‘Two euro.’
He gave her a coin and handed me the rose. ‘I’m so sorry about your eye, Kat. Honestly, I’m such an idiot for getting carried away and playing so rough. How does it feel? I’ve been worried.’
‘A bit sore but I haven’t cracked open the pirate patches yet. Honestly, don’t worry about it – I should have ducked. I’m hopeless at sports.’
Leo looked sheepish, but he didn’t push the apology. ‘Dahlia’s lovely, until you try and skip class and then she’s like a dog with a bone. She won’t take no for an answer.’
‘Unless you’re Heidi, who’s said no to pretty much everything. Lazy cow.’
Ronaldo’s came into view as both our phones beeped.
Life’s a Pitch Group Chat:
Heidi: Mi.
Brooke: You OK, Heidi? Is that autocorrect for Hi?
Me: Oh no – that’s our migraine code. Heidi can’t see to type. DON’T WORRY, HEIDI. SLEEP IT OFF.
A thumbs up appeared next to my comment.
Brooke: Feel better soon! I’m running late myself. @Kat @Leo – shall we rain check and regroup back on the ship?
Leo and I scanned our screens then looked at each other.
‘And then there were two,’ he said, with a big grin. ‘Smells too good to turn around now. Shall we?’
My stomach grumbled in reply. ‘We shall. Out of respect for Brooke.’
‘And to represent Heidi and Zach…’
‘Absolutely,’ I agreed, with a mischievous smile.
The restaurant was set back from the harbour, with a terrace full of packed tables. A spicy aroma filled the air andsizzling plates of chicken and prawns poured out from the kitchen in all directions, delivered at speed by a team of lads overseen by an old man. Presumably Ronaldo (McDonaldo) himself.
He ran over to greet us as if we were old friends, shaking Leo’s hand, then kissing mine. ‘Boa tarde! Welcome both!’
‘We have a table booked under Brooke Harris?’ Leo said. ‘Or possibly Excalibur?’
I was embarrassed to be rocking up as a two, while secretly delighted. Another date with Leo in plain sight, without having to make any excuses. They’d all cried off, so what else could we do? ‘It was supposed to be five for lunch, but the others aren’t well.’
‘No problem for me,’ he said, eyeing my rose. ‘And more private for you. This way, please.’
He found us a table for two in the centre of the action and took our drinks order, returning promptly with a jug of rosé and a basket of bread. Leo poured a glug of olive oil into the hand-painted dish, and I poured out the wine. We were turning into quite the team.
‘Do you think the others are having lunch without us?’
‘Because we’re so unbearable?’ Leo said, a flirtatious glint in his eye. ‘It hadn’t occurred to me, but now you mention it…’
I laughed. ‘I’m happy for them if they are. I didn’t think we’d get chance to eat together again, just the two of us.’
‘Like a date, you mean?’
I shifted in my chair at the thought of dating Leo. ‘Erm… if you like.’ How was he doing this to me? My whole body was full of warning bells, but I couldn’t resist his cheeky, suggestive smile. I wondered if this was how the Dinky Drinks team had felt. Pinned to their seats and hypnotised.He held up his glass to clink mine and the two of us were in our own private bubble again: the surrounding noise seemed to quieten to a murmur and all I wanted to do was sit and while away the hours together, getting closer and learning everything about him. It didn’t get much morelike a datethan that.
‘What do you fancy?’ he asked, looking through the menu. ‘Charcuterie? Salad?’
‘Both?’
