I look up at the clock for possibly the twentieth time in the last hour, it still doesn’t move any quicker. All I want is it to reach five o’clock so I can get out of here for a much needed weekend off.
In my little section of the office it’s just me and my colleague James left as the others have all managed to get an early finish. The calls have dried up now, and we’re both trying to kill time in the last half an hour.
We share a little office banter and a joke or two to fill in the minutes. We have worked together now for six months or so, and get along really well.
James’ mobile lights up and as it is quiet I allow him to answer. It’s his girlfriend, Louise. His demeanour changes from his usual happy smiley self to one of a man asked to drain a swimming pool with a spoon.
He seems snappy with Louise, answering her with one or two words, before cutting the call off and slamming the phone down on the desk.
“Problems?”
“She tells me now she can’t meet me later because something has cropped up at work. That is the third time this week.”
I use all of my tact and diplomacy to tell him she’s probably fucking someone else.
“Don’t joke about it, Belle. I’m convinced she is.”
Half an hour later we are in the far more comforting environment of the pub across the road from our office.
We are sat in a comfortable corner booth, both nursing a rum and coke, putting the world to rights and generally letting off steam. The thing I like about James Is that he doesn’t take himself too seriously, despite being really nice looking.
Three rums later and the working week is now nicely out of our systems and we’re talking away ten to the dozen. James is making me laugh with his spot on impression of our boss, Gerry. He even has his funny eye twitch down to a tee.
An hour later and we’re still drinking away, all inhibitions now well out of the way. The conversation naturally turns to sex, and in my case the lack of it.
“I can’t believe you’re not getting any, Belle. I’d fuck you if I wasn’t with Louise. No problem at all.”
“You think?”
“Definitely”
“Well, who says I’d want it from you, James?”
“You’re only human, Belle.”
He holds my gaze for about ten seconds before his face cracks and he falls about laughing.