Celebrity Crush

Cheers!

Gaby's eyes are about to pop out by the time I finish my sentence. "I knew it! I knew he would call, or text, whatever. Of course he would. He liked you!" she says.

"Yeah well, he liked you better... but he texted!" I laugh at her reaction. "So, wanna go? What should I text back?"

"Tell him yes, of course! Are you seriously asking me that? This is why you have been moping around all day..." she says, rolling her eyes.

I gasp in indignation, "Of course I wasn't! Don't be so mean Gaby." I scowl at her. She rolls her eyes again. "Okay, whatever, now text him back. Ask him where he wants to meet." I do that. 

The reply comes almost instantaneously. "Oh it's this famous pub a little far from our hotel....' Mile Vini'. He has offered to pick us up too." I smile up at her. "I'll text him our hotel address, we can walk back to there."

He takes a minute to reply - OK. I'm on my way. Be ready in fifteen minutes. A tingling of excitement runs through me. This is really happening! 

We pay for our drinks and return to the hotel, where I change into my heels. We've just reached the lobby when my phone rings and his number flashes on the screen. I'm about to pick up but then I see a black sedan rolling up just outside the glass doors. From the back seat gets out Chris Coleman, looking like a million bucks in a white T-shirt, black jeans and a well fitted black leather jacket, his hair tousled casually. Ooh la-la.

"Sylvia. Your phone. It's ringing." Gaby says from somewhere beside me. I come to and look down at it in my hand. "Of course, yeah, it's Chris. He must be calling cuz he's here. Come, let's not keep him waiting...." I press the 'reject call' and walk out with her. Chris must not have noticed us yet because he is still looking at his phone. Probably wondering why I didn't pick up.  So I save him the trouble and in an uncommon display of confidence, walk right up to him and go "Hi!" all chirpily. 

He looks up questioningly then sees it's me. I give him a wide grin. "I was wondering if you were ditching me after all." He says, deadpan, his eyes sparkling. I adopt a thoughtful pose and say "Well, yes that was the plan first, but then you turned up here before I could make my escape." Gaby, having reached us by now adds "Yeah, you're losing your touch Coleman," then shakes her head in mock disapproval. Chris smirked at her and said " Maybe that's what I want  you to think. Care to try your theory out at the pub now?"

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Of the two pubs that I have been to in my whole life, I like this one the best. We were greeted at the door by two burly guards who nodded at Chris without smiling and then opened the door for us. Rock music drifted to my ears and I find myself nodding along as he leads us to the back room. There is a thinner crowd here, most of the people dressed in expensive looking clothes. I look down at the Teal tie-waist top and black capri pants I was wearing. I'm not that under-dressed, am I? No, not with my heels. "This place is so cool!" Gabriella whispers in my ear. Looking around, I agree. 

All of the furniture, along with the bar counter and shelves is dark wood. The walls are red, wallpapered with various posters of old rock bands and iconic movies, lit up by overhead soft- lighting. There are two pool tables and a dart board hangs on the opposite wall. The three of us grab a stool each at the counter and order our drinks.

Chris, seated to my right, turns to us "So, ladies, how has your trip been so far?"

"Oh it has been so much fun. Besides meeting you, we have managed to have some of the best food we've ever had,  done tons of shopping already and of course, got plenty of photographs for our holiday album!" Gaby beams at him. "What about you? How did the shoot go?" I ask him.

"Oh... the usual. Had to do five takes for every scene because the director had another 'brilliant idea' and it would be so much better if we did it 'differently'...." he says, making air quotes and rolling his eyes. I can't help giggling at his impression of the director. I still remember the time he had chucked us off his set. Our drinks arrive and we clink our glasses together before taking a sip each. Hmm, so maybe it would take me some time to get used to the taste of alcohol...

Someone's phone rings and 'Highway to hell' by AC/DC blares out. To my surprise it's his. "You like AC/DC?" I ask him. "Oh yeah, this one's my favourite." he says as he takes it out of his pocket. He glances at the screen, then mutters a curse. Turning sheepishly to us, he asks "Is it okay if a friend of mine comes here right now? I wanted to ask you before but it just slipped my mind..."

"Oh it's fine. No problem. The more the merrier!" Gaby smiles from my left. Chris nods and takes the call. "Probably wanted to make it a double date...." Gaby whispers to me in a sing-song voice. I brush off her teasing and gaze back at Chris, who is moving to the door, phone still in hand. Of course, it would be just dreamy  if that were true...

By the time he returns, Gaby and I have ordered cheese fingers and french fries to go with the drinks. Let me just take a moment here to appreciate the goodness of soft cheese encased in a crunchy covering with a smattering of herbs....mmmm! 

Gabriella's slight gasp of surprise makes me turn away from my snacks and around towards the door, where she's looking.

Oh. Hmm. So she was  wrong. He hadn't wanted to make it a double date. Of course he hadn't.

Unless the pretty girl with him is lesbian, anyway.