Page 55

Outside, the bars and restaurants are beginning to fill, and the temperature has dropped enough to slip on my jacket. I wanted to message Holly, to reassure her I was on my way, but thought that might come across as too heavy. Or perhaps she would’ve liked that? The way she drank me in with those curious blue-grey eyes, unresolved emotions filling the space between us, waiting for us to grab them and run. It took all my strength to stop myself from pulling her to me and saying, ‘How could I be so stupid?’

When I round the corner, Holly’s waiting, and my breath catches. Her hair is loose and she looks fresh and bright having changed into jeans and a vintage-looking green velvet jacket. I stop to compose myself before crossing the street, clocking the relief on her face when she sees me.

‘Hiya. You’re here,’ I say.

She smiles and my heart swells. She still has the prettiest smile. It’s all sunshine and warm ocean breezes and tropical seas.

‘Did you think I wouldn’t be?’

‘Um … no … yes … I don’t know.’ Fuck. Now I’ve lost the ability to string a sentence together.

Holly’s smile widens.

As I step closer, I catch a soft musky scent. I have the urge to bury my face in her neck and inhale. Then I hear Chandice calling me a creep and quickly dispel all sniffing thoughts. I part my lips to speak, but my tongue fills my mouth. ‘You, erm, you look grood.’ My face burns as I let out an embarrassed groan. ‘Oh my God. I tried to say good and great at the same time.’ I take a nervous breath and try again. ‘Nice. You look really nice.’

She laughs, the top of her nose crinkling slightly. ‘Thanks. So do you.’

I’d forgotten how lovely she is when she laughs, and I can’t help but gaze at her.

She points down the street. ‘Should we find somewhere to eat?’

It takes a moment for my brain to register what she’s said. ‘Yes, we should.’

We fall into step side by side, our arms brushing.

‘What sort of food do you like?’ Holly asks.

I shrug. ‘I’m not that fussy. I’ll eat most things. You?’

‘Same. I can’t get enough of German sausages and sauerkraut, though. I’m a tourist cliché and have pretty much been living off them since I arrived. And chips with mayo.’

I moan. ‘The chips with mayo are the best, yeah? Especially with onion and tomato sauce.’ Eva turning her nose up at German sausage and chips with mayonnaise flashes in my mind, and the guilt hits me again but I swiftly brush it aside. This is dinner with an old friend. No big deal. I stop in front of a restaurant I’m familiar with. ‘How about here? I came here the other night with my aunt and uncle. Great food. They’re heavy on the meat, though – not ideal if you’re vegetarian or vegan.’

She shakes her head. ‘I’m not. This looks nice.’

Inside, the restaurant is almost full, but I spot a couple of free tables. A waitperson approaches. ‘Guten Abend, Tisch für zwei?’

I nod. ‘Ja, danke.’

He grabs some menus and leads us through the tables to the back of the restaurant, then lights a candle. ‘Date night?’

Holly and I exchange a shy glance.

‘Something like that,’ Holly says quietly.

‘Möchten Sie Wein?’ the waitperson asks as we sit.

Holly nods and picks up the wine menu. Remembering the wine bar photos she posted, I assume she’s better with wine than me and let her choose. She lifts her gaze from the menu. ‘Oh, do you drink wine?’

‘Sure.’

‘The riesling sounds good.’ She looks at the waitperson. ‘Eine … oh, I’ve only ordered glasses since I’ve been here. I can’t remember the word for bottle.’

He grins. ‘It’s Flasche, and good choice,’ he says, switching to English.

Once he’s gone, Holly groans. ‘My German is so bad.’ She points at the wine menu. ‘And it says Flasche right there.’

‘At least you tried.’