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I feel my heart flutter at his words. I’m not sure what it is but there is something about him, something about the look in his eyes. I wish I could read his mind.

We chat away, about anything and everything, laughing together and drinking, as time ticks by. The bell rings for last orders and I can’t believe it’s that time already.

‘Wow, is it that late?’ I say. ‘This evening has flown.’

‘It really has,’ Si replies. ‘But I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you.’

Should I tell him? Again, maybe it’s the drink talking, but I think I should. I think he’ll find it funny.

‘You know, I had such a crush on you, when I was a teen,’ I confess. ‘If I’d known then that one day, when I was grown up, I’d be sitting in a pub with you, I think I may have burst into flames with excitement.’

Si laughs.

‘You had a crush on me? Really?’ he replies. ‘Wow, I never would have guessed.’

‘Well, there you go,’ I tell him.

‘I mean, I take no discomfort at all in telling you that the feeling wasn’t mutual back then, given that you were so much younger than me,’ he replies. ‘But, now… now you might have a shot, of me liking you back… if you still had a crush on me now, that is.’

It sounds like all of his drinks are talking too.

‘I might…’ I reply. ‘I’m still figuring it out.’

‘Maybe this will change your mind,’ he says.

Si takes my chin between his thumb and his index finger, gently pulling me close, before kissing me on the lips. It only lasts for a few seconds but… wow.

As he finally pulls back we realise everyone around us is heading out.

Someone opens the door and the cold night air rushes in, cutting through the warm pub air.

‘Do you want to share a taxi?’ he asks.

‘I, er…’

‘Lia, it’s kicking out time,’ Mel says, interrupting us.

‘Yeah, er… Give me a second, Si,’ I say, carefully pulling myself to my feet, walking off to one side with Mel and Angie.

‘He’s asked me if I want to share a taxi,’ I tell them.

‘To yours or to his?’ Mel checks.

‘He didn’t say,’ I reply.

‘He’ll mean to his,’ Angie points out. ‘He just kissed you – obviously he wants to go home with you.’

‘Well, my mum and dad are at my home,’ I remind her.

‘So, just say you want to go to his,’ she replies.

‘What do you think?’ Mel asks. ‘Are you into him?’

‘He’s nice,’ I say.

‘Yeah, but his friend is a fucking dick,’ Mel replies. ‘He’s all over me but he’s wearing a wedding ring. I might, though, if I were single. So, are you going to go with him?’

‘I don’t know, Mel.’ My head is spinning. ‘I know I need to get back on the horse at some point…’