Free Firestarter by Patsy Collins

preferred to dress in a burkha?'
    'It wasn't as bad as that... but you're right, we weren't right for each other and deep down I've known that for a while.'
    'So, Handsome Hamish? You're going to call him, right?'
    'Probably.'
    'Do it. Nothing mends a broken heart like hot sex with a member of the emergency services, take it from me.'
    'I'm not sure my heart is broken.' Admittedly the cure sounded tempting. Maybe it would work as a preventative, but Alice wasn't sure Kate really knew what she was talking about. 'When have you ever had hot sex with an emergency services guy?'
    'Don't you remember Malcolm?' Kate asked.
    'No... the only Malcolm I remember you seeing was that spotty bloke who worked for the AA.'
    'That's the one. Huge spanner and he could jump start anything!'
    They had a text, saying Tony had left, before Kate's pep talk could get any more detailed and attract any more of a 'pretending not to listen' audience.
    As well as the things she'd left at Tony's flat, he'd brought more flowers.
    'You shouldn't have taken them,' Kate said.
    'It wasn't my place to refuse and he really is sorry,' her mum said. 'I think he understands now where he went wrong.'
    'Wouldn't stop him being just the same within a week though, would it?' Kate asked.
    'No, probably not. I didn't mean you should change your mind, Alice, just that I couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for him.'
    Alice said, 'You take the flowers, Mum. They'll look lovely in the lounge.'
    'OK, love.'
    Her dad offered to change her lock, but after checking he'd returned her key, Alice said it wasn't necessary.
    When she got home from work the next day and saw Tony waiting outside she began to wonder about that.
    'I just came to bring this,' he held out one of her necklaces. 'I missed it when I packed up your other things.'
    No he didn't. It would have been with the other two which he'd already returned. Nothing was ever out of place in his tidy flat. He'd kept it deliberately as an excuse to come back. She wasn't going to argue with him though, not any more.
    'Thanks,' she took it from him, then climbed the stairs and tapped on Doris's door. She didn't look back to see if he followed, but when she came out half an hour later after making a fuss of Rufus, her neighbour's dog, and drinking a cup of tea, he wasn't to be seen.
    Alice didn't hear from Tony again until Valentine's Day when he sent her a pretty posy of scented blooms. The attached card read 'I miss you'. He'd signed it and added a single kiss. It made her cry. She considered sending a message to thank him, but decided it would be better not. His birthday was in April, perhaps she'd send him a card then to show there were no hard feelings.
    She waited another two days before calling Hamish.
    After a few minutes chat about the reunion and regret he'd had to leave so early, Hamish asked, 'So, no boyfriend now?'
    'Hmm.'
    'You don't sound sure.'
    'I'm sure it's just... how about I tell you when I see you?'
    'OK. Tonight at the Sunken Yacht?'
    'Works for me.'
    'See you about seven then?'
    It took Alice a long time to decide what to wear; there was so much to take into account. It was a first date so obviously it was important she looked good. A first date with a fireman she'd once had a crush on, and apparently still did, which took it two stages up from important. Crucial? Vital?
    Then there was the weather. It wasn't exactly warm out and she'd be walking to the pub and possibly home again after one drink. Thinking back over the conversation she wondered if all he had in mind was a kind of pre-date chat to see where he stood. She'd get on better if she stopped thinking about what was in his mind and concentrated on what was in her wardrobe.
    Her pleated skirt was quite smart and the Sunken Yacht was a fairly smart pub, so she'd wear that. It was on the short side but if she wore thick tights and boots against the cold, that should stop her looking like a complete tart. Well it would if she opted for the sensible