Just Friends

Chapter 22

Maria laughed as Colm ran across the grass towards her with a swan chasing behind him. 

"I told you not to get too close, she has babies in the water. Look" 

She pointed towards the water as Colm ran up beside her and looked back. The swan had given up chase when she deemed Colm was a respectable distance from her babies and she waddled back towards the water. 

"Your face when she started chasing you." Maria started laughing again when she thought of it. 

"Oi, that demon bird could have killed me and you're stood here pissing yourself laughing...thanks a lot, some friend you are."

Maria stifled her laughter and mustered up a serious face...well as serious as she could. 

"I'm sorry.....but it was funny" she burst out in another fit of giggles. Colm joined her, despite himself. 

They had been out for most of the day now, they were getting hungry and decided to get fish and chips on the way back to the apartment. Maria went in to order the food while Colm went into the little shop next door. 

When they got home Maria plated up the food as Colm poured them both a glass of wine. He had seen it in the shop when he went to buy some goodies and decided to get a bottle. It wasn't expensive and you could tell that by the taste but it would do. There was low alcohol content so he would still be able to drive home after 1 glass. 

"Woah Mister....are you trying to get me drunk?" He reddened at the implication

"What? no I just....it's only 4% sorry I didn't ..." 

Maria bent over in a fit of giggles. "Relax relax, I'm just kidding" 

They sipped at their wine and ate their food while listening to some music. Maria had picked a random playlist on spotify. They both laughed at some of the songs, Colm made fun of her for having a few cheesy boyband songs included in the playlist but she was unashamed of her love for Westlife, Take That and Boyzone. 

When they finished their food they moved to the sofa, Colm brought the bottle of wine and poured another glass each. Half way through Maria put her hand over her mouth.

"Oh my god...you can't drink that." 

Colm paused with the glass half way to his lips "huh?"

"You still have to drive home...you can't drive with 2 glasses of wine, it's dangerous" 

Colm put the glass on the table in front of him "Shit, I didn't even think" 

Maria laughed "Well if you want to stay here you can have the sofa. I don't mind...unless you need to get back tonight." 

Colm thought for a moment "Ah sure why not..." 

He picked up his glass and took another sip as Maria laughed. They spent the rest of the evening flicking through Netflix. Maria kept choosing Crime Documentaries when it was her turn to pick.

"Umm, should I be worried?" 

Maria looked at him curiously "About?"

Colm nodded towards the tv "being alone with you...are you trying to get ideas?" 

Maria laughed and threw the cushion at him. 

"Nah, you're safe" 

Just after 6pm Colm's phone rang, he looked at the screen and his face paled. 

"Sorry, I have to take this" 

"Want me to pause?" He shook his head "No it's fine, go ahead and watch" 

He stood up and walked across the room. It was a small apartment so he didn't really have anywhere private to go. Maria continued watching the tv but she guessed that it was Katie on the phone and she wasn't very happy by the sound of things. 

"I'll be back tomorrow.....I had a drink so can't drive...no.....yes......no don't be so stupid....in the car......yeah it's only a small apartment. Yeah ok...see you tomorrow. Bye." 

He ended the call and twirled the phone between his thumb and forefinger. He sat back down on the sofa beside Maria but there was a little bit more space between them now. He was chewing on the inside of his cheek. He always done that when nervous.

"Everything ok?"

He put his phone down and smiled 

"Yeah....Katie is not happy because I'm staying here. I had to tell her I was sleeping in the car" 

"What the hell? You're not actually planning on sleeping in the car are you?" 

He laughed "No, I just said that to her because she was wrecking my head. She's convinced herself that you're some sort of siren and I can't say no to you" 

Maria burst out laughing "Give over" 

"I swear, she told me that I wasn't allowed stay alone with you overnight...just in case. She's convinced you gave me the alcohol on purpose so I'd have to stay" 

"Oh that's so stupid....anyway I didn't even buy the wine..you did and you poured it....wait a second...was that your plan all along? Are you trying to get me drunk so you can have your nasty way with little innocent ole me?" 

She regretted it as soon as she said it. She was joking but the dark look that crossed Colm's eyes and the instant blush made her realise that he was probably attracted to her. 

She laughed to try hide her embarrassment "Ah she'll be fine Colm, I can understand why she'd be annoyed. I probably wouldn't like my boyfriend to be staying over with someone else. She has nothing to worry about though...believe me"