Chapter 5
Verdict By A Whisker
"Good news!"
Kathy, who has appeared behind me out of nowhere, slaps me hard on my back.
I nearly stumble and quickly I grab the banister of the jury stand.
"More good news," I mumble, rolling my eyes. "Excellent."
"Right!"
Kathy smiles broadly.
"Eddie Monaghan, electrician," she explains. "He split up with his wife a while ago and he is back on the market. Lovely guy, just your type."
She points at two men, who are setting up the lights, the younger man smiles at me and gives me a wink and for a moment I feel flattered.
"Really?" I ask, Kathy and she nods, eagerly.
"Sweet guy," she says. "He is a really lovely guy. Interested?"
"Yeah."
"Great!" Kathy exclaims. "Hey, Eddie?
"Yo!"
The older man, who had his back turned to me, looks over his shoulder. He is bearded, chubby and in his fifties and I scrunch up my face. I could put up with his age and his overweight, too, but the beard is an absolute no-go.
"This is her," Kathy tells him, pointing at me.
Eddie Monaghan shakes his head in disgust and I exhale deeply.
"No?" Kathy asks.
Eddie only rolls his eyes and makes a dismissive gesture.
Kathy sighs.
"Oh, never mind."
"Not bothered," I lie.
"I just don't know where you are going wrong," Kathy muses.
"Yeah," I reply. "Beats me …"
I stop, when suddenly someone steps up to us and Kathy gasps, when she realized that it is Benedict again. But to my surprise, and even more so to hers, he totally ignores her and jabs an accusing finger at me instead.
"Right," he says, determined. "Kiss me."
"What?"
"You heard me!"
"But I …"
"One kiss," Benedict demands. "Come on."
"No!" I reply.
Kathy next to me blinks in astonishment.
"One kiss," Benedict insists. "Just let me show you how I do it."
Kathy's eyes widen.
"No tongues, if you don't want," Benedict adds.
Kathy lets out a squeal.
"Alright," I give in, shrugging. "If it's going to shut you up …"
Benedict smiles, then he grabs my shoulders and pulls me closer to him, looking at me intensely, so I can spot the tiny freckle in his right eye, before he leans in and presses his lips against mine.
I imagine it is supposed to be meant passionately romantic, but it isn't. It is just a pair of lips pressing against mine. No butterflies, no nothing – just a bad aftertaste in my mouth.
Benedict sighs as he finally breaks the kiss, releasing my shoulders from his firm grip.
"Well?"
He looks at me expectantly.
I bite my lips to regain feeling in them and shake my head.
"Not really my bag of crisps," I admit.
Benedict stares at me and something flickers in his eyes. Is it real hurt or just wounded vanity? I cannot tell, because, now he turns around abruptly, holding his head up, and strides away.
Again, I feel a bit sorry for him. A bit only.
"Was that …?" Kathy whispers.
"Yep."
"Benedict Cumberbatch …"
"Yep," I reply. "Sorry about that."
"He just …"
"Yep."
"… kissed you."
I nod.
"He couldn't be stopped, obviously," I remark, wiping my lips with the back of my hand. "Again, sorry about that."
And while I wonder, whether Benedict has brushed his teeth today, Kathy stares after him, longingly, and sighs.
Apparently, she is more into him than I am.