The Girl Before Eve (23 page)

He walked over and encased her in his arms. “I’m sorry for being an arse. I knew it… I lay awake for ages last night just trying to figure out why you were so pissed off and then it dawned on me. I’m sorry for pissing you off. You’ve done a lot to try and help me, and I do appreciate it. I just feel a bit like a fish out of water, you know?” He smelled all manly and his body was hard and warm against her softness. She blinked up at him. His nose was an inch away from hers…all it would take was…

She snapped herself back to Earth and pulled away. “Yeah, well, that’s what friends are for, eh?” she said as jovially as she could.

“Aye, Lil. And you’re the best.”

“And don’t you forget it.” She smiled as sadness tugged at her heart.

♥♥♥

After they had sat and eaten a cooked breakfast together courtesy of Adam using whatever he could find in Lily’s fridge, the friends stood at the sink washing up.

He flicked soapsuds at her. “You should join the twenty first century and buy a bloody dishwasher you know.”

“There’s only one of me and I don’t produce enough washing up to warrant adding to the hole in the ozone layer, actually.”

He stood silently for a while. “Lil?”

“Yes?”

“Can we go through some of the profiles together? Will you help me?”

“What…
now
?”

“Why not?”

She swallowed hard. “Well, because it’s Sunday, and I’ve got many things to be doing with my time today.”

He scrunched his face. “Like what?”

She shrugged. “Stuff…things…you know.” She tried her best to sound convincing.

“Come on, Lil. Please?” He fluttered his long dark lashes at her.

“Fuck off, Adders, you can’t get around me like that.” Who was she trying to kid?

“Please, Lilington McPretty Pants. I’ll be your very bestest friend in the world.
Please
?”

She pursed her lips, trying not to laugh. “Oh for goodness sake, Adders, you really are a big girl…and a pain in the arse.”

“Seriously though, who knows me better than you?”

She shook her head. “Oooh, I don’t know…your mum?”

“Oh no, she doesn’t.
You
know me best of all. And do you honestly think I would ask
twin-set and pearls
for relationship advice? The most significant relationship she’s had outside of Dad is with her tomato plants.”

Lily sniggered. “Well they say that they grow better if you talk to them.” She pulled her lips in, trying to stifle a full-blown laugh.

“
Exactly
…so please will you help me? Just to go through them?”

She rolled her eyes for what felt like the millionth time. “Oh, go get my bloody laptop will you?”

♥♥♥

Adam logged into his profile and nervously clicked on his matches. He tapped his fingers as he waited for the list to load up. Thirty-five matches.

Lily’s eyes widened. “Fuck! Adders! Aren’t
you
mister popular?”

He grinned at her with pink cheeks. “I know. I couldn’t believe it.”

“Okay, let’s go through them, one by one.”

“Okay…here goes…” He clicked on the first profile. She read aloud from the description. “Thirty-four-year old busty, brunette. Loves cats—”

“Nope…next.”

“But, Adam—”

“I’m allergic, next.” He slurped at the mug of coffee he was holding.

She scrunched her face. She had totally forgotten about the time they had visited her aunt in Coldstream who had four cats. By the end of the visit, Adam was covered in purple blotches and was wheezing like a heavy smoker. It was
not
pretty. “Oh shit, yeah, of course.”

He clicked the next one. “How about this one…Dark-haired, sexy, adventurous woman, willing to try new things—”

She gasped. “Ooh God, no.”

He looked confused. “What? Why?” He took another slurp.

“Means she’s a bit kinky.”

He almost spat coffee all over the keyboard. “What? It could mean she’d be willing to try white water rafting, or windsurfing…or something.”

“Yeah, white water rafting or wind surfing with a strap-on attached, probably.”

“Eh? Strap-on?”

She shook her head. “A strap on? A fake penis, Adam…good grief.”

“Well it didn’t look to me like there was any mention of strap on penises…penae…penisae… What
is
the plural for penis anyway?” Adam gazed up at the ceiling with his brow furrowed. “As an English teacher, you’d think I would know that.”

“Adam, concentrate.”

“Sorry, Lil…okay, next.”

