Page 39 of Glow

“I’m not sure but go on.”

“I don’t need to interview you. It was an excuse to see you.”

Prin’s shoulders dropped and he exhaled. “You could have said.”

“I couldn’t. What if they go through our emails? I can hardly say that I need to talk to you because I’m worried you’re going to do me for sexual harassment.”

Prin knew it was mean but he laughed anyway. He covered his mouth. Still his body shook.

“I don’t know what’s so funny about that,” Scott said with a face full of indignation.

Prin composed himself. “Because I’ve spent the whole time panicking that you would do the same to me.”

“How did you figure that?” Scott asked. “I kissed you, remember.”

“And I returned it.”

“So you did return it then?”

“Couldn’t you tell?”

“Kind of. I convinced myself you were being polite.”

“That doesn’t say much for my kissing prowess.”

They both burst into hysterics.

“If only I’d texted you yesterday,” Scott said. “Do you have any idea how stressed I’ve been?”

“Would you like to go on a date?” Prin blurted out.

“I’d like to go on many dates with you,” Scott replied. “But yes, let’s try one and see how it goes.”

They grinned. Now they had both unburdened themselves, it appeared neither had anything to say.

“I’d better go,” Prin said.

“Call me,” Scott replied.

Prin couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he went into the office. Someone would suspect something if he carried on like this.

He allowed himself one more second of joy before trying to dampen it down. He managed perhaps on the outside. His insides were a totally different matter.

This was the best day he’d had in England and it appeared that even better ones were on the horizon.

Even well into the evening, Prin couldn’t believe his luck. He’d been on cloud nine all day. Instead of going home, he’d gone straight to Colin’s to tell him the news.

“I wish you’d got in touch,” Colin said. “I don’t like to think of you at home mulling it over and over in your head. A problem shared is a problem halved, as my mother used to say.”

Prin blushed. “Sorry. I’m not very good at asking for help.”

“That makes two of us,” Colin replied. “Although over the years, I’ve accepted I can’t do everything myself. A hard lesson of getting older.”

Sometimes Colin reminded Prin of his uncle. Not very often. More in the fierce independence he showed. The similarity ended there.

They were sitting in Colin’s lounge. Prin loved this room so much. Every time he visited, he discovered a new knickknack with a story behind it.

“I don’t know where to meet him,” Prin said. “He wants it to be my choice.”