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‘What do you mean?’ Katie asked.
‘It wasn’t just that I hadn’t made enough effort and didn’t look as good as my profile picture or the previous time. Apparently, women who wear glasses aren’t attractive either.’ She shrugged again.
‘Like I said – moron.’ Katie shook her head in disgust.
They all looked up when a crash sounded from upstairs.
‘Do you mind if I go check and see what Phe’s up to?’
‘Of course not,’ Mia reassured her friend. ‘I’m fine.’
‘I don’t think I knew you wore glasses,’ Aiden mused.
‘No, you probably didn’t. I wear contacts. It’s silly, but I got bullied about it when I was younger.’
‘That’s crap.’
‘Yeah, but you can imagine: frizzy hair, freckles and glasses? I was pretty much the trifecta for bullies growing up. I was gawky and lanky too.’
‘Kids can be jerks. And too young to know how stupid they are. By the sounds of it, the idiot who upset you hadn’t grown up either. Certainly not enough to appreciate a woman like you.’ He probably shouldn’t have said it, and definitely shouldn’t have taken a step closer, but her blush was so pretty and it reminded him so much of when he…
He wasn’t sure if he was grateful for the footsteps on the stairs that interrupted him or not.
‘Do you want to stay for dinner, Mimi? Chilli nachos?’
‘Nah, I’m OK thanks. I just want to go home, shower and wash the rest of this funk down the drain.’
‘Fair enough. But message me if you need me to bash Prince Moron some more. What about you, Aiden? Gooey cheesy chilli nachos?’
‘Tempting but I need to get home.’ He shot Mia a smile. ‘Walk you out? In case there’s any toads lurking that you need protecting from.’
‘Sure.’ Mia giggled, and Aiden was pleased to see another flash of her usual sunshine returning. He really could have happily decked the moron who stole it from her – even for a day.
He held the door open for her – as always – and followed her down the street towards the little car park.
‘Thanks, Aiden.’ Mia smiled up at him as they fell into step. He had to slow down a bit to match her shorter stride, but it was worth it for a few more minutes in her sunshine. ‘For listening to me complain, for making me smile. And the brownies. They really were delicious.’
‘You’re more than welcome.’
‘Do you want to hear the other stupid thing the idiot said?’
‘There was more?’
‘Yeah, but this one’s funny. So long as it’s just between us.’
‘If you want to share, I’m all ears.’
‘He thought I was just a nurse. Just.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘When he found out I’m a midwife too, he said he wasn’t sure he could be attracted to someone who spent so much time with her hands in other women’s minky fufus.’
‘Total idiot.’ Aiden laughed so hard he had to stop walking. ‘He actually said that?’
‘Word for word. You don’t think I’d say “minky fufus”, do you?’ Mia laughed with him, her shoulders shaking as she covered her face and groaned. ‘I’ll remind you I’m a professional. But can you imagine Katie’s reaction?’
‘Eee. Scary.’
Mia shuddered before starting walking again. ‘I really do know how to pick them, don’t I?’
‘You deserve so much better. I really hope you find your prince soon, without any more of these amphibious a-holes.’
