M Is for Mandi

"Oh, no. I don't really like the sound of that."

"Me neither but hey, each to his own. And they pay their way. If that's what turns their crank..."

"Jessica, thanks for the chat. Let me buy you a drink now."

"Thanks, love. And we did mean what we said earlier, me and Stephanie. You do look the business. For your first time, well, very impressive indeed. And pulling the Doctor, wow."

I smiled and we continued to look round until another tranny, who I have to be honest was not at all convincing, caught Jessica's eye.

"Excuse me love, I need to talk to my friend. Good luck anyway."

And she kissed me briefly on the cheek and wandered over to the other girl and they strolled arm-in-arm towards an empty table. It was just then that the guy at the end of the bar, the one who had been waiting for someone, Jessica had said, came over to join me.

"Hello. I'm Steve. Are you a regular here?"

My original conversation with James popped into my mind and I had to smile at him.

"Is that the same as 'do you come here often?', Steve?"

He looked embarrassed.

"No, er - sorry. I mean, I saw you talking to Jessica. I just wondered if you know Jennie?"

"I'm afraid I don't. Sorry." He looked disappointed, but he'd seemed a nice guy. "But you can buy me a drink if you like."

"OK then. Sorry, I didn't get your name."

"I didn't give it."

Steve had turned to the barman who had appeared, without any order being given, with what I took to be a beer and a vodka-and-tonic. Good barman!

"I'm Mandi."

"You look lovely."

Which was nice though not a gushing compliment. Maybe I'd been spoilt up to then with all the nice comments from the gurls and from James. Or maybe he was thinking of Jennie. We stayed chatting at the bar for maybe five minutes, swapping thoughts and laughing, he really was a nice guy. I was just beginning to think that something might happen with Steve and I, I'd had to take the lead somewhat by reaching for and holding his hand but he didn't seem to mind, in fact he clearly liked it. It was maybe going to happen, but it didn't. Steve's face brightened, but he wasn't looking at me. He was looking past me. over my shoulder.