The Boyfriend

The Boyfriend - Part Three

Andy met Mary again two days later. He had no filming scheduled for several more days, and Mary said she only had a small freelance illustration project to work on, and was free most of the time. This gave them plenty of opportunity to see each other.

They arranged to meet at Dublin Zoo. Andy immediately noted that Mary was more receptive and spirited– walking shoulder to shoulder, sitting close to him, making stronger eye contact. He wondered if, now that she knew that he was conscious of body language, she was purposely being more open and showing her intentions.

"So Andy is short for Andrew?" she asked while they strolled with ice creams in hand.

"Yep," Andy told her. "I don't think it could be short for any other name."

"I always thought it would be funny to name a girl Lizard," Mary said, smiling playfully. "So that when people ask her, 'Liz, is that short for Elizabeth?' she'll have to say, 'No, it's short for Lizard.'"

Andy laughed. "Lizard is a great name."

"That'll be the name of my first daughter," Mary said. She glanced at him and then quickly looked away, licking her ice cream.

She said her first daughter, Andy thought, suddenly a little shaken. Not ours. But, something about the way she said it, the way she looked at him, made him wonder if she had just speculated about the two of them having kids.

Earlier, while they had watch two gorillas holding each other, she had brought up the idea of fate bringing her and Andy together. Andy wasn't comfortable with the thought, but he couldn't help but wonder if Mary was a bit too full-on. He wasn't used to someone liking him so much. Maybe this is just how it was when two people really liked each other?

Despite his apprehensions, Andy was electrified, overwhelmingly compelled by her. There was just something about her. A familiarity. Like he had known her his whole life.

Over the next week they saw each other several more times. Lunch by the river Liffey, breakfast in Smithfield Square, drinks at The Globe on William's Street. They took a trip to Trinity College, where they saw the Book of Kells, a famous old book and popular tourist spot.

While they sat outside a coffee shop, Andy went on about his favourite TV shows.

"You have to see Silicon Valley. It's what the Big Bang Theory wishes it was."

Mary nodded. "I'll have to check it out."

"I have so much to show you," Andy said, smiling.

The more they spoke, the more he realised that Mary wasn't a big film and TV fan. He was shocked to hear that she hadn't seen many classic films. But that's okay, he thought. Just means that we get to spend more time together, showing her all the old classics she's missed. The first on their watch-list, he told her, was one of his favourite films, The Princess Bride.

Mary fell busy with freelance work for the next few days, and Andy managed to line up a few days of Extra's work on a low budget film shooting in town. But they messaged each other constantly.

The group chat that Andy had with Tom, Emma, and Connor was also busy. There was always something being said–a link to a funny video, a random gif, or just general talk. But the biggest topic in the chat lately was Andy and Mary. Emma still referred to her as Monica, and the group had adopted it as a nickname for Mary. They insisted that Mary come out one night with them all, but Andy was hesitant, feeling it was too early to unleash his crazy friend group dynamic on Mary.