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“Great choice in cocktail, but like I said, I’m not available.” He mutters something I don’t quite catch, and I grit my teeth.
“I’m nobody’s baby,” she says, shaking her head.
I can’t take anymore. I’m out of my chair and moving across the room as anger boils under my skin. “She told you she’s not interested,” I say.
Everyone looks at me. Nellie’s mouth hangs open, and the guy curls his lip at me. With his friend behind him, he probably doesn’t see me as a threat, but that doesn’t mean I won’t put him in his place.
“Who are you?” he asks, thrusting out his chest.
“That’s irrelevant. I’m trying to enjoy my drink and would rather not listen to you harass the lovely lady here.”
“Is this guy your boyfriend?” he asks Nellie, ignoring me.
“Our relationship is none of your business. Are we settled on bikini martinis all round?”
“Make it beers and we’ll calm down,” another of the guys says. The men talk amongst themselves before nodding in response. She pulls the pints and the men keep their word.
I settle back on my stool, and she comes over to talk to me. “Thanks for your help, but I can handle this myself,” she says, filling up my glass.
From what I’ve seen she’s a strong, independent woman. Earlier, she needed my help at the sports hall, but this is different. At work, she’s never needed me before. I don’t mean to be protective of her. It’s like a switch has flipped and I don’t know how to turn it back off.
“I know you can look after yourself, but I couldn’t just sit here.”
“I’m just having a bad day. From the minute I woke up, everything has gone wrong. I can handle myself, though.”
“Is that why you were late for work?”
“My car wouldn’t start. I had to get the bus.”
“Why didn’t you get a taxi?”
She averts her eyes. “I don’t have money to throw around.”
“I could’ve…” My phone rings, and I reach into my pocket. Dad comes up on the screen. “Hang on a minute,” I say. She goes to serve a customer, and I press answer. “Hello.”
“Hi, Chris. Me and your mother are on our way home from bingo. Do you need your car picking up?” he asks.
I’m over the driving limit, so I won’t be getting behind the wheel tonight. I glance at Nellie. If she got the bus, I wonder how she’s getting home. By the time the bar closes, there won’t be any public transport. If she doesn’t have the cash, is she planning on walking? “No. I have it covered. How was bingo?”
“Your mother’s spending my money rather than winning.”
I hear my mum protest, and I chuckle. “Okay, I’ll see you both back at home.”
“Night,” they both shout.
Nellie’s finishing up with a customer as our gaze locks. She moves over to me. “Why are you staring at me?” she asks.
“How are you planning on getting home?”
Her eyebrows pull together in confusion. “It’s probably going to take me an hour, but I’m going to walk. Why do you ask?”
That was not the answer I wanted to hear. Shining knight isn’t usually the role I play in women’s lives, but Nellie’s making it hard not to consider it. “My car’s in the car park, and I thought you could drive me home, then I’ll pick my car up from yours tomorrow.”
“Are you drunk? I bet your car is worth more than my annual salary. I can’t drive that with or without you in the passenger seat.” She puts her hands on her hips.
“Why not?” I try to hide my amusement.
“If I got a tiny scratch on your precious car, I wouldn’t be able to pay the bill to fix it. I don’t need any more negative karma. Do you normally drive here? You shouldn’t be doing anything that could damage that pretty face. Can’t you just leave it in the car park until tomorrow?”
