Chapter 8

"Hi Naomi. Wow, yes please, thank God you texted me! I thought I'd read things wrong and you wasn't going to call me. Let me know when and where's best for you and I'll be there with knobs on. Ems".

Fuck me. I was going to get dragged shopping for clothes again wasn't I?

My hands took advantage of my cowardly streak going AWOL and quickly typed out a message and pressed send before I could stop them. Bollocks. Fucking traitorous hands. Still, I don't think she could take offence at what I sent.

"Nah, you didn't read things wrong Ems. I just get a bit shy and cowardly sometimes, but trust me, I'm very, very interested and really want to go for that drink. I'll text you tomorrow with some free days asap. Sleep well. X"

That wasn't too bad for being impetuous and not over analysing everything. I forwarded the messages to Effy and added "Who's the pussy now then eh? " put my phone on charge and went to finish making the coffee I'd been disturbed from by the text.

I'd spent the day sorting out the really boring mundane stuff working people have to do. Washing, ironing, reading case files on possible drug barons and their connections to wankers in a hospital. Hey, everyone does it right? I was on early shifts for the next few days. I'd have to check for when I was off next and sort out my date with Emily.

My date with Emily. Oh man. I smiled a nice big shit eating grin. Me and the redhead with a nice arse on a date. I lay in bed sipping my drink and smiling. Let me tell you. I had some seriously nice dreams.

The alarm went off for my shift. 4.30 am and I didn't give a shit. The world could end and I wouldn't care. Ha. I smacked the alarm off snooze and did the usually morning routine stuff.

I picked up my phone on the way out and looked at the blinking red light. Ooooo boy. Text messages. They must have come in while I was asleep. Piece of toast in my mouth I trotted down the stairs to the car and read the first message. Effy.

"See? Told you! Well done tiger. We need to discuss your wardrobe when you tell me where you're taking the girl."

Told you didn't I? Still at least she wasn't trying to drag me out shopping. I'm sure there was stuff in my wardrobe I could use. And she was right; I'd have to decide where to take her, which leads us to the second and final text. I finished my toast as I reached the car and unlocked it. Opening the door, I opened the text message from a number I'm pretty sure I recognised.

"Haha. See, if I told you I was really shy too, would you believe me? I'm not sure what came over me on Wednesday. We make a fine pair. Thanks for taking a chance on asking me. I'll wait for your text. Sweet dreams. Xx."

I drove to work, clocked on and spent the first 2 hours of my shift on cloud nine. I'd got my rota for the next few weeks and decided to call Emily instead of texting her. When I got a minute that is. Then I got called to the High Dependency Unit.

It was like a sixth sense where that prick was concerned. I felt him before I saw him. He walked up behind me as I stood waiting for a nurse to hand some form of other I was supposed to take to another part of the hospital. I waited a couple of seconds and turned around before he could touch me. It was safer for him that way. I wouldn't feel obliged to twat him to death if he touched me.

"Alright Jim, how's things?"

He smiled and beckoned me into a little shelving alcove. "Here love, I've got a nice list of stuff I'd like if you can oblige me quickly?" He shoved a piece of paper into my hand. "I've put my number on the top cause I'm off for a few now, but send us a text when you've got them yeah?"

I looked at the list of DVD's. It wasn't too bad. I'd give Tony a bell later and get him to sort them for me. I forced a smile out.

"Yeah, no probs Jimmy lad." I went to walk away, but I was stopped by a hand on my arm. Fuck. It took everything I had not to retaliate. I must have tensed up. He looked at my arm in surprise.

"Fucking hell girl, you got some steel in those arms" I just looked at him. He obligingly dropped his hand from my arm. "Well, yeah, anyway, it's payday next week. I'm sure you know that yeah?" I nodded. "We always have nights out you know, I remember Andy and Pete saying we needed to get a night going, so while you're about the place, could you drop these off on the wards for us like?" He shoved a few pieces of A4 into my hands. "I'll be going, even though I'm off. I'll need to get away from her indoors by then."

I looked at the top one. Fucking jackpot. A unit night out. Now, to get most of this job over and done with. I picked up the form the nurse had summoned me for, said my goodbyes to the wanker and set off for my rounds. I dropped off a poster about the night out on every ward and stuffed a spare one in my pocket to give to Tony and JJ.

I strolled into the porter's office and put the last remaining poster (except the one I'd kept) about the night out on the notice board. I checked my watch and smiled. Break time. Time to contact Tony about the DVD's and the night out and time to contact Emily. I grabbed a can of Pepsi and my sandwich from the fridge and signed out for my break.

I strolled out of the loading bay at the back of the hospital and found a quiet area I could sit down in. I quickly sent a text to Tony with the details of the night out and told him to drop round at mine later for a proper update.

I sat and looked at my phone. I'd saved Emily's number and my finger hovered over the 'Call' button. I took a big gulp of my drink to calm my nerves and pressed call. God I hoped she didn't mind me calling instead of texting.

It rang once, twice, three times and then it connected on the fourth ring.

'Hello?'

'Hey Emily, it's Naomi, how's things?' I kept my fingers crossed she wasn't with a client and had 5 minutes to talk to me.

'Naomi!' I could actually hear the smile in her voice, 'Hey, how are you? I thought you were going to text, not that I'm complaining mind.'

I laughed quietly and scratched the back of my head. 'Yeah, well, I thought I'd be a traditionalist and actually call you instead of organising our date via text.' I went quiet for a minute. 'It IS a date isn't it? Like a proper date and stuff?' What can I say? Old insecurities die hard.

I heard the most wonderful sound in the world, Emily's laugh. Man, it was sexy. All husky and warm, like drinking a really expensive whisky.

'Yes Naomi. It's a date. Proper date. I thought I'd embarrassed myself enough in the gym for you to realise I really like you.' The phone went ominously quiet. I took it away from my ear for a minute and checked the display. Yup, still saying connected.

'Em? You there?'

I heard her sigh. 'Yeah, and now I've embarrassed myself again. I'm blushing. Look like a bleeding tomato'.

I smiled. 'Tell you what Ems, how about I pick you up next Wednesday evening at 7 and I'll take you to a nice pub I know for a drink and a meal and we can discuss our mutual liking of each other? And after that we can discuss how embarrassed we get talking about the mutual liking of each other, and then we can REALLY bond as we blush together?'

Emily laughed, which was exactly what I wanted. To hear her gorgeous voice.

'Why, when you put it that way Naomi. Yes, I'd love to join you for a drink and a meal next Wednesday.' I heard her voice get muffled and then a quiet 'Oh shit' in the background. Emily's voice came back stronger again. 'Naoms, I'll have to get my address to you later, my sister's just turned up and she doesn't look happy. I'll explain more later. Is that ok?'

I smiled again. 'Yup, no problem, if it means I'll get to hear your voice again'. I heard her laugh, 'and yeah, that laugh of yours is nice to hear too. I'll call you tomorrow and probably text you too. Take care eh?'

She laughed again. 'You're a flirt and a flatterer, I'll wait for you to call me then, thanks Naoms, I'm really looking forward to it. Catch you later' I heard her say 'For fucks sake Kay I'm allowed to have a fucking life' just as the phone went dead.

Feeling somewhat smug and satisfied with my lot in life, I sent Eff a text telling her what a brave girl I'd been. I sat back and enjoyed the rest of my break before heading back to work.