Gia stood up as her dinner companion approached the table. He had certainly made an effort.
"Gia! God you look stunning"
She hugged him and he kissed her gently on the cheek.
"So good to see you"
They sat down and ordered some wine.
He took her hand across the table, she sighed deeply and looked at him.
"So, what's the plan of action?"
Iris checked on the food. Everything was ready. She looked at the time. Quarter past 6.
She didn't know what to do, she didn't want to bother him but if he didn't come out soon it would be ruined.
"Big girl pants on!"
Walking to his door she raised her hand to knock. Just as she did the door opened and she found herself standing face to face with him. Her hand landing on his chest.
He looked down at it in surprise.
"Oh God, I'm so sorry! I was just going to knock to tell you dinner was ready. You opened the door...."
"I know."
"I didn't mean to... you opened the door!"
Lin laughed. His eyebrows raised, he nodded.
"I know."
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to..."
"I know."
His eyes crinkled at the corner as he laughed.
"So, not only are you empathetic, you are also as socially awkward as I am."
Iris eye rolled.
"You cannot be socially awkward. There's no way you can stand in front of a massive crowd of people, do what you do and be socially awkward."
"Ahh well you see, that person is Lin 'star of stage and screen.' Manuel Miranda. Not Lin 'really awkward round beautiful women who have their hand on his chest' Manuel Miranda."
Iris looked down in horror as she realised her hand was still cemented to him. She moved it quickly away.
"Oh God! I'm sorry."
Lin laughed out loud.
"Don't be."
He winked at her playfully.
"Come on. Let's eat. I'm ravenous."
Iris plated up the food.
He watched her and frowned.
"Where's yours?"
She shook her head quickly.
"Oh I'm not joining you. I don't want to get in the way."
"In the way of what exactly? Me spending the whole night by myself as well as the whole day? Do you want me to work my way into an early grave and lose my mind?!"
He crossed his eyes and pulled a face.
Iris laughed.
"Well, I guess not."
Lin reached round her and pulled out another plate.
"Good! Then sit. Eat. Tell me about you."
He put on a thick Brooklyn accent. "What's a nice girl like you doing in a town like this?"
She put some food on her plate and sat opposite him.
Lin laughed as she told him stories of her life, interjecting with his own.
"This food is so good. You know you really should take it up as a career. I think you've got something."
He grinned at her as she laughed.
Getting up he took a bottle of white from the fridge. He held it up and raised his eyebrows questionably at her.
She hesitated, Lin stuck his bottom lip out and pretended to look hurt.
"Ok, ok" she laughed.
"Just one though. Your acting is quite good. You know you really should take it up as a career. I think you've got something."
He stopped pouring the wine and nodded.
"Touché!"
He passed her a drink.
"Cheers!"
She clinked his glass.
"Salud!"
His eyebrows raised and he smiled.
She laughed.
"Don't be too impressed. That's pretty much all I know."
"Well maybe I should teach you. A new phrase every day. At least when you go back to Wanda you'll know nearly a whole paragraph."
His phone vibrated on the table.
"Sorry, just a sec."
She watched as he picked it up smiling. She stood up and moved the plates. Clearly it was from Gia.
She waited for a minute before turning back round. Giving him time to answer without her watching and making it awkward.
"How is she getting on?"
She asked him politely when he had put the phone back on the counter.
"Who? Oh Gia? I haven't heard from her since this morning. She did say they would be working late tonight though."
"Sorry! I didn't mean to pry. I just thought.. the message."
"Ah! No, that was Jon. He asked if I fancy a threesome."
Spotting the shocked look on her face he carried on quickly.
"Tennis. he's going with his partner Niall tomorrow for an hour. Hey! Don't suppose you play do you?"
"Badly! Very badly. Balls are not my strong point."
Lin took a drink and sniggered.
Iris quickly carried on.
"Tennis balls are not my strong point! I'm ok with other balls. Sports ones! Not.. erm..."
Lin was watching her expectantly. A big grin on his face.
"Go on.. you were saying which balls you are good with."
She screwed her eyes up embarrassed and hid her face in her hands.
Lin sat watching her, his shoulders shaking with laughter.
"So how about it? You fancy playing with me?"
Iris stopped laughing and stared at him. His smile gradually faded as he registered what he had said.
"Sorry, that sounded far worse than it should have done!"
He laughed awkwardly.
She answered him quietly.
"Yes"
They stood looking at each other in silence before she shook her head.
"Yes! Tennis. Why not. I'm rubbish though. Don't blame me when we lose. Better stop drinking this as well if I need to be on my A game in the morning."
She stood up quickly.
"Ok I'm going to get some beauty sleep. I'll see you in the morning Lin."
He nodded quickly.
"You don't need it. But ok. I'll see you tomorrow."
Iris looked at him confused.
Lin shook his head.
"The beauty sleep. You don't need it. You're already ...."
He let the sentence hang.
"Erm, I'm going to work for another hour. So I'll see you later... in the morning! I'll see you in the morning. G'night Iris."
He turned and walked away from her.
She rubbed her face quickly, quietly muttering to herself.
"Shit Iris!"
She tidied up the table, picking up the empty bottle of wine.
"No more drink for you. You can't trust your own damn mouth!"
Lin ran his hand through his hair and realised he was shaking.
He suddenly felt ridiculously guilty. He hadn't ever looked at another woman that way since he got with Gia 12 years ago, never mind flirted with one.
"What.Are.You.Doing!"
He picked his phone up and rang Gia, frowning as it went straight to answerphone. He ended the call angrily. He needed to talk to her, needed to hear her voice. He didn't feel right, an uneasy feeling swirling round in his stomach without really knowing why. They had never gone a whole day without talking.
He walked to the radio and turned it on. Paul Weller's dulcet tones singing 'You do something to me' breaking the silence.
He switched it off quickly and picked his phone back up pressing redial. It went straight to answerphone again, this time he waited for the recorded message to finish.
"Gia... Hi, just checking you're ok? I haven't spoken to you today. I know... " He sighed.
"I know you're busy. I just... can you call me. Doesn't matter what time it is." He went to end the call then quickly carried on.
"Everything's ok! No one is ill or anything. I just miss you. You're busy. I'm sorry. Ignore me. I'm being needy. Call me tomorrow. I love you. Night"
Gia played the message in the bathroom and frowned at the screen cursing quietly.
"Fuck"
