Million Love Songs(13)
‘That’s what our Shagger is like.’
‘Well, you don’t have to fret. I’ll steer well clear.’
‘Chef said he’s coming in again later. I don’t know what we’ve done to deserve two visits in quick succession. We normally only see him once every blue moon.’ She gives me a probing look. ‘There must be some new attraction.’
Then, mercifully, her phone pings which distracts her. ‘Hey, babe,’ she says and, while she’s busy chatting, I turn my attention to my own phone. I take the opportunity to tap out a text to Joe and, despite my qualms, tell him that I can make the dive outing to Quarry Hill Cove. Anxiety prickles in my stomach as I type. I don’t want him to think that I’m interested in him more than the diving. Not that I’m really interested in the diving, but I can hardly say that I’m coming to check out the talent – if there is any. Before I can think better of it and change my mind, I press send.
When Charlie hangs up, she says, ‘That was one of my GB Army mates. We’ve scored a bunch of tickets for one of the live shows of Let it Shine on Saturday.’ One of those Saturday night talent shows – this one featuring, of course, Take That. ‘It’s up in London. Do you fancy coming along?’
‘Deffo. It’s my weekend off. I’ve just agreed to go to the dive day out on Sunday, but I’m free on Saturday.’
‘Perfect. It’ll mean a seriously early start.’
‘I can do that. I’ll set double alarms.’
‘We should be outside the studio for about six o’clock to make sure we get near the front.’
I look at her, horrified. ‘Six in the morning? You’re kidding me? I’ve seen this on telly. The show’s not until the evening.’
‘I know, but there’s no point going if you’re at the back. Gary can’t see me then.’ She has a point, I suppose. ‘How will he know I’m there?’
‘You could text him?’
She shakes her head at me. ‘You are an innocent in the world of fandom.’
‘Does he have to know that you’re there?’ I ask somewhat weakly. I know the answer already. Charlie looks at me as if I am more stupid than Mr Stupid. ‘Will there even be trains at that time of day?’
‘I’ll drive in. We can park up at Euston and get a Tube or taxi across to the studio.’
That sounds a bit more civilised. I glance at my watch. ‘We’d better get back inside, Charls, or Chef and Jay will have our guts for garters.’ Charlie packs away her e-ciggie and I knock back the dregs of my coffee, now cold. We jump down from the bench, glad that it hasn’t collapsed under our collective weight. She links her arm through mine as we walk towards the restaurant, saying goodbye to the sunshine for the rest of the day. ‘We can play Take That’s Greatest Hits all afternoon to get us in the mood.’
‘Fab.’
Together we break into the chorus of ‘Pray’ and throw in some of the dance moves.
‘See. I’m teaching you well. You wait and see, I’ll induct you into the GB Army yet.’ Charlie gives me a smug smile. ‘I am his future wife, you know. If not in this life, then in the next. I’m prepared to wait.’
I laugh at that. ‘That’s so creepy and not a little scary, The Future Mrs Barlow.’
‘Yeah,’ she says. ‘Even for me.’
Chapter Eleven
As predicted, Shagger Soames does turn up. Right in the middle of evening service. We are totally rammed with not a table to be had and lots of disgruntled customers who’ve been waiting in the bar for over forty-five minutes. Our diners are intent on hogging their tables tonight and there’s nothing I can do to rush them.
I’m feeling red in the face and just a little bit fractious when I see Mason swing in to the restaurant out of the corner of my eye. I’m delivering drinks to a table who’ve already had the wrong order and I have to give them my full attention, but I still manage to catch that he’s wearing a black shirt and jeans which look mighty fine on him. I really don’t like what that does to my heart rate, but I put it down to the fact that I’m rushed off my feet. He is handsome. God damn his eyes.
My next glimpse of him is ages later. I go to find a couple who’ve been hanging round in the bar patiently waiting for a table to come free. If I were them, I’d have departed long ago and would have gone to another pub. I’ll reward their long suffering with a complimentary bread basket. Such is my power. I note that Shagger is behind the bar, sleeves rolled up, serving drinks. He winks at me in quite a sexy manner and I nod back, curtly. This isn’t one of those films where the heroine, even though in peril, has the time to stop for a flirtation or a snog. I’ve got work to do. The time for fraternising is much later. I wonder if Mason will linger this evening and if we’ll share a convivial drink or two together. Perhaps I’ll risk something stronger than Coke and splash out on a taxi home. Reckless, that’s me.
By the time we’re quietening down towards ten o’clock and I finally have time to breathe, there’s no sign of him. I wander over to the window as casually as I can and check for his car in the car park, but it’s no longer there.
‘Looking for His Highness?’ Charlie asks as she’s tidying up the menus and clearing the Specials board.