Page 72 of Fighting Mr. Knight

Christopher looks mildly pissed off.

I blink. Did he ask me a question?“Can you repeat that?” I smile thinly.

“I asked if you go to the gym.”

“Oh. The office I’m working from has a swanky gym. I might go.” At this point, I couldn’t be arsed talking about myself. The date is a dead end.

“What did you say you do?”

I didn’t because he didn’t ask. “I’m an architect at Bradshaw Brown.” I sip my low-alcohol beer. I’m boring myself.

He nods. “I have a mate who worked on the Shard design.”

His eyebrows rise in expectation. It’s my turn to say something.

“That’s nice. I’m doing a project for Lexington.”

This hits the spot for him. His eyes light up. “Nice.” He sucks through his teeth. “They’ve a lot of open roles on their website. Do you know the head of HR?”

Fuck me. Is he using dates to find leads for his recruitment business?

“I met her once.”

He nods and flashes me a lopsided grin, which I think is intended to make me go weak at the knees. “Think you could swing me a meeting?”

“I don’t think so,” I say sharply. “Like I said, I met her once.”

He’s undeterred. The grin widens. “You could take me to your next work drinks for our second date.”

Right, that’s it. I’m not wasting any more time.

“Speaking of work, I have a big presentation tomorrow.” It’s not a lie. Having worked on this proposal for days, I thought taking a few hours off would help me relax. Instead, I feel tense. I should have stayed at home and masturbated. “Do you mind if we call it a night?”

It’s obvious he minds that I’m the one to decide when the date is over, but he nods chastely.

I beckon the waiter over for the bill.

“I had a great time, Bonnie.”

How? My first foray into the online dating scene has not been a roaring success. According to Nisha I’ll have to do another ninety-nine or so to hit a good date.

“We’ll do this again,” he informs me.

I look at him, startled, and take the chicken route. “Sure, sounds good.” Oh. I think this makes me one of those ghosters Nish and Becky talked about.

I’ve never left a restaurant so fast after paying the bill. Outside, Christopher confidently tries to finish the date with a kiss. He leans in and stares at me intently.

I move my head to the side just as lips touch mine, leaving a wet trail on my cheek from the corner of my lip.

Awkward.

I tell him I’m going to a different underground station, so I don’t have to walk with him. It’ll take me fifteen minutes out of my way but it’s worth it.

I have more chemistry with the guy that delivers mySpicy Slicepizza.

At least now I have time to call Mum.I haven’t been able to get back to her in days. Every night, as soon as I get home from work, I face-plant onto the sofa from exhaustion.

En route to the underground station, I send a message to Nisha and Kate saying that Bonnifer is not happening and send a video request to Mum.

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