Avoiding Mr Right by Anita Heiss Read Free Book Online Page B

was serious.
    'Yes, and I can see why, because he's hot.' I showed her
Max's business card with his photo on it.
    'See, don't you think there's something conceited about
someone who has a photo of themselves on their business
card?' Sylvia said in an I-told-you-so voice, raising one
eyebrow at the same time – something I always wished I
could do.
    'Hmmm, I don't know. I was thinking we should get
them too!' I was joking, but she did have a point. I didn't
know anyone else who had a photo on their business card.
    ♥
    I arrived a little early at the bar. It was dimly lit, so everyone
looked better than they would otherwise, and I seemed
even more gorgeous than usual. I didn't need a photo on my business card to prove it. I ordered a gin'n'tonic and sat, just
looking at the shelves lined with bottles. I noticed their top
shelf spirits were really top shelf, about ten foot up top, and
wondered how expensive they must've been. Another whole
shelf was lined with bottles of ouzo, and I pondered whether
or not it was the Melbourne Greek influence that had done
that. Was the owner Greek? George was a Greek name after
all. It made me think of Dannie's George and I felt a pang of
homesickness so I texted her as I waited for Max to arrive.
    Hi D – just wantd 2 tell u I'm in bar called George! Made me homesik
4 u guys. Luv 2 ur mob. News on embryo??? Px
    Dannie responded almost immediately, which really
touched me, as it would be chaos in her house at that time
of night, trying to feed kids and dogs and get homework
done, et cetera.
    Hi, lovly 2 hear frm u. Messy mob send luv. No embryo yet, will let
u no 4 sure. Miss u, D x
    I looked around the bar and noticed an extraordinary
number of men – straight men, businessmen, grungy men,
men with men friends, men with women friends, men of
all denominations. And then I missed James and sent him
a text:
    About to sign lease for flat. I miss you! Px
    I turned my phone off because I knew he'd call and I
couldn't really talk there and then. I smiled as I looked
around some more and I knew this would be my local, even
if I didn't end up living in St Kilda. Being faithful didn't
mean being blind. The no-sex rule meant I'd have to at
least be having a damned good perve.
    Max arrived and kissed me on the cheek, which seemed
very forward and unprofessional.
    'Hi Peta, great to see you. Can I get you a drink?' he
asked enthusiastically.
    'Oh, okay, I'll have a gin'n'tonic.'
    'You know this is a wine bar.'
    Normally, I would have said, 'So what?' but I wanted the
flat, so played the game. 'Right, well then I guess I might
have a wine. Can I see a wine list?' Already I was thinking, You're a knob, and you can stick the flat keys where the sun don't
shine.
    'I'd suggest something from the Geelong region,' Max
said, while I looked down the list of whites.
    'Really, is their wine as delicious as the football team
looks?' I thought I was funny, but he just rolled his eyes.
    'Actually, I think I'll try a sauvignon blanc from the
Yarra Valley.'
    'Oh no, if it's a sauvignon blanc you're after, try the
Kettle Lake from Central Victoria.' It's just wine , I thought
to myself. This was getting too serious and too wanky and
it had to end.
    'Hmmmm, Kettle Lake, would that be to go with the
Kettle Chips?' I couldn't help but laugh at my own joke, but
Max didn't seem to think it was funny. The barman who
overheard did, though, and laughed out loud.
    'The lady will have the Yarra Valley Sauvignon Blanc,'
said Max. And that was it. I couldn't stand it any more.
He'd pissed me off. James would never have ventured to
tell me what to drink. I wanted to get down to business and
end the 'meeting'.
    'So, have you got the forms for me to go through?'
    'Oh, they're in the car. I thought you might like to go
and look at the flat one more time and if you like it, we can
seal the deal tonight.' A sly grin came over his face.
    Something didn't feel right, but I wanted the flat,