Gary has not talked to Miranda since their first (attempted) date. He has been rather busy thinking about something else - Tamara needed a job and Clive let her waitress at the restaurant. He was battling the idea of telling Miranda about the marriage, fearing that she would think less of him. At the same time, he knew he was keeping a massive secret from her. Especially seeing how Miranda and Tamara have been hanging out. Not knowing what to do, he decided to let the matter rest, and bring up later on once he and Miranda have settled in their relationship. Clive, of course, had to know, and Gary told him to keep quiet about the matter. He felt terrible, but could not be sure what the alternatives were.

Miranda and Stevie came in the restaurant one day looking for Tamara. When they saw a builder coming out, they started swooning. He suddenly felt a bit jealous, and assumed an alpha-male voice to talk to the builder which Miranda, Stevie and Clive found funny. Taking Miranda aside, he asked her if she would like to go on another date. She happily agreed. 'So I'm alpha-male enough for you then?'. 'You? Alpha-male? Hahaha!... oh sorry.'

A few minutes later he overheard Tamara, Miranda and Stevie talk about art classes. Stevie interrogated Miranda whether she knew who Botticelli was, so he decided to help her out by mouthing the answers. Clive was annoyed as Tamara seemed to be gossiping rather than working, making side comments at Gary. 'I thought she was a good waitress in Hong Kong'. 'Give it a rest, Clive!'. Later in the evening Miranda came in the restaurant requesting some coffee and sugar as she was 'going out-out with Tamara'.

- See, chefs can be manly - he was chopping some courgettes whilst she came in.

- Aw you're so sweet.

- Please don't call me sweet!

- Sorry.

- You seemed obsessed with Tamara at the moment. Is pavlova ok?

- There's no need to cut that - she eyed the pavlova with pure delight - I'm not obsessed with her, it's just keeping me young. Plus Stevie thinks she's a better friend.

- Oh no, not one of your stupid competitions again.

- Do you feel old at 35? It's a weird in-between age isn't it, being single? Most people would be at the baby stage...

- Wait, are you still single? Sorry I hoped you were off the market.

- Yeah?

- Well I was thinking of booking that new spa hotel for us, if that's ok.

- It is.

- Great, I'll give them a call.

He happily thought about their upcoming date. No distractions from friends and mother, it would be a safe option. Plus, it's a romantic place. I can have her to myself all day. Suddenly he remembered how Miranda looked at that builder a few days ago, and that she didn't think of him as alpha male. Gary was not a person with a fragile ego, but he had to admit he felt a little jealous. So he thought of a plan...here comes some wooing.

The next day, he came barging in the shop with a builder outfit. Miranda stared at him in amazement.

- So, Miranda. You want to go to a hotel? I've booked a room. So why don't you come to my bar late, and I'll take you there in my transit.

- Wow...

- Alpha male enough for you?

- Yes!

- Yay! - he did his little clap. Mission complete.

- You're ruining it!

- Sorry. Ok see you later. See you later sweet cheeks!

Later in the evening, as he was cleaning up, Gary was grabbed aside by Miranda. She somehow looked different. 'So you're taking this Rubenesque beauty out or what, I have never felt more ready'. Wow. 'Yes... Yes I am. You're...' So sexy. He couldn't help but look up and down her body, almost hungrily. Something was different about her. I can't wait to be with her. Ok, I don't care about work, let's go now. He came in to tell Clive he was leaving early. Taking Miranda's hands, he was almost coming out of the door when Clive blurted out the 'wife' word.

Shit.

He did not expect the reveal to arrive in such a manner. He had forgotten about it, being occupied with thoughts about Miranda today. Panicked, he told Miranda that he would explain to her on the way to the hotel, but he knew she wouldn't listen. She stormed out of the restaurant. Taking an angry look at Clive, he followed her to her flat.

- What do you mean, you're married?

- She's a friend from Hong Kong, and for her pass to study here I agreed to do the green card thing for her visa. I know I'm an idiot but I owed her a massive favour! Common it's not like I'm still sleeping with her-! Shit. Stupid Gary!

- Still Gary? Still? - she sounded incensed.

- Sorry! It was a while ago, it was when I was travelling. It does not matter, it was just a fling.

- But you let me become friends with her. You know how big of a deal is to me but you obviously don't feel the same, do you? Because if you cared, you wouldn't have kept such a massive secret. Taking me to a hotel isn't a romantic gesture from you is it, it's just another meaningless fling. Only this one won't end in marriage! - with that she stormed out of the flat.

Panicked, he did not know what to do next when she knocked furiously 'I've stormed out of my own flat!'. He opened the door for her.

- You get out!

- No no, please can we talk about this. I didn't tell you because I knew you would overreact!

- Overreact? - Miranda shouted.

- IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING! So you have done everything perfectly in your life, haven't you?

- That's not the point, I don't want to talk about this now! Could you please leave so I can shut the door?

He was dismissed, and stood outside her flat for a while, hoping she would open the door looking for him so they could talk. But he knew she wouldn't. He left, never more angry with himself. Clive might be a blabbermouth, but deep down Gary knew keeping the secret was a terrible idea.

The sun was rising but Gary barely noticed. He was up almost all night, thinking about what happened. Is there no hope for us now? I can never forgive myself, letting her down for such a stupid reason. What am I going to do? He received a text from Tamara apologising for what happened, informing that they can get a divorce soon now that she's settled in, and that she would be moving to Birmingham. I suppose I can tell Miranda that Tamara is now out of the way? Will she forgive me? This is so difficult.

Half an hour after starting work, he saw Miranda coming in. He took her aside, asking her if they could move on from this incident and saying that Tamara's gone. To his dismay, Miranda wanted to move on from him. I have lost her. And it's all my fault.