Chapter 14
I felt fine the next day, to my relief and mild surprise. After all, I'm not thirty any more and going drinking with a twenty something should have been a recipe for disaster.
Alex was already in her office by the time I arrived, and we exchanged conspiratorial smiles as we passed one another in the hall.
The rest of the day went by in a blur - between lectures, preparing for the conference and various meetings I barely had time to sit down, much less relax. Thus I wasn't sure whether I was pleased or annoyed when I got a text from Mike-from-last-week - at least, that's how he introduced himself.
I didn't get back to him immediately; like I said, I was busy, and I wasn't sure if I really believed his 'no strings' promise. Eventually, though, around half past five I texted him back, suggesting a bar midway between the office and my flat - what could one drink hurt?
He was dressed much more casually than the last time we'd met, in a long-sleeved teeshirt and jeans, and was already nursing a pint, albeit he was less than an inch into it as I arrived. I stopped at the bar and ordered a G&T before heading over to where he sat, giving him a friendly enough smile. "All right, Mike?"
He grinned back up at me and straightened a bit, although he didn't stand on ceremony this time. "Been worse, you know. Yourself?"
"Fine, thanks." I slid into a seat, setting my things down around me.
"Hard week?"
"Just long, but aren't they all?"
"They do if you then spend your weekends at conferences - I'm remembering right, yeah? That's this weekend?"
I smiled; it was nice to know he had been listening before. "Mmhmm. A whole three days in glamorous Frankfurt. Good memory."
"Listening to a bunch of environmentalists bang on about their lives, God, how boring - who would do that voluntarily?" Mike said with a wink.
"Only crazy people," I retorted, smirking. "Speaking of which, close any big deals this week?"
"I wish. I still have a job, though, so that's a start. Still, five more years and I'll have enough saved up to retire, fingers crossed." Mike grinned . "I suppose that makes me more evil still in your eyes," he added.
"It depends on what you do after you retire. If it's driving around in a gas-guzzling SUV while throwing Styrafoam cups out your window I might object. But I'm pro-environment, not anti-fun. You can retire when you like."
"No, I'm going to buy a Prius and become an organic yoghurt maker," Mike retorted with one of those even-toothed, charming grins, and I mused not for the first time that it was a shame I wasn't remotely interested in him romantically - he was probably quite a catch.
"Well then, you have my blessing," I said benevolently, sipping my drink.
"So tell me more about your week," my companion went on now, sitting forward a little. "Any more disasterous dates with impossibly handsome dullards?"
I made a face. "Not really... I think I've given up on dating. Probably for the best, since I don't think being arrested for homicide would be particularly good for my career."
Mike smirked. "Didn't go so well with Mr Hedge Fund then?"
"I'm not sure which I enjoyed more, his self-righteous drivel or having my sexuality questioned..."
This drew a hearty laugh. "He pulled that one out, did he? Well, you are outdoorsy, I suppose," he said consideringly, tipping his head to one side in mock appraisal, "but somehow I can't quite see it."
"Mm. I think it was mostly the shocking idea that I didn't want to sleep with him that did it," I told him dryly. "Because that must be the only explanation."
"Clearly." Mike smirked, and shook his head. "No long game."
"Oh, and I suppose that's what this is, then?" Maybe it was a bit mean to bring it up, but I had to ask. If he was just interested in getting in my trousers then the notion needed to be crushed straightaway. "Casual drinks, and before I know it bang! We're in bed."
I immediately felt a little guilty when I saw the sad little smile he shot me in return. "Don't worry," he said, shaking his head, "I hold out no such youthful optimism. I just really enjoyed our conversation last week, and... well, I thought maybe we had the makings of a friendship. And I think maybe I need that more than a relationship right now. How about you?"
"...actually, you're completely right. And I'm sorry. One thing you'll have to learn if you want to be friends - I can be pretty horrible sometimes."
Mike shook his head, waving the comment away. "I'd call that honest, not horrible."
I shot him a grin, then took a drink. "Well then, maybe we can be friends. You're certainly delusional enough to qualify."
"I can do delusional," he replied, with a slightly less sad smile that certainly betrayed that he still held a small candle. But I reckoned I could handle that. "Anyway," he changed the subject now. "Have you been followng the US midterms run-up? I saw a really good documentary the other day..."
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