Free Flings and Arrows by Debbie Viggiano Page B

flushes, seemed to be doing their own thing. She stared at the two portions of greasy fish. The batter had gone all soggy.
    ‘Do you mind if I watch the footie?’ Si appeared at her elbow.
    ‘I thought you wanted us to make more time for each other. Why don’t we sit down and eat our dinner together. Have a chat.’
    ‘But we’ve had some time together,’ reasoned Si.
    ‘What as in together at Blackfen Nick, together when I yelled at Rachel and together while we queued at the chippie?’
    Si looked bashful. ‘Yes, I see what you mean.’ He gave her waist a quick squeeze. ‘Have I told you that when you get stroppy you have two adorable pink spots on your cheek? And that I have an urge to kiss them?’ Si gently kissed one cheek and then the other. ‘And have I also told you that I can’t wait to take my beautiful wife out tomorrow night?’
    Steph looked slightly mollified. ‘Oh go and watch your football,’ she sighed.
    ‘Thanks love.’ Si grabbed his fish and chips and hastened off to the lounge.
    Steph put her plate down on the kitchen table and reached for her laptop. She might as well gossip on Facebook while eating her tea. If she could concentrate. June’s salsa music had pierced the dividing wall between the two houses. In the lounge Si turned the television up to drown out the music. Trumpets and chanting football crowds invaded Steph’s brain. She stood up and shut the kitchen door. The urge to have a secret cigarette was overwhelming. She shoved the thought away and logged on to Facebook. Shirley had written on her wall: Hope you had a relaxing day off. Can’t wait to see the new hair-do . At the top of the screen a little number announced a private message. She clicked on the icon. Her heart picked up speed. It was from Barry Hastings.
    ‘Got any tomato sauce love?’ Si appeared so suddenly Steph jumped. Her hands fluttered up, clumsily knocking the laptop. The machine bounced against her dinner plate flipping it into her lap.
    ‘Bugger!’ Steph shrieked. Si lunged forward to save the laptop. ‘Leave it!’ Steph yelled. As a reflex, she stood up. The plate smashed to the floor. Fish and chips scattered everywhere. That was the least of Steph’s worries. She didn’t want Si seeing the message from Barry Hastings. Not that it was a secret but, well, the thought made her uncomfortable.
    ‘I’m trying to help you!’ Si stepped back in amazement, hands up in surrender.
    ‘Just take the tomato sauce and let me clear up.’
    ‘But you’ve no dinner now!’
    ‘I really couldn’t care less,’ Steph said. And it was true. Her stomach had contracted into a tight ball. All she really wanted was that cigarette. ‘Please Si. Just leave me alone.’
    Si shot her a wounded look. Taking the tomato sauce, he retreated to the lounge.
    Steph put the broken plate and wasted food in the bin. She then wiped the floor, righted the laptop and sat back down. Thankfully the laptop had come to no harm. She rubbed a bit of grease off the spacebar then glanced up at the kitchen door. No Si. She turned her attention back to the screen.
    Hey Steffy! Thanks so much for getting back to me. I can’t tell you how pleased I was to see your message in my Inbox or how thrilled I was to read your heart-warming response. I had no idea I meant so much to you at school or that being Facebook friends had left you blown away.
    Steph frowned. Blown away? Something didn’t stack up. She scrolled up to see the conversation thread in its entirety. There was her message to Barry Hastings. She re-read it:
    Dearest Barry. I was blown away by your accepting my friend request. And talking of being blown away, I am currently having a fantastic makeover at Blown Away (High Street, Blackfen, telephone 0208 666 3701 – ask for Dominic who is totally hot to trot). If I may be so bold Barry, I’d like to say you are very fit, in every sense of the word. You said you’ve never married so I’m presuming you’re ‘not the marrying