Woman Walks into a Bar by Rowan Coleman Read Free Book Online Page B

wrong,” Brendan said.
    As I pulled my jacket on, I looked around the bar, still hopeful that John Smith might turn up after barely escaping from being kidnapped by aliens.
    But he still had not arrived by the time I had done up the last button.
    â€œWell, bye, then,” I said to Brendan.
    â€œSam,” he said, and he reached out his hand across the bar and caught hold of my fingers. “Look, I’m really sorry . . . I . . .”
    â€œWhy?” I asked him, looking at his fingers holding mine. “It’s not your fault John Smith is an arsehole after all!” He let go and my hand dropped like a stone to my side.
    â€œI’m sorry that he didn’t turn up, I mean,” Brendan said, sounding like he really was sorry, before adding quietly, “And he’s a fool, whoever he is.”
    â€œThanks, Brendan,” I said, suddenly wishing I wasn’t about to leave.
    â€œI’m glad he didn’t turn up, though,” Brendan said. “I’m glad we got a chance to talk, just us two, to get to know each other a bit better.”
    Before I could reply Janet called him from the other end of the bar, waving her empty pint glass.
    â€œBye,” I said again, but Brendan was already at the other end of the bar.
    When I stepped out of the warm, smoky air of the pub into the brisk cold of the night, I went back over the evening. I realized I wasn’t feeling annoyed or upset that John Smith hadn’t turned up. In fact, I was glad that he hadn’t.
    By the time I stepped out of the lift and let myself into the flat, I knew for a fact that I fancied Brendan. And there was this other little nagging thought that kept popping up, too. One that said that, after the way he’d acted and the things he’d said, he might fancy me too. But I didn’t let myself think that one too often.
    After all, I didn’t want to jinx myself.

Nine
    â€œYou look great, Mum,” Beth said to me as I stood on the doorstep. I tried to move but I could not make my feet walk toward the lift door. I hadn’t been this bad on the other three dates. But I hadn’t really cared about the other three dates.
    â€œYou do look lovely,” Mum said, managing to smile despite the frown slotted between her brows. “I just hope this one is worth it.”
    â€œI reckon he will be,” Beth said. “I’ve got a funny feeling about it, plus your stars said that today you’d have a ‘pleasant surprise that would change everything.’”
    Still my feet had not moved.
    â€œGo on, then!” Beth said impatiently, giving me a little shove. I tottered onto the smooth surface of the corridor in my heeled boots.
    â€œBye, then,” Mum said, going back into the flat as the music from Emmerdale started up in the front room. “Have a nice time.”
    â€œI’ll walk you to the lift,” Beth said. She hooked her arm through mine as we walked the few steps to the lift and then she pressed the down button.
    â€œIt’ll be fine,” she said, patting my arm. “Don’t be nervous.”
    â€œI am fine,” I said, looking at her. “I might just stay at home.”
    The lift doors slid open.
    â€œDon’t be stupid,” Beth said, giving me a gentle shove in the right direction. I stepped into the lift and turned round to look at her, my finger holding down the “doors open” button.
    â€œI love you, Beth,” I said, suddenly needing to tell her. She rolled her eyes.
    â€œYeah, yeah,” she said. “Go on !”
    â€œOK,” I said, still holding down the “doors open” button. Beth grinned at me.
    â€œBye, Mum!” She said pressing the down arrow again.
    I took my fingers off the button and the doors slid to a close. I felt the lift begin to move down.
    Without Beth I don’t think I would have got into the lift.
    She is always the one making me take a step