“Right…ooh this one sounds okay…curvaceous, strawberry blonde, with a passion for skin art…and metal work…ooh you like curves, Adders.”

“You kidding? She’s a tattooed, pierced, fat, ginger bird. I don’t think so. Next.”

“There’s nothing wrong with red heads, Adders.”

“Oh fuck, yes… I never thought of that. Maybe she just has a tattooed red head…no hair.” He shivered and made a
bluegh
noise.

“Well, I think you’re just being too bloody picky now.”

“Says you who discounted the adventurous water skier.”

“Feel free to give her a call, Adders. But don’t come crying to me when she’s tried to tie you to her bed and whip your arse from here to next week.”

He shrugged. “Fair point…okay…next.”

“Okay…Brunette…curves…loves Monty Python…loves Snow Patrol, loves Alanis Morissette… Owns her own business… Ooh this is a good one. I think I’d date her!” She laughed.

He turned to her with raised eyebrows. “Are you
really
sure you’re not a lesbian?” He teased. She punched his arm…
very
hard. “Fuck! Ow that hurt!”

“Good. It was meant to. Now what about this woman? She sounds great.”

♥♥♥

After following all the necessary protocol required by the dating site, Adam had the email address of Mallory Westerman. She lived around three hours away in Leeds and sounded rather lovely. With Lily hovering in the background, but banned from reading over his shoulder, and with hope in his heart, he began to type.

Dear Mallory

I viewed your profile on the Made For Each Other website where you and I were seen to be a match. We seem to have quite a lot in common judging by our interests. I’m a huge Monty Python fan and have seen Snow Patrol live in concert several times. I find the music of Alanis Morissette can be very aggressive sometimes but she sure has a talent even if she does scare me a bit.

I live just over the border in Scotland, which I know seems like a long way but I was wondering if maybe you would like to meet in Leeds for coffee some time? I’m happy to come to you one weekend.

I should tell you about myself I suppose. I’m almost thirty-one and I teach English to delightful high school kids. I say delightful because I suppose I have to make myself
sound
like I like kids! Actually I’m only kidding. I
do
like kids. I think you have to like kids to be a teacher. That or you have to be a sadist…or a masochist… And I can assure you I’m neither!

I’m widowed. My wonderful wife was killed by an idiot drunk driver just over a year ago and whilst I’m still trying to get over this, I also realise that I’m young and need to get on with my life. I’m worried I’m sounding a little morose so if I am please forgive me. I’m actually quite funny most of the time. Although my best friend, Lily, wouldn’t agree. She thinks my jokes are crap! Am I allowed to say crap in a first email? Oh well, it’s out there now! I don’t swear much normally. Okay that last sentence was a lie, I do swear but only usually when something shocks me! I’m sure I will swear a lot when I read this email back after I have clicked send. But I’m going to just keep typing and try not to think about it too much. Do I use too many exclamation marks? As an English teacher I maybe should address that! << That one was meant as a joke

I sense that, even without reading back, I’m rambling so I’ll close now. It would be lovely to hear from you. I like your photo. You’re very pretty and have stunning eyes. I hope that’s not too creepy or forward.

Bye for now

Adam

He hit send and then debated whether to read back what he had sent. Lily came over and sat on the sofa beside him.

“What did you say then?”

He shook his head and let out a long huff of air that puffed out his cheeks. “Not a fucking clue. I just typed. Oh shit, Lil.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “I think I may have sworn and talked about masochism!”

She gasped. “Oh…Adders.” She slapped her hand on her forehead. “Give it here. Let me read it.” She made a grab for the laptop but he gripped it tighter.

“Fuck off! No way, Lil. I’ve sent it now so it’s too late.” A struggle ensued.

“Adam! It’s my laptop!”

“Yes and I’m still logged in so let me log out and you can have it back!”

She pulled at the laptop again. “Adam! Give…me…it…now!”

He leaned back on the sofa and held the laptop above his head. She scrambled over his body and reached for it.

“Lil…as much as we’re close, will you please get your tits out of my face. I’m a man after all.”

