5

Amelia remained exactly where she was, her fingers wrapped tightly around her glass, though she had no intention of taking another sip. She could still feel the adrenaline coursing through her body.

Daniel had walked away. He should have been gone. Instead, he lingered near the bar, his conversation with the man beside him appearing secondary to the repeated glances he sent in her direction. Every few moments she found herself looking up without meaning to, only to discover his eyes already waiting for hers.

Each time she immediately looked away again. Perhaps she was imagining it. Maybe he was simply looking around the room. Or perhaps she was allowing the uncomfortable conversation to colour everything afterwards.

She wished she believed that but her pulse still refused to settle.

The warm, cosy atmosphere she had enjoyed less than half an hour earlier had disappeared entirely. The cheerful chatter surrounding her now seemed strangely distant, as though she were listening from underwater. Glasses clinked together behind the bar, someone laughed loudly near the dartboard and the birthday group erupted into another chorus of applause, yet none of it seemed connected to her anymore.

All she wanted was to leave. She glanced towards the entrance. It was only twenty yards away. She could stand, collect her handbag and walk straight out.

Simple.

Except Daniel was standing almost directly between her table and the front door. She hated that one small detail was enough to make her hesitate. 

You are twenty-eight years old, she scolded herself silently. You are perfectly capable of walking past one man.

Even so, the thought made her stomach tighten. She fiddled with her handbag before reaching for her phone and unlocking it, more for something to occupy her hands than because she expected any messages.

Nothing.

Lucy had probably settled down in front of another true crime documentary with a family-sized bag of crisps by now. Amelia almost smiled. Almost. Instead she locked the screen again and slipped the phone back into her bag.

She could ask one of the staff to walk her outside. The thought appeared almost immediately. It disappeared just as quickly. They were busy and nothing had actually happened with Daniel. He had been irritating, persistent and overly familiar but he had not threatened her. He had not touched her.

What exactly would she say?

Excuse me, would you mind escorting me outside because a man bought me a drink I didn’t ask for and keeps looking at me?

It sounded ridiculous in her own head. She sighed quietly. Perhaps if she waited another five minutes he would leave first. She picked up her book again, though she barely registered the words. She read the same paragraph three times before realising she had absorbed absolutely nothing.

A movement near the bar caught her attention. Daniel had finished speaking to the other man. He set his empty glass onto the counter. Then he started walking.

Not towards the exit but towards her again.

Her heart lurched.

Surely not. Surely he had taken the hint by now. She lowered her eyes to the page, pretending not to notice.

His footsteps continued across the wooden floor. Closer and closer until they stopped.

“Changed your mind yet?”

Amelia looked up slowly. Daniel smiled as though they were old friends continuing an interrupted conversation.

“I thought you were leaving,” she said.

“I did.”

He shrugged casually.

“Then I realised I hadn’t asked for your number.”

“I’m not giving out my number.”

“You haven’t even let me try to convince you.”

“I don’t need convincing.”

His smile remained firmly in place.

“You know, first impressions aren’t always accurate.”

“I’m sure they aren’t.”

“So give me a second chance.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

“I know enough.”

He laughed softly.

“No, you don’t.”

Without asking, he pulled out the chair again. The scrape of wood against the floor seemed impossibly loud. Amelia stared at him.

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

He paused. For the first time all evening his smile disappeared completely.

“Didn’t what?”

“Sit down.”

There was a brief silence. Then the smile returned, thinner than before.

“You’re still upset.”

“I’m not upset.”

“No?”

He tilted his head.

“You seem upset.”

“I’m tired.”

“So let me cheer you up.”

She took a slow breath.

“I’m really going home now.”