Page 77 of The Girlfriend

They crossed the road safely and headed toward the front of the building. Outside, the poster brought bad news.

“It looks like it’s already gone,” cried Cherry, even though she’d known this when he suggested the venue. Sitting silently in a cinema would persuade him to come out, but it was not going to resurrect their relationship.

He stepped closer. “What? It can’t have.”

But it had. Something new about aliens had taken its place.

“What about the Electric cinema just down the road?”

“Good idea,” said Cherry.

They walked the couple of blocks to the Electric, but that was just as bereft of Steven Soderbergh’s genius, something else that Cherry had already known. Daniel looked sheepish and thumped his fist on his forehead. “I’m so sorry. I’ve dragged you all the way up here for nothing.”

“Outrageous! How are you going to make it up to me?”

He smiled. “We could find another cinema?”

“Or the zoo?” she jumped in quickly. “I’ve always wanted to go.”

“Really?”

She noted his hesitation. “You’re not keen.”

“If you’d like to . . .”

But neither of them moved. Cherry could feel the afternoon slipping from her control. Whatever they did, she had to decide now.

“Tell you what, why don’t we just walk toward the park? It’s such a lovely day.” She turned, not giving him a chance to refuse, and they set off toward Kensington. It wasn’t the most promising of starts, and in quiet desperation, she knew she was going to haveto work harder. She suddenly thought a walk wasn’t such a good idea, after all—they were awkward around each other and needed something to distract them, something to talk about. She turned excitedly to him.

“Jazz.”

“What?”

“They do a bit of R and B too. And great fish and chips.”

“Shouldn’t that be shrimp Creole?”

“We could make a request.”

She held her breath and sent a silent thank-you to her memory. The aloof and elite Abigail and Emily to thank. She’d never penetrated their joint wall of friendship, but listening carefully to every conversation they’d had at the agency had been useful, after all. More than once, they’d raved about a bar with “the best” live music, but never thought to ask her along. She’d wistfully checked it online one night when they’d gone along after work and she was further put out by the fact itdidlook good, not too up itself or pretentious. She knew it opened at four; in fact, they’d probably even get a table this early on.

She looked at him excitedly. “Fancy it?”

Her enthusiasm was infectious. “Where is it?”

“Ten minutes.”

“Walk?”

“Cab.”

He hailed one and they climbed in. Cherry gave directions and a few minutes later they were driving down a little back alley. Nestled between a wine shop and a jewelers was the bar.

Once they were inside, Cherry knew immediately it had been a good idea. They had a table to themselves and there were just enough people already there to make it feel like a gathering of friends, people who through luck or skill had managed to skive off work early.

Daniel was looking at the menu. “Is it too early for cocktails?”

Cherry grinned and shook her head.