‘I’m meeting someone for coffee tomorrow.’
Lou squealed annoyingly. It wasn’t that big a deal, for God’s sake.
‘Not Duncan, the new Physics teacher, is it?’
‘No.’
‘Aww. I think you and he would –’
‘It’s not him,’ I said hurriedly. ‘It’s a guy I met on the internet.’
‘Oh! Tell.’
‘He’s a bit keen,’ I confided. ‘I don’t feel I know him that well, so I was wondering if you could, y’know, keep an eye on things. It’s only coffee, tomorrow morning, about 11-ish.’
‘Oh God, yes. I’ll lurk in the wings, ready to pounce if he puts anything where he shouldn’t. What’s his name?’
‘Er, Vlad. I think.’
‘Vlad? Sounds like a vampire.’
‘Well, that would be OK.’ I grinned. ‘Vampires are hot these days.’
‘Order a garlic latte, just in case.’
‘Will do.’
The weather was still warm, and there were swan pedaloes aplenty rippling the surface of Canoe Lake as Lou and I approached the waterside café.
‘I think that’s him, by the ice cream kiosk,’ I whispered.
‘Phwoar, really?’
‘Yeah. You go and sit at that table at the far end. I’ll follow you in a couple of minutes.’
I lurked behind the wooden structure with its smart blue and white paint job until Louisa had been gone for a while, then I peered around the corner.
Vlad’s camera hadn’t lied. He was stunning: cheekbones sharper than anything Mr Gillette had ever marketed, full, lush lips, piercing eyes and a fuzz of dark hair all over his perfectly-shaped head. He was wearing combat fatigues and big boots. Underneath, I suspected he was all lean muscle and sinew.
I felt embarrassed at not being a supermodel, but I swallowed my low self-esteem and showed myself.
He stubbed out the roll-up cigarette he had been smoking and stood up, offering a hand.
‘Hi,’ he said, unsmiling.
‘Hi … Vlad,’ I said. His hand was big, but there were lots of cuts and nicks on his fingers, and the skin felt like sandpaper.
‘My name isn’t Vlad. It’s Andreu.’
‘Oh, right. Well, hi, Andreu. I’m not called AtYourService either.’ I laughed, but he didn’t join in. ‘Cherry,’ I elucidated after an awkward beat.
‘Ah, like the fruit.’
‘Yes. Like the fruit. Hang on, I’ll just order …’
‘No. You won’t order. I’ll order. You want coffee?’
‘Thanks. Cappuccino, please.’