No Rebound

Chapter 4

Chapter 4‘It’s ok’ she said, her hand on my elbow again ‘carry on.’

‘I was wondering, since we’ve both had shitty days, how do you feel about joining me for a meal and drinks this evening? I know I could do with a good night out to get today out of my system and I already have a table booked that’s going to go to waste otherwise.’

‘Are you asking me out?’ That smile again, oh be still my hammering heart!

‘No, yes, I mean ... I just thought we could hang out and cheer each other up, I wasn’t actually asking you..., well I suppose I....’ I was blushing furiously now and would’ve been perfectly happy if the ground had swallowed me up in that instant.

‘Yes.’

‘What?’

‘I said yes, silly. So where do you want to meet?’

It turned out that we only lived about 3 miles apart, so I gave her my address and mobile number and we agreed that she would come to me and we would get a taxi into town from my place and I’d pick her up to retrieve her car the next day.

It wasn’t until she’d driven away and I was starting my bike that I realised that we hadn’t even exchanged names!

I plucked the card she had given me from my jeans pocket and turned it over to read the printed side

“Jessica Bailey, Laboratory Manager”

Such a pretty name; all the way home I was wondering what she preferred to be called. Jess? Jessie? Jessica? I guess I’d find out in a hour or so!

Having ridden home and stowed my bike in the garage I ran into the house and practically threw myself under the shower whilst trying to decide on what to wear.

I then mentally slapped myself for getting so ahead of myself. I still didn’t know if she was even into women, so lets not start assuming this was a date. We’re just two women trying to lighten the load after a bad day, that’s all.

Even so -- the day was definitely looking up.

I dressed in what I would have worn had I been going out with Sarah; a pair of figure hugging black Levi jeans, a white tailored shirt and a pair of black low heeled ankle boots, all of which would be topped with a black leather jacket that was a bit worn but was my favourite.

I then spent a few minutes rushing around tidying up and putting things away and had just finished when I heard the doorbell chime.

I opened the door to a vision of loveliness that took my breath away. Jessica was standing there dressed simply in blue jeans and a red cotton jumper but she looked stunning. Her long dark, curly hair framed her face in a way that made her blue eyes sparkle and she had that wonderful smile on her face again.

It had only been just over an hour since we’d last seen each other but I’d either forgotten or somehow just hadn’t registered how gorgeous she was; now I was stood on my doorstep gawking like a teenager in the midst of a first crush.

‘You going to invite me in or just stand there staring at me?’ as she looked herself up and down as if trying to locate the source of my fascination.

‘Sorry, come on in and I’ll call a taxi. Do you want a drink while we wait?’ I turned & looked expectantly, waiting for an answer until I realised I’d done it again. I had turned away from her after I invited her in so she had no idea of what I’d said after that. The look on my face gave me away too, so I couldn’t even pretend I hadn’t said anything and it made me feel even more foolish than I already did for staring at her.

‘Sorry’ I muttered sheepishly ‘I forgot again. Would you like a drink while we wait?’

‘I’ll take a beer if you have one? I’m glad to see you’re dressed in jeans, I didn’t know where we were going so I didn’t know what to wear.’

‘You look lovely’ I said, making sure to look directly at her ‘although I have a feeling you’d look good in anything you wear.’ And with that I deliberately turned away to hide the blush that was creeping up my face.

I called a taxi and grabbed a couple of ice cold bottles of Becks from the fridge, our fingers touching lightly as I passed the bottle, sending little tingles through my system.

‘Thanks urrmmm.....’ and she laughed shyly ‘You know you haven’t actually told me your name!’

‘Chris’ I said as I formally extended my hand to shake hers ‘and I know you’re Jessica; I have your card.’

‘Well it was nice to bump into you Chris’ she grinned as she shook my hand gently, her soft fingers clasped in my own ‘and talking of bumping into things you’d better take this’ and she handed me a sheet of paper that had her insurance details on it.