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afterwards?"
    "After the cruise, where will you take me? We have to do all the things we usually do, won't we?"
    "Okay, if you really want to."
    "Sure, I have nothing else to do. I mean, I could sit around in my hotel room and re-watch House of Cards…"
    "Yes, yes, fine. Let me see. Usually I'd have some lunch after work and go back home but tomorrow I have a coffee date with Tina at the old abattoir."
    "Mmmh, what will we have? A double bloody latte with bone chips? No, make that a frozen liver macchiato."
    "The old abattoir. It's ancient brick buildings with some shopping and cafés. Quite a hip area these days."
    "Where we'll meet Tina."
     
    I found it quite presumptuous how he included himself without even asking, but I was also pleased to be able to show him off to my friend. Her jaw would be dropping from here to Cape Town.
     
    "Yes. I've known her since school. We're very close."
    "I thought your best friend lived in Berlin."
    "I have several close friends. Don't you?"
    He ignored the question. "What will she say about me?"
    "Oh, she knows about you."
    "What does she know?"
    "She knows you don't exist, so that'll be fine."
    He laughed. "I don't exist? I just had a four course meal with you. I'm very real. See here!"
    He pinched my arm. Quite viciously.
    "Ouch!"
    "Serves you right."
     
    The car stopped in front of my house.
    "Here we are. This is where I live."
    "Well then, thank you very much, it's been a lovely evening." And then he did lean over and his face came closer and closer and for a brief moment I really thought it was going to happen but his mouth passed mine and gently settled on my cheek. 
    His breath touched my neck ever so gently when he moved away again. 
    "Good night."
    "Good night." There were goosebumps all over my body. "I had a great time."
    "So, I may come in?" he rasped with a fake Spanish accent, grinning like the devil. "For a cup of coffee?"
    "Oh, stoppit, you strange man!" I cried with fake indignation, or at least I hoped it sounded so.
    "I have to come in sometime before saturday. I need to know where you've been fellating me these past months."
    I lashed out at him and he laughingly shielded himself.
    "No, but seriously, you'll have to let me take a glance at it. Tomorrow afternoon? Broad daylight."
    "Good night, Mr. Fruitcake," I sputtered and climbed out, hoping my skirt would not come up in the process.
    He waved. "I see you tomorrow, Pier 6, ten o'clock. Barge Heidi."
     
    As soon as I had entered my flat I flung myself down on the bed and drummed my arms into the mattress.
    How had I deserved this? Why did he have to come here? How could anybody be so good looking and so funny and so hot? How could he take me to dinner, scuffle with me in his limo, get me all hot and bothered and weak in the knees, while he only thought I was funny. Funny! 
    Even worse, he wanted to see my flat!
    I lifted my head and took in the sorry state of my surroundings. They were littered with debris from my earlier styling debacle. I pushed myself up, moaning pitifully and got to work. 
     
    After two hours of hefty midnight cleaning I took another shower and fell into bed, exhausted. I switched off the light and grabbed my phone to set the alarm. 
    One message. 
     
    My pulse was instantly racing. 
    I pressed the touchscreen before I could even see who it was from.
     
    'I'm lying awake in bed wishing you were here with me. Can't you order a cab and help me out? R.'
     
    I flew up and ran towards the bathroom in a headless panic, when suddenly a nasty suspicion took hold of me. I stopped, turned around and picked up the phone again.
     
    'I'm lying awake in bed wishing you were here with me. Can't you order a cab and help me out? R.'
    Sender: Tina
    I howled.
     

Five
     
    I sprinted towards the underground stop, telephone in hand, cursing myself inwardly. I had been obsessing so badly over my outfit, I had almost forgotten the time.
     
    It was an unusually hot spring, in fact, I cannot remember