She gasped in horror and fell to the floor. Her cheeks were bright red. “For goodness sake, Adders.” She crossed her arms over her chest while he howled with laughter at her embarrassment.

She pouted and remained crossed-legged under where Adam lay on the sofa. He huffed again. “Oh for fuck’s sake…here…read it… Tell me what an utter-fucking-moron I am…go on!” He thrust the laptop in her face. She grabbed it grinning widely and opened the lid eagerly.

After what felt like an eternity, she closed the laptop lid and turned to him. She was biting her lip. He couldn’t tell whether or not that was a good sign. “Well?”

A wide smile took over her face. “I think you were, completely and utterly, one hundred per cent Adam Langton. If she doesn’t adore you from that, then
she’s
a lesbian…or head over heels in love with someone else.” She patted his leg and stood.

A sense of relief washed over him and he breathed out of the
O
formed by his mouth.
Thank goodness for that
.

He followed Lily into the kitchen. “So what do I do now?”

She shrugged. “You wait. In the meantime, maybe you look at a few more profiles? You know…just in case.”

He pulled his face into a frown. “But…but I only liked the sound of her. I didn’t fancy any of the others.” He sounded like a sulking child.

“Adam, unfortunately it’s out of your hands now…but I’m sure she’ll email back.”

♥♥♥

Adam went home to finish off some marking and get ready for school the next day. Lily’s words had really given him a boost. She really was the best. He wondered what would come of his email. Would she reply? Would it be right away? Who knew? He logged onto his email on the off chance, and his breath caught in his throat.
Shit! A reply! Already! Now this can either be a really good thing or a really bad thing…shiiit!
Nervously he clicked on read.

Dear Adam

Thank you for your lovely email. It really made me chuckle. I think your friend, Lily, is wrong. You sound like a complete hoot. And we really do have such a lot in common. The thing is, my best friend, Josie, who is a sweet person but doesn’t know when to stop interfering, set me up on the dating site quite a while ago and I never really got anything from it. She did it without my permission, and I was so annoyed when I found out. Anyway, when nothing really came of it I put it to the back of my mind. Getting your email came as quite a surprise. A nice one though!

I’m so sorry to hear about your wife. I can’t imagine the pain you must have experienced…still be experiencing, and I really do hope that time heals your wounds. You sound like such a lovely man.

I am sorry to have to tell you this…as you do seem really lovely…but last month I got engaged to my Canadian man. He proposed to me on holiday in Canada while we were visiting his family. I won’t go into lots of detail, as it’s neither fair nor relevant but just really wanted to inform you that I’m no longer looking for the love of my life. I have found him.

All I can say, Adam, is that I met Sam at the strangest time and in the strangest circumstances, and I know that this will happen to you too. Love will find you again when you least expect it. I honestly think you should stop looking and let it happen. You sound like the kind of person who is funny, warm, and kind, with a good heart. And yes I got all of that from one email. So some girl somewhere will get that from one meeting, Adam. I really believe that.

I wish you all the very best but I do feel love will find you. I just hope that it’s soon.

Take care

Mallory

Adam closed the lid on his laptop.
Ah…head over heels in love with someone else it is then.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Meet Me In The City
(The Black Keys)

September 2010

Adam hadn’t bothered to look through any more of the profiles from the dating site, despite Lily’s insistence that someone out there could be
the one
. Once again he was plagued with thoughts that he’d had his one shot. Everything had been perfect and wonderful for a while. Eve had been the real love of his life. His other half. She had been the central star in his sky. And now…if there was a heaven…she was up there shining brightly for everyone to see.

August melded into September and work was tiring but still rewarding. Coming home was still the hardest part, especially when his best friend was overseas so much. Lily loved her job passionately. She effervesced whenever she talked about it, and she was really making a name for herself. He thought it felt rather surreal seeing her on TV when she was so far away, off reporting something or other. But he was so proud of her. She had succeeded in her chosen field. He just missed her. Whenever she was away he didn’t really see anyone. He would pop over to his parents’ every so often to be the dutiful son but as for friends…well…they all had their own lives that didn’t usually involve him. Lily was the only one who made the effort.