Page 70 of New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe
‘Sorry, I think I might have jinxed it,’ said Leo, giving a half-shrug.
‘That’s not for you, little man,’ said Tori, placing Valentine gently back on the floor.
‘I guess that must be one of the hazards of having them live in the café. There’s lots of food up for grabs…’
‘Well, yes, but I’m hoping people won’t feed them. I’ve added a line on the new menus about how the cats have their own food and shouldn’t be eating ours, which I hope will do the trick.’
‘Best take tuna off the menu if you don’t want them pestering people for scraps, though,’ Leo laughed.
‘Ah, good point,’ agreed Tori.
As Tori got up to clear the plates, she glanced out of the window and saw Claire on the other side of the road, looking right at her. Tori smiled and waved, but Claire just kept staring, almost looking right through her. How rude!
‘Someone you know?’ said Leo, turning to see who Tori had been waving at, but Claire had already vanished.
‘Yeah, my hairdresser, but I don’t think she could have seen me. Weird.’
‘Maybe the window was reflecting back at her or something?’ Leo suggested, leaning back in his chair. ‘Anyway, how are things going with the barn dance idea? I hear Izzy has given the go-ahead.’
‘She did, yes, but there’s going to be an awful lot to do, and I’m focused on the reopening plans at the moment. I think I might have taken on a bit too much by saying I can take charge of it.’
‘If you need any help, I’d love to be involved,’ Leo said enthusiastically.
‘Thanks, Leo, I’d actually really appreciate your help.’
‘How about you come over to mine one evening? We could get a pizza or something and talk through what needs to be done? It absolutely wouldn’t be a date, though,’ said Leo quickly, ‘it would just be two friends hanging out and planning a barn dance,’ he continued, reddening, ‘for charity.’
‘Oh, well, as it’s for charity, how can I say no?’ Tori laughed, taking a swig of her drink.
‘Well, you can’t really.’
‘Exactly.’
‘How about Wednesday night? Eight-ish?’
‘And there’s guaranteed pizza?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Because that would be a dealbreaker you know,’ she said, tilting her head to one side and smiling at him.
‘As much pizza as you can eat.’
‘Count me in then.’
‘I’m messaging you my address now,’ said Leo, pulling out his phone.
As Tori heard her phone beep with a message, she grinned. She knew she was already more excited for her ‘non-date’ with Leo than she should be for pizza with a ‘friend’.
‘I like Tori,’ said Lara as she and Leo walked the short distance back home from the café. ‘Do you like Tori, Uncle Leo?’
‘Yeah, sure, she’s nice,’ answered Leo with a shrug.
‘She’s pretty, isn’t she?’ said Lara, her eyes shining.
‘Erm… I guess so, yeah,’ replied Leo, scratching his head.
‘You know,’ said Lara tentatively, scuffing her trainers along the pavement, ‘I think she likes you too, Uncle Leo. Why don’t you ask her to be your girlfriend?’
