Winter's Fairytale - Maxine Morrey

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God, please don’t tell me you think I look like a hipster.’

      I gave a hearty laugh. Hipster? Rob? Umm, that would be a no.

      ‘Hardly! You look like you might have eaten a hipster, but you definitely don’t look like one yourself.’

      He laughed. ‘I don’t think there’s much meat on them, from what I’ve seen. So why do you think I would be watching foreign films?’

      ‘Because you’re intelligent and well-travelled and… stuff.’ I explained, articulately.

      ‘Well, thank you for the compliment. But whilst I’m sure there are plenty of very good foreign films out there, I’m afraid when it comes to movies I don’t like to have to think too hard. I want to just sit and watch, and shove popcorn in my mouth. That’s about all I need from a film. Not very deep and meaningful I’m afraid but that’s about the size of it.’

      ‘I couldn’t agree more!’ I grinned at him.

      He seemed happy with that revelation and looked back at the television. ‘So, what’ll it be? There’s a “blow lots of stuff up” one here, or what about this one? I heard that’s supposed to be good.’

      ‘Rob?’

      ‘Umhmm?’ he asked, reading the description.

      ‘That’s a romantic comedy.’

      ‘Yeah. So? Don’t you like romantic comedies?’

      ‘I do. But do you?’

      ‘Sure. Some of them are pretty funny. And who doesn’t like a happy ending?’

      ‘Are you taking the wotsit out of me?’

      ‘Absolutely not. Ask my sister. I’ve watