Page 16 of Big Sexy Love
‘What?’
Matty points to a big jug of beer on the table. ‘We’ve been topping up. Didn’tyouknow?’
Igasp. ‘No!’
The entire table bursts intolaughter.
Shit. No wonder I feel sodrunk.
‘Oh no!’ I half grumble, halflaugh.
‘Are you okay?’ Colin asks me gently. ‘Do you want me to walk you tothegate?’
‘I’m all right,thanks.’
‘I’d like to,’ he says, smilingsweetly.
‘Oh. Okay then. Bye lads!’ I wave goodbye at the other lads on the table who wish me luck inNewYork.
‘If you get scared again,’ Dan yells as Colin and I start to walk away, ‘just remember, booze is the answer!’ To which all of the others roar their agreement and down theirpints.
When we reach the gate, Colin turns to me and gives me a big grin, displaying a row of small, but very cleanteeth.
‘I have really enjoyed meeting you, Olive,’ he says, his long-lashed eyes sparkling. ‘I’d love to get your number. Take you out sometime? Orin, if you prefer?Haha.’
‘Oh!’ I say, surprised. Wow. People don’t ask for my number very often. And when they do, they’re usually fish-market customers and over sixty. But Colin seems nice. Reliable. Steady. Sweet Exactly like I told Birdie my idea of Big Sexy Lovewouldbe.
I think about how impressed she would be if I’d managed to bag a date at the airport. That would definitely cheerherup!
I don’t know if it’s because of the alcohol making me feel loosey-goosey or maybe it’s because Colin seems very safe and kind and is as fond as staying in as I am. Or maybe it’s the flash of a thought in my head that if I want to have a family of my own one day I’m going to have to start dipping my toe in somewhere. Why not here? I can get to know him a little by text, risk-free. Whatever the reason, I find myself saying yes and tap my number into Colin’sphone.
‘I’m in Australia for three weeks, so I’ll call you when I’m back.’ He takes his phone back from me and puts it into his front jeans pocket. ‘But… we could text in the meantime,right?’
‘Right,’ I say. ‘Definitely!’
He really does have a pleasant face. And nice big arms. And sideburns. I’ve always had positive feelings towardssideburns.
‘Okay then!’hesays.
‘Okay then!’Isay.
‘Safeflight!’
‘Ihopeso!’
‘ByeOlive!’
‘ByeColin!’
I watch him walk away and feel a little swoosh of excitement in mytummy.
At the gate entrance I hand my passport and boarding pass to the assistant, wobbling tipsily to the left as I do. I walk down a little tunnel and all of a sudden I see a very beautiful woman in a peacock-coloured suit andmatchinghat.
‘Good morning, may I have your ticket and boarding pass,please?’
Taking them out of my bumbag, I hand them over, wondering if the beautiful flight attendant can tell that I’ve been drinking. I’m sure I read somewhere that you’re not allowed to be intoxicated on an aircraft. But then… why do they have bars at theairport?
When I’m handed back my passport and boarding pass, I turn to the right and am about to head down the aisle to find my seat when the flight attendant grabsmyarm.
