Page 66 of Bad Influence
‘Things have been a bit …’ I thought for a moment about my choice of words and settled on, ‘weird, recently. We haven’t spoken much since I came here. I also thought he’d been in touch with his ex, and it spun me out.’
I had conflicting feelings about continuing this conversation. It felt disloyal to Rob to be talking about him to Jimi. But on the other hand, I was slightly drunk, and it felt good to have someone listen to me so attentively. Perhaps Jimi would be able to advise me from a male perspective.
‘Why would he do that?’ he asked, concerned.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Do you have any evidence?’
‘A photo.’
‘Let’s see it.’
I pulled out my phone. I scrolled to find the photo and we looked at it together.
Jimi took my phone and studied the image. He zoomed in on the central piece of evidence around which I had based my assumption of Rob’s infidelity. I hadn’t imagined this would be happening, not with a guy I half-fancied.
‘This photo doesn’t prove anything,’ Jimi announced.
‘You think so?’
He nodded.
‘Now I feel really bad.’
‘Maybe you should. So, what are you going to do about it?’
‘Well, if he would phone me back, that would be a great start.’
‘Just give him a minute. Relax.’
We paused. I became aware that he was looking at the side of my face.
‘You’re beautiful,’ Jimi murmured.
‘What?’ I turned to face him.Now I’m imagining things.
‘I said, you’re beautiful.’ He stopped me in my tracks. ‘Your boyfriend is a lucky guy.’
Jimi looked at me straight between the eyes. Then I swear his gaze lowered to meet my lips. He broke the spell with a smile. An instant red blush rose from my neck to my cheeks. ‘Especially when you blush.’
‘That is literally the worst thing you can say to someone who blushes easily,’ I replied, my face firing up again.
He laughed. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Yeah, thanks.’
‘I won’t mention your rosy-red cheeks again.’
We lingered for a few seconds as the words hung in the air. Then he slid his phone from his pocket and looked at it. It had to be around two a.m. by now.
He didn’t tell me the time, but said, ‘I suppose I’d better go to bed.’ Then he leant forward and pecked me on my very hot right cheek. I noticed he looked amused.
‘Night night, then,’ I said, self-conscious that my face was so obviously aglow with a mixture of embarrassment, tiredness, and alcohol.
‘See you in the morning,’ he added, straining to sound casual, perhaps wondering if he had overstepped the mark.
As Jimi turned and left the room, I let out an involuntary sigh.
