Better
"So what you doing for Valentine's Day?" he asked.
"Hmm?" she said.
"Valentine's day. Today. Any plans with your boyfriend?" he asked.
"Just me some ice cream and nice bottle of Moscato Rosa," she answered. "And some rom coms."
"Sounds fun," he said. "Or you could come to the pub with us."
"Us?" she asked.
"Robyn, Lofty, me, Noel, Mac, Louise etc," he said.
"I'll think about it," she answered.
"Company with real people it'll keep your mind of the broken heart."
"Not broken just very lonely," she answered, before she walked off.
"So pub?" he asked, at the end of shift.
She thought about the chocolate, the wine, her DVD's and wallowing in self pity in her underwear.
"Come on real people have got to be better than fiction," he said.
"Not all the time," she answered. "Sometimes they do what you want."
"Yeah if you make them," he answered.
"Maybe other time," she said.
"I can't tempt you?" he asked.
A thought crossed her mind. She'd had enough of being single, she was 21 and she'd spent those 21 years single.
"Do you like Moscato Rosa?" she asked.
He furrowed his brow before he realized what she was talking about. "I could do. Do we have to watch rom coms?"
"Maybe," she answered.
"What else?" he asked.
"Chocolate, take away, pint of ice cream," she answered. "Vodka."
"I think I could be down with that," he answered.
"Meet me round the corner in five minutes," she said.
"Sure. I'll just go tell that lot I have other plans," he smiled.
"Max," she said.
"Yeah."
"Don't mention me please,"
"Sure," he said, before backing towards the pub. "See you in five minutes."
The ride to her house was made in silence. With her thinking 'what am I doing'.
"You ok?" he asked, once they'd pulled up at what he assumed was her house.
"What yeah," she said.
"Listen Hannah. You don't seem the type to jump into bed with someone," said Max. "I totally understand if you just want to eat and drink and have some company."
She looked at him. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. Don't get me wrong I'm me and if it turns into more-"
"You're up for it," she answered.
He nodded.
"Lets go in," she said.
They headed in.
"Since it is Valentine's Day and you've provided the location, the wine, the dessert and the entertainment and I am a gentleman. I will spring for the take-away," he said.
She looked at him. "You know I can eat a lot," she said.
"I'll be fine," he answered. "Should have phoned on the way here."
"Menus are in the drawer nearest the door in the kitchen. Do you mind if I put my pyjamas on?" she asked.
"No go for it," he said, heading towards the kitchen.
She was soon downstairs in a white – with coloured polka dots playsuit. Which was meant to be done with poppers but was undone revealing a hot crop top bra.
"Do you always sleep in that?" asked Max.
Hannah took in his feet on the sofa, shoes on the floor and jacket slung on the armchair as he browsed the menus.
"You've made yourself at home," she said, drawing the curtains.
"You're avoiding the question," he said.
"No it's usually minus the playsuit," she said. "I'm just not exactly comfortable with that.
"Fair does. What do you want to eat?" he asked.
"Your paying you choose," she said.
"How do you feel about Chinese?" he asked.
She nodded.
Soon they had a list. Spring rolls x2, prawn crackers, sweet and sour chicken, bbq spare ribs, salt and pepper chicken and some boiled and fried rice.
"£24.60," said Max.
"I can cut a few things off," said Hannah.
"Nah its fine," he said.
"We can spilt," she said. "I can cut my rice of I can boil my own."
"Hannah its fine," he said. "I think I have enough."
She phoned the order though and hung up.
"Are you sure?" she asked, watching him count out his money.
"Yes," he answered.
"You're a fiver short," she said.
"Fine," he said.
She grinned and reached for her bag to hand him the fiver, before putting the money on the table by the front door.
They stuck a film in, cracked open the wine and talked. Within forty five minutes the doorbell rang and Hannah stood up.
"You are not going to the door in that," he said.
She sat down and let him go. He soon came back with steaming boxes.
"Do you want plates?" he asked.
She nodded. "And cutlery," she said standing up.
"I'll figure out where they are," he said. "Sit down."
The next half hour past with talking from the TV and both of them and Hannah surprised Max when she ate all of her share.
"You weren't kidding when you said you ate a lot," he said.
They carried on talking for the rest of the evening, Hannah offering up her guest room at one point because she knew she couldn't drive and Max was heading towards broke.
They watched in silence for a few moments until Max caught sight of Hannah, as he looked down, in the light of the TV screen – the main lights being off after they'd finished eating. He sat up, since she was half resting on him so did she and tilted her head towards him.
His head drew towards her, she pulled away slightly.
"Hannah," he whispered.
She drew near again and his lips covered hers.
"Max."
"Hannah," he grinned, before his lips crashed onto hers.
Review Please
Gabriella Somerfield