Page 3 of Ask Another Day

‘It was fine, I guess. We didn’t get in the water yet thankfully. That’s not the issue. The issue is Owen.’

‘What’s the issue with Owen? Because if he was inappropriate, then not to put back the feminist movement in any way, but you’ve got a big, burly brother back up there who will probably do a much better job than me, at reminding him how to behave.’

Holly buried her face in her hands, which muffled whatever she said next so much Rose couldn’t make out any of the words. Prying Holly’s hands away, she gently asked, ‘What happened?’

‘He asked me out,’ she squeaked, before covering her face with her hands almost immediately.

‘He asked you out? And that’s the DEFCON 1 emergency?’

‘I thought DEFCON 5 was the really bad emergency level?’

‘No DEFCON 5 is when we’re just chilling normally, and everything is fine.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes I’m sure. Wait, what are you doing?’ Rose was confused as Holly stood up and grabbed her phone from her pocket.

‘I’m checking.’

‘You’re checking? OK I retract what I said, if you’re able to pause your breakdown to fact check DEFCON levels, we aren’t at level 1. We’re more like level 3.’

‘Hmm…’

‘What now?’

‘No it’s just you’re right. I could have sworn the numerical system went the other way. I’ve been using it wrong all this time.’ Holly sighed and sat down as she shoved her phone back into her pocket.

‘Right well now we’ve got that sorted,’ Rose rolled her eyes before continuing, ‘why is Owen asking you out a problem?’

‘Because he is gorgeous, completely out of my league and I’m all flustered whenever I’m near him and there is no way I’d be able to get through a date with him without looking like a colossal idiot and then I’d have to go through with the other nine swimming lessons feeling more awkward than usual.’ She rushed out her explanation before gulping in a much needed breath.

‘There are a few things there we need to unpack. But first off, you are in no way out of his league. I hate that analogy. Who puts together this ‘league’? Who dictates which one you’re in? And second, you would 100% get through a date being totally awesome.’

‘I really don’t think I would. You didn’t see me out there today with him. It was painful.’

‘No, I didn’t. But whatever you did also made him ask you out. So that has to count for something?’ Rose offered, and her words struck a chord with Holly. This was why she’d been so desperate to speak to her after the lesson.

‘I guess.’

‘But…’ Rose emphasised the word with pursed lips and a slight wince.

‘But?’ Holly parroted back, the momentary calm from a few seconds ago dissipating with that simple world. It was replaced with a fresh wave of panic that swamped her.

‘Well you do have a minor point about getting through the rest of the lessons.’

Holly hid her face in her hands again. ‘See, I knew you thought I’d mess things up!’

‘That’s not what I meant. It’s just dating him could make the lessons a bit awkward. I’m guessing he has professional standards he should probably try to meet when he’s giving people lessons. So why not suggest you go on a date after the tenth lesson?’

‘Give him time to change his mind, you mean?’

‘No, you idiot. It gives you time to calm your raging hormones so you can enjoy the date and not freak out about it.’

‘So I’ll just have the next nine weeks to freak out instead?’

‘Holly. I say this from a place of love and affection.’ Rose paused and waited for Holly to look at her. ‘You’re being a little crazy about this. You’re a grown woman, with two businesses and a beautiful daughter. Who is pretty amazing by the way. We’re now cinema buddies - I’ll be taking her every Sunday to the special showing at Whitby Pavilion. You’ve got this. This is good. This will be good.’

‘Do you promise?’