Chapter 13
Four drinks was really my limit on a weekday, and it wasn't too much longer before we both agreed it was time to call it a night. We walked out of the bar together, both a little giddy from the alcohol and the surprisingly enjoyable nature of the evening. Kathryn turned toward me, fingers fiddling with the buttons on her coat. "Well. Don't worry about being in too early tomorrow, Dr Webb."
"Oh, don't worry about me," I replied with a grin. "I'll be bright and early as usual - just a little less well prepared."
"Like they'll even notice," she said, rolling her eyes, and I found myself laughing a little again.
"Well, nonetheless, I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks for... well, 'meeting with me' seems like an odd way to put it now..."
"You're welcome," she told me, smiling. "For whatever it was. I had a nice time."
"I did too."
I really had. It was odd, because I hadn't thought that Kathryn and I would have anything to talk about in a more casual encounter, but she was just so easy-going and had such broad interests that I'd actually been rather sorry that we had had to call it a night. I wasn't even worried about encountering her the next day - sometimes it could be weird running into a work colleague after a night out, but I had the feeling that she wouldn't feel weird about it and neither should I. As I was heading towards the nearest taxi rank I remembered my mobile, pulling it out of my pocket to find a text from Lynn sitting in my inbox.
Shit... I'd completely forgotten that I was supposed to meet one of Lynn's friends for a drink a good two hours ago now. Only looking in my call memory did I notice the two missed calls I'd had.
Cursing myself in my head, I hit the callback button on Debbie's number. I liked Deb - she was smart, amusing, and we were two of the few people in our 'friends group' who had science rather than arts degrees and so had a slowly blossoming friendship. Lynn had encouraged us to spend more time together, confiding in me that she thought Debbie fancied me. I supposed I could safely assume that would no longer be the case after tonight.
Debbie picked up almost immediately, though her tone was more suspicious than eager. "Hello?"
"Debbie, this is Alex - I am so, so sorry," I said immediately. "I went for a drink with my boss after work and got completely caught up - I couldn't get away. Please tell me how I can make it up for you - are you still in town?"
"No - I went home after I waited for an hour and you didn't show. You could have at least texted me, Alex..."
"I know, I know. I just didn't notice the time passing. Is there anything I can do? Really, at all."
There were several seconds of loud silence, and I thought for a moment she had hung up, but eventually I heard a sigh. "I guess you deserve at least one more chance. Tomorrow is my knitting group night - you want to come along?"
I made a face, stifling a sigh of my own. Clearly this was my karmic payback. "Can I be the one who sits with my hands apart while someone wraps wool around them?" I asked in my sweetest tone.
"I'm sure we can find someone who will want to wrap you up."
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