-Day 3-
Just after one, my mobile rings. I'm at lunch with Leon, discussing the upcoming jousting tournament, jokingly laughing over how much different the sport would be if they still used real lances instead of those padded polystyrene monstrosities, aiming at shields with sensors to score points.
"If they switch from horses to motorbikes, I'm done," I say as I pull my phone out to see who's calling me. My heart stops beating. "Sorry, mate, I gotta take this."
"No problem," he allows, and I raise my eyebrows at him as he checks out our waiter's backside. Again.
"Guinevere, this is a pleasant surprise," I answer, a smile creeping across my face, almost against my will.
"I'm not interrupting you, am I?" she asks.
"Just having lunch," I say.
"All alone?"
"With Leon. Say hi, Leon," I say, holding the phone out.
Predictably, he complies exactly as instructed. "Hi, Leon," he says loudly. I roll my eyes at him but when I return my phone to my ear, she is laughing.
"I won't keep you, then. I was just calling to see if you were available… for a date," she says, her voice losing its confidence towards the end.
"Aw, you beat me to it," I say, feigning disappointment. "Yes, of course I am. When did you have in mind?"
"Is tomorrow too short notice?"
Whoa, fast mover. "Um, no. Tomorrow's fine," I say, trying not to sound surprised or perplexed. I don't think I succeed.
"Sorry, I'm not a stalker or anything—"
"No, that's me, remember?" I interrupt.
She laughs. "It's just… I'd like to see you again. In person. I enjoyed our talk last night, but I'd like to see your face again," she says quietly. It makes me smile, and I glance up to see Leon regarding me suspiciously.
"What did you have in mind?"
"Mini golf."
I laugh, surprised at her interesting suggestion. "That's brilliant. I love it."
"Pick me up at my shop at 7:30," she says.
"At your shop? You don't want me to know where you live?"
"I hardly know you," she says coyly. She does have a point. "But I live above my shop."
"Ah. 7:30 tomorrow, then."
"See you then, Arthur," she says.
"Looking forward to it, Guinevere," I say, and I swear I hear her breath catch.
Leon is staring at me. "Didn't you just break up with Vivian on Saturday?" he asks. He doesn't know about my curse. No one does. Only Morgana and me. She's never said that I couldn't tell anyone, but frankly, I'm embarrassed enough about the whole thing that I can't bring myself to even tell my closest friend.
"And today is Tuesday," I shrug.
"And you met this… Guinevere… when, exactly?"
"Sunday," I mutter.
"Sorry, I didn't catch that," he says, leaning forward, angling his ear towards me. I know he heard me.
"Sunday," I say, over-enunciating the word.
"Mate, you gotta stop this… chain-dating. It's like you're afraid of commitment but you're afraid to be alone. It's not healthy."
No, what's not healthy is what will happen to me if I stop. "I'm fine," I say. "Really."
"I don't believe you," he says, narrowing his eyes at me. "There's something you're not telling me, but I'm not going to press. You'll tell me in your own time."
Thankfully, our waiter comes to the table to give us our bill. He sets it near Leon, winks at him, tosses his dark shiny hair, and walks away.
Even I have to admit he's a ridiculously handsome bastard.
Leon picks up the bill and smiles. There's another slip of paper beneath it, which he flashes at me, grinning.
Gwaine. 975-394-447. After 5 p.m.
"How the hell did he know that you're gay? Did I not see the secret handshake or something?" I ask. I'm genuinely curious.
Leon laughs. "Jealous?"
"Certainly not, even though I am much better looking than you are," I say. He throws his napkin at my head. I catch it easily and throw it back at him.
We leave our money tucked under the bill, along with Leon's number and a generous tip (he really was an exemplary waiter).
"While you were busy on the phone, he totally caught me checking him out," Leon confesses outside.
At least someone has a chance for happiness.
