I’m awoken by a knock on my bedroom door, which jolts me suddenly from my sleep. I think I was dreaming, although I’m not sure what about. To be honest, after my recent dreams, I could happily never dream again. I used to love my dreams, even my nightmares. For me they were like an escape from real life, an adventure where I could do anything and go anywhere and no one could hurt me. It was like living in a movie with no consequences and I loved that so much. Turns out I was wrong, my dreams could hurt me, by showing me an awesome life that I’m never going to be able to have.
‘Ruby, you awake?’ I hear Nick call through my bedroom door.
‘Erm, just a sec,’ I call back. I search around my messy room for something – anything – that I can put on over my underwear, but in a room that is messy with so many clothes, I can’t find anything that will do the trick. I rummage around for what feels like forever, although I’m sure it’s probably only thirty seconds, and eventually find a sarong that my mum bought me before we went on holiday to Italy when I was thirteen. No, I don’t know why I’ve kept it either, but that’s all that is to hand right now. I wrap it around my body, quickly, before replying: ‘come in.’
Nick walks into my bedroom, holding a steaming mug.
‘Morning,’ he says as he takes in my surroundings, his expression quickly changing. ‘Oh, you’re alone.’
‘Of course I’m alone,’ I reply. ‘What were you expecting, half the Leeds Lions team to be snuggling up with me?’
‘No, but at least one thirteenth. What happened on your date? It not go well? I figured he’d be here with you, and that you’d have had a late night – that’s why I brought you this cuppa – and it’s real milk, not my coconut milk.’
‘Good, because that tastes like –’
‘I know,’ he interrupts me. ‘You’ve told me many a time as I ate my breakfast.’
Nick sets the mug down next to me with an expectant smile; he wants details. That’s when it occurs to me, oh my God, he’s jealous. My stupid plan actually worked. Nick never makes me tea and yet here he is this morning, barging into my bedroom when he thinks I’ve got a bloke in here, bringing me cups of tea, asking me loads of questions about how it went. He’s never done this before.
‘It went really well,’ I lie. ‘Really, really well, actually.’
Now, now, Ruby, don’t over-sell it.
‘If it went that well, I would’ve thought he’d be here with you now…’
‘He wants to wait,’ I tell him and, yes, it is hard to keep a straight face. ‘He said he really likes me, and he wants to prove it to me by not trying to sleep with me until the third date.’
‘Well, isn’t he traditional,’ Nick replies, sounding sceptical – as well he should, because I just said the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. ‘Although…do you think he might be playing you?’
‘What?’ I reply, feigning surprise. ‘No, of course not. How could you think such a thing?’
‘You’re not naive, Ruby. You’re pretty street-smart – although not very fashion-smart, what the hell are you wearing?’ Nick asks, finally clocking my sarong.
‘It’s a sarong,’ I tell him, as if that might clear things up, no explanation needed. ‘I grabbed it when you wanted to come in, to protect my modesty.’
‘Ruby, it’s transparent. Whatever modestly you’ve deluded yourself into thinking you have is in no way protected.’
Normally, Nick’s insulting little remarks make me cross, but not today. I can’t help but grin.
‘What are you smiling for?’ he asks, puzzled.
‘Oh, it’s nothing,’ I reply. But it’s not nothing, it’s definitely something, he’s jealous. He’s jealous, he’s jealous, he’s jealous. I do a little victory dance in my head before grabbing my cuppa and sipping it smugly. Oh, it’s a perfect cuppa too, super-strong, just the right amount of real milk.
‘Well, I need to get to work. I’m glad your date went well,’ he tells me, sounding like he isn’t even a little bit glad that my date went well. Yes!
‘Thank you,’ I call after him. ‘Have fun looking at front-butts all day.’
‘You’re so immature it’s embarrassing,’ he calls back.
But I’m not immature, I’m the smartest woman on earth, and Millsy is the smartest man – I’m not sure if I should tell him, it might go to his head. Ah, I don’t care, all that matters is that I’m making progress. Now I just need to figure out what my next step is, and unlucky for me, I think it’s going to involve a third date with Deano.