‘Not really,’ I said. ‘I haven’t heard any more from that Blake creep onMoonmen, thank God.’
Holly shook her head. ‘To think there are married men out there being so blatantly disloyal and disrespectful. It’s disgusting!’
‘I know. He said he couldn’t believe his luck when I didn’t recognise him. I should have told his wife straight away. And theMoonmendirector.’
‘You could also see it as a lesson in stranger danger?’ Holly said. ‘Maybe it’s time to rein in the first dates and one-night stands and get to know someone properly again – on a level where you actually know their last name?’
‘God, no! Why?’ I said, pretending to be horrified, but also… horrified. No chance I was getting mixed up in all that again.
‘Abs,’ Holly said, gently. ‘Men are humans too, remember. They have feelings.’
I thought back to ‘nice guy’ Stu’s messages this week. It was kinder to ghost him than reject him, but I’d had the trauma of three increasingly sorrowful texts and felt a teeny bit guilty for leading him on. He didn’treallycare though, surely. He didn’t even know me.
‘It’s alright for you with your hot, French chef – the rest of us are doing our best with what’s available.’
‘There are plenty of lovely men available, as you well know.’
‘Hmm, I’ve heard this rumour too, but I’m yet to see too much evidence of it. Hold that thought, I just need to nip to the loo. Where are the ladies?’ I asked, keen to change the subject. Holly rolled her eyes at me abandoning her mid deep-and-meaningful and pointed to the back of the restaurant.
‘You can’t avoid these questions forever,’ she called, as I walked off. The loos were behind a double curtain, which I managed to get tangled up in. I eventually found one of the edges and launched myself through, flying straight into the arms of Mr America himself.
‘Oh! Sorry,’ I said, letting go and trying to inch past him. He was tall and broad, and filled the space, and I was completely disorientated bumping into him like this. I didn’t know whether to stop and chat or breeze past and play it cool. I smiled, uncertainly – it had been much easier exchanging flirty glances across the restaurant.
‘My fault,’ he replied. He was overconfident in the way important businessmen always were, with a big smile and kind eyes. He felt familiar somehow. ‘I saw you earlier…’ he said, then trailed off. I nodded. I’d seen him too.
‘Tony,’ he said holding out his hand.
‘Abi,’ I replied, feeling myself blush as we shook hands and stared at each other. I didn’t want to let go. ‘I’m here on holiday,’ I said, lost for anything better to say.
‘Same. Well, sort of.’ He shook his head, as if to pull himself together. ‘I’m staying with family. A flying visit.’
‘You’re Italian, then?’
‘Si, signorina.’ He kissed my hand, then let it drop, as an old man flung himself through the curtain, in the same way I had, interrupting our moment together. ‘Good to meet you, Abi,’ Tony said, passing me by to let the man through. He backed into the curtain, then disappeared, and I exhaled slowly. I hadn’t realised I’d been holding my breath. He was something else.
‘I just bumped into Captain America.’ I said, when I got back to the table, still all of a fluster.
‘Did you indeed,’ Holly said, with a knowing look. ‘What a coincidence!’
‘It was! I didn’t know he was in there.’
‘Mm-hmm… a likely story. Well, don’t let me get in your way. My little pep talk obviously hasn’t worked. I know you like them in transit, and he certainly ticks that box.’
‘He might be a nice distraction for later,’ I mused, checking he was still there. He was and he caught me looking over again, but this time I held his gaze long enough to make it clearI knewhe was looking too. I’d played this game a million times. Good old-fashioned cat and mouse. There was a flicker of an eyebrow as he flirted without speaking, daring me to react. I smiled and turned back to Holly. ‘But no, Holly, I’m here to see you!’
‘Two things can be true at the same time,’ she said, cradling her wine. ‘What’s the craic with work then, if we’re not talking about men?’
I groaned. ‘I’ve put the feelers out to try and line up my next job, but no bites so far. I’ve hardly heard from anyone since I got out here actually.’
‘It’s only been a couple of days! Take it as a sign from the universe to put your feet up,’ Holly said. ‘You’ve been working non-stop for far too long. Theatreland won’t close down if you take a break, you know, they won’t stop making films. The make-up merry-go-round will still be spinning when you decide to get back on.’
‘Hmm, but I like being on it. I’m addicted to the dizzy feeling.’
Xavier waved over from the counter and Holly jumped up. ‘Sorry, Abs, the guys need a hand. I won’t be a minute.’
‘Can I help?’ I offered, looking around.
‘Absolutely not,’ she said, clearing our plates. ‘I’ll get us some dessert and be back in a tick.’ It was always going to be difficult to relax while the rest of the team worked around her. Ten minutes of phone time later and Tony caught my eye across the restaurant; he pointed at Holly’s empty chair. I shrugged brightly in reply and he wandered over, bringing his red wine with him.
