Page 31 of Night and Day
“You don’t think I could ever get... friendly like that?”
Izzy flashed her a pained grin. “You were pretty matter of fact. No personal questions or chit chat. Nothing. And that photo of you on the company website... Not even a hint of a smile! It’s terrifying.”
Mia stared at him, her mouth hanging. Was that how she came across? Hurt swirling in her gut, she pursed her lips and engaged in a staring contest. “What about your dramatic silhouette? It didn’t even show your face!”
“Nobody wants to see my face. I’m an editor.”
Mia huffed and drained her coffee. “Yeah, okay. So, it wasn’t love at first sight with the staff photos... Can I say we had a video call and you started flirting with me?” She threw him a cheeky smile.
“You can say that, but no one’ll believe you.”
“What then?” Mia ran her fingers through her hair, trying to think of something. How did couples meet? How could a long-distance work relationship turn into something more? Did it have to? “What if just tell the truth, that we met here when I was robbed? What difference does it make?”
Izzy straightened in his chair, his eyes lighting up. “It means we haven’t been going out for very long... I mean, I’d rather pretend we met a few days earlier, not on the day that I told them...” He swallowed his words, looking like he wanted to disappear along with them.
“You told them what? When?” Mia’s stomach tightened.
“You know yesterday when they came around. I kind of told them I’d met someone, just to get them off my back.” Izzy hung his head, his attention firmly on the empty coffee cup.
Mia tried to process the information. “You told them we’re dating before you even asked me?”
“No! Not me and you. Only that I had a girlfriend. I didn’t know if you’d agree, if anyone would, and I thought, if you didn’t, I’d make some excuse and eventually tell them we broke up. I wanted them to leave me alone.”
He let out a deep sigh, and Mia nodded. “I get that.”
“You’re a perfect ten!”
The squawk of a voice cut through their conversation, startling Mia so much she swiped her coffee cup off the table. It clanked on the linoleum floor, splitting in half. “Oh, my God!”
Deke stood in the kitchen doorway, a grey parrot on his shoulder. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sure Casanova didn’t mean it either,” he added, giving the bird an affectionate side-eye.
“We agreed the bird stays in its cage,” growled Izzy, picking up the broken cup.
“I’m so sorry,” Mia scrambled down on the floor to help him, too late. Their heads banged together. “Ow!”
“Beautiful girl! Beautiful girl!” Casanova piped.
“Take the bird away,” Izzy told Deke, who pouted.
“I wanted Mia to meet his highness, so she knows he lives here, too.”
Mia looked up, rubbing her forehead. “Nice to meet you, Casanova.”
“You’re gorgeous!” The bird replied.
Mia scoffed out a laugh. “The name seems very fitting.” She turned to Izzy, who’d gotten up to dispose of the ceramic pieces. “I’m sorry about the cup. I’ll get you a new one when... I get money.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He returned to the table and Deke sat down next to him, letting the parrot hop off his shoulder. It flew a short distance, settling on the back of the only unoccupied chair.
“Oh, look, he took a seat.” Mia smiled, staring into Casanova’s beady, black eye. “You’re a clever bird, aren’t you?”
“He’s brilliant!” Deke beamed, his eyes still puffy from sleep. “And he has great table manners, if only Izzy would let him join us.”
They both turned to look at Izzy, who glared at the parrot whilst chewing the rest of his sandwich. “Anyone who shits on the floor is not welcome in my kitchen.”
As if on cue, Casanova dropped a load, which splashed against the linoleum.
“Fine,” Deke grumbled, crossing the room to find a wipe. He cleaned the floor, rinsed the wipe and held out his arm for Casanova, who climbed back onto his shoulder, squawking something about beautiful girls. “He’s my wingman,” Deke told Mia, his eyes glowing with pride.
