Page 25 of All I Want for Christmas

‘Not me. I’m twenty-six years old, I’ve never been in love – and I’m fine with that.’

‘You’re not looking for marriage, kids?’ He looked openly incredulous.

‘Not yet. I’ve got my friends and family; my career comes before any man right now,’ she shrugged.

‘Huh.’ He didn’t reply, and she watched as he reached for his drink with an enigmatic smile.

‘What?’ she asked. ‘Why are you smiling like that?’

She watched as he took a slow sip, in no rush to answer. He set the glass back down again before looking back at her.

‘I guess because I don’t believe you. Women always say they aren’t looking for anything serious, but they invariably are. Why else would they be on a dating app?’

‘To have some fun,’ she bristled. ‘Like you.’

‘Oh! So that’s why you’re here is it? Touseme – as a plaything?’ His knee brushed hers under the table.

‘I wouldn’t have put it like that.’ She swallowed, hating the innuendo he’d put into the word, this clumsy, forced charade they were playing. ‘I’m here for the entire experience: the conversation, the meal; to be out and about in this amazing city I get to live in for the next year. To meet new people.’ She stared back at him. This conversation hardly justified whatever the subscription was. ‘And for the record,Ididn’t sign myself up to the app. My flatmate did. She wanted me to get back out there because she could see I had so little interest.’

‘Ah. The plot thickens! So, didshechoose to swipe right on me? Or was it you?’

Darcy blinked. ‘It was mutual. We were together when I was looking and we both thought you looked nice.’

He threw his head back and laughed. ‘Oh, I’ve been called many things before, but never nice. I’m so offended!’

‘It wasn’t intended as an insult.’

‘I’m joking! I’m just teasing,’ he said, leaning in and touching her hand. Were they talking at cross purposes? ‘I’m very pleased you swiped right – whoever did it, for whatever the reason. And if you want the truth, I think it’s kind of cute that you’re so modest about it all.’

‘Modest?’ She was confused. It didn’t seem like the correct word. In what way was she modest?

‘Yes, coming in softly and pretending you don’t want love; not putting any pressure on things.’

She blinked, looking back at him. Was he being deliberately obtuse? ‘But it’s true. I don’t. I meant it when I said my career comes first.’

He laughed again. So patronizing.

‘Whyis that so funny?’

‘Because I hardly think you can call being a...perpetual student a career.’

She stared at him, unable to believe what she was hearing. She pulled her hand away abruptly. ‘I’m a PhD student on track to be a professor. How does being a world-class expert in your fieldnotcount as a career? Oh! I guess you wouldn’t know, seeing as your own career is just another thing Daddy handed over, along with the keys to some flashy flat and a twatty sports car!’

She stopped, realizing people at the neighbouring tables were staring. Her voice had raised in her indignation and she had caused a scene; the mask had been ripped off and she couldn’t pretend to go along with this any longer.

She stared back at him, seeing the anger simmering in his eyes too now. She had humiliated him in front of these strangers – but she didn’t care. Her decision had been made before the first course had even come out.

A heavy silence beat between them.

‘I think it’s best if we just call it a day now,’ she muttered, pushing her chair back. She saw panic cross his face at the prospect of her publicly walking out on him, on top of everything else.

‘Clara, wait—’ he blurted, his hands already reaching for her, but the words died on his lips as he realized his error.

She gave a small snort of disdain that he couldn’t even gether name right. ‘Wrong girl, I’m afraid. Please don’t contact me again,Erik,’ she said pointedly, feeling heads turn, eyes burning into her back as she left.

Shrugging on her coat, she stepped outside into the damp night and took a steadying breath as she leaned against the wall. Strike two. The second dumping in a single day. Disaster snatched from the jaws of defeat. She ran her hands over her face.Whyhadn’t she trusted her instincts about him and just gone home instead?

But she knew perfectly well why. She just hadn’t wanted to face it.

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