Getting a Life Read Free

He smiled at everyone at exactly the right time. He was attentive to her at all times. She lapped it up. In fact, she thought she'd never enjoyed herself quite so much. If she didn't know herself better, she'd admit to being halfway in love with him by the end of the evening.
    'You know, for a college formal, that wasn't bad,' Trisha pronounced her verdict. 'And as for you two, I shall expect to see much more of both of you. We all go for a drink sometime. And we're having a party on New Years' Eve. You're both invited. I don't accept refusals, by the way.'
    Joanne gulped. Why hadn't she thought of this? Once she'd seen them together, as far as Trisha was concerned, they'd be expected to join in with every occasion going. She could never afford to pay the fees to Mike's agency very often. The was a special occasion and quite a different matter.
    'I'm afraid we won't be able to accept,' Mike said, rescuing her and totally knocking the wind out of her sails. 'We always have a family party on New Year's Eve. You simply don't get out of one of my family's parties. Short of having bubonic plague, that is.' She stared at him, totally gob-smacked. He'd used the very same unlikely excuse of
bubonic plague
that she had been bandying around in her mind for the last few days. And what was with the idea of a family party? Obviously, he was simply being kind but he sounded very convincing. She smiled and shrugged.
    'You heard the man. Like he says, one doesn't get out of family parties. See you on Monday.' In a cloud of euphoria, she floated out of the room and felt that lovely, warm hand beneath her elbow. 'Mmm,' she murmured. 'I could get used to this treatment.' She hiccupped loudly, quite spoiling the moment she was hoping to create. 'Sorry,' she said as the hiccups continued.
    'Hold your breath and count to ten,' he commanded. She tried but kept giggling.
    'Did you see ... hic ... Trisha's face... hic ... when you said ... hic..'
    'Save it till you've stopped,' Mike ordered. 'Come on. Let's get you home.'
    'But I liked it... hic..,'she continued. 'In fact, it was the best evening ever, Mike. I loved it all. You're a very good man to be with. Oh, I didn't hic then. Did you notice?'
    'You're crazy,' he said laughing softly. 'I've had the best evening too. I think I should give you a refund. But I can't really because of the agency. I can give you a contribution to the drinks though.'
    'Don't be silly. We had a deal. A business arrangement. But I can't afford you too often. Certainly not on New Years' Eve. Do you charge extra for a special occasion?'
    'Depends. But I was serious. I'd really like you to come to our family do. It'll be ghastly, of course, but I meant it. Will you come?'
    'Do you charge when you give the invite? Or do I get paid. I'll be cheaper than your rates, I promise.'
    'Please Jo. Let's forget all that. I'd really like to see you again.' He sounded slightly hurt mingled with irritation.
    'Joanne,'she corrected automatically. 'Don't be silly. Nobody ever wants to see me again.'
    'I'll call you in the morning. Not too early, I promise.' He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She touched it after he'd gone from the door ... her door. Mike Thomas. Perhaps she would never wash that place again. She was fantasising here. Had she really drunk too much? Of course she hadn't. She was giddy with the joy of spending an evening with an attractive man, just like any normal person. What had she been missing for so long? Well, she told herself: this is the start of a whole new Joanne Swithenbank. She intended to get a life and begin to enjoy herself, before she got too much older.
    She was struck by another thought. How many twenty-eight year old virgins could there possibly be? And how many of them would actually admit to it?

Chapter Two
    Joanne lay in her bed the next morning. She tried to remember every little detail of the previous evening but didn't get very far. Had she been drunk again? She didn't think so. It was a