Maxine Morrey - Winter's Fairytale

‘Rob?’

‘Umhmm?’ he asked, reading the description.

‘That’s a romantic comedy.’

‘Yeah. So? Don’t you like romantic comedies?’

‘I do. But do you?’

‘Sure. Some of them are pretty funny. And who doesn’t like a happy ending?’

‘Are you taking the wotsit out of me?’

‘Absolutely not. Ask my sister. I’ve watched enough with her. Actually she got me into them so if I’ve suddenly gone down in your estimation, then feel free to blame her.’

‘Down?’ I stated, surprise that he would think that clearly evident in my voice, ‘No, not at all. I just – I suppose I didn’t expect that of you. But, it’s a nice surprise. Don’t get me wrong. A lot of blokes just moan the whole way through. Sort of takes the edge off the enjoyment.’

Rob leant back against the sofa cushions as he pressed play on the movie. ‘By most blokes, you mean Steven?’ He rolled his head to the side to look at me.

I rolled my head in a similar fashion. ‘He wasn’t exactly a fan, no.’

‘Ok. Well, as I say. I like them. Blame my sister. And bonus for me, the women in them are usually pretty hot.’

‘Aha! I knew there had to be another reason!’

‘Oh,’ Rob scoffed at me, ‘and tell me you’re not going to be drooling over him five minutes in.’ he asked, pointing the remote at the admittedly suitably handsome male lead.

‘Ha!’ I said, ‘You see, that shows how little you really know me.’

Rob raised a disbelieving eyebrow at me. ‘Oh really?’

‘Yes, really.’ I said, leaning over to grab a handful of the popcorn he’d now tipped out into a bowl. ‘It will be at least ten minutes.’

Chapter Five

The credits rolled on the film and I stretched my legs out under the fuzzy blanket. The wine was all gone and Rob had gradually slouched right down during the movie until his legs were now almost hanging off the other edge of the coffee table.

‘Would you like some more wine?’ he asked, as he wriggled back up into a semi seated position.

‘Oh no, thanks! I’ve got some designs to work on tomorrow. Hangover Head would not be helpful.’

‘Fair enough. Can I get you a coffee or anything?’

He really was a great host, despite my dig at him earlier.

I smiled. ‘No, really. I’m fine. Thank you.’

‘Ok.’ He wriggled a bit more and pushed himself off the sofa. Leaning down he picked up the glasses and bottle in one hand and the popcorn bowl in the other. I made to help but he shook his head.

‘It’s all right. You look comfy. Stay there.’

I was comfy. I was beyond comfy. I picked up the remote and switched the TV off, then laid my head back on the sofa and looked out of the picture window. The lights in the room were low and offered little reflection on the glass. I sat and watched as London slowly covered with snow. Rob was scootling about in the kitchen, eventually coming to sit down on the table, next to my feet, a coffee cup in his hands. We sat there in companionable silence for a while, just watching the snow fall on the city. Eventually I looked up at him, without lifting my head.

‘Won’t that keep you awake?’ I indicated the coffee cup with my eyes.

‘Nope.’

‘Oh.’

‘Sure you don’t want one?’

I smiled. ‘Yep. Thanks. I’m ok.’

We turned our attention back to the window and then both jumped when my phone let out a noise that I recognised as Mags’ personal text tone.

I pushed myself up and pulled the phone off the table.

Just wanted to check you got home ok. Saw that trains being delayed/cancelled. Sorry I didn’t call earlier. Met someone!!!!

I frowned at the phone. Met someone? How could she have met someone? I saw her get on the bus and the stop was about a five-minute walk from her front door.

Where did you meet them?

I waited.

On bus. Normally drives to work but car in garage today. Went for drink. Gorgeous!!!!

I was pleased for her. Obviously I’d have to check him out. That was our unwritten rule. But if he’d got past the hurdle of getting Mags to have a drink with him in the first place, he was doing pretty well. Mags wasn’t one for wasting her time on people. I think it came as part of our peripatetic background. Moving around had meant we didn’t get the chance to form a lot of long term relationships. We got to sussing out pretty quickly whether people were worth us investing what would inevitably be our short time, or whether that time would be better spent with someone else. It sounded harsh but was really just a case of making the best of the situation. It was pretty clear I’d lost the knack over the years, having wasted four years of investment time with Steven. But Mags? She still had it.

‘Mags met someone.’ I said. For some reason, telling Rob seemed the most natural thing to be doing.

‘When?’

‘Tonight.’

‘I thought you were together tonight?’

‘She met him on the bus.’

Rob pulled a face that said ‘hmm, interesting’ and moved to the chair, putting his now empty cup on the table.

‘So, what’s she said about him?’

‘Not much. That she met him on the bus and went for a drink.’

‘Blimey. I’ve known you for four years and I still couldn’t get you to go for a drink with me tonight.’

‘Oh ha ha!’ I stuck my tongue out at him, ‘I’m here now, aren’t I? And we had food and drink. Anyway. Different situation.’ I stated.

‘How so?’

‘Because this bloke’s obviously got different interests in Mags than you have in me.’

Rob did a thing with his hand that indicated more explanation was required.

I gave him a look. ‘He asked her for a drink because he wanted to check her out, not check up on her.’

Rob did a small nod. My phone made its little noise again. I looked down at the screen.

So you got home ok?

Hmm.

Sort of. Train cancelled. Tree on line .

What does ‘sort of’ mean??? Are you ok? Where are you???

Mags loved a punctuation mark.

Here we go.

At Rob’s .

I pressed ‘Send’ and looked at Rob who was now peacefully resting his head on the back of the chair and watching the snow. He looked relaxed. And for some reason that made me smile. He turned his head and caught me watching him. Oh shit. That looked weird. I jumped in.

‘My phone is going to ring in a moment.’

A slow smile spread from one corner of his mouth. ‘Did you get psychic when I wasn’t looking?’

I raised an eyebrow. ‘Nope. But Mags just asked if I was home. Which I’m not. So she asked where I was.’

‘And you’ve said here…which for some reason is going to make your phone ring?’

As if on cue, my phone lit up, and Mags’ ringtone jingled out, a cute picture of her appearing on the screen as it did so.

I flipped my hand out as if to say ‘Ta dah!’

Rob looked confused, laughed and went back to watching the snow as I picked up my phone. Unwillingly I unwrapped myself and got up from the sofa as I answered, touching Rob’s arm as I did so, handing him the blanket and pointing to indicate he should sit there instead of folding his huge frame into the armchair. He smiled at me, and nodded, his hand brushing mine as he took the blanket.

‘Hi.’ I answered, walking over towards the other side of the room.

‘Hi?’ Mags repeated, ‘You can’t just tell me that you’re at Rob’s flat in the middle of the night and then just say “hi” when you answer the phone!’

‘What?’ I laughed. Apparently, Gorgeous Bus Boy had bought my friend more than one drink. She sounded positively tipsy. ‘Then how am I supposed to answer the phone?’

‘What happened? How come you’re there? Did you kiss him yet? Oh my God! Are you in bed? Oh! I’m so sorry! I’ll call you–’