’t quite sure if he wanted me to deliver him some form of standing ovation for having a well-paid career. ‘I wind up in New York a fair bit, so I thought I’d mosey on into one of these nights, see what’s what.’ Leo leaned forward, making me pull back automatically. ‘Thought, well, you never know, I might stumble across some pretty little gals lookin’ for some company from down south.’
I tried to keep a straight face, but I couldn’t help but twist it in utter revulsion.
‘Cool! And what age are you, Leo, if you don’t mind me asking? I noticed they had different age groups on different nights of the week. They seem to cater for everyone here.’
‘I’m sixty-five, miss.’ He rested his hands proudly on his substantial stomach.
‘Aww, OK, that’s good,’ I said, wondering if he was going to take my not-so-subtle hint that he didn’t meet the criteria for tonight’s event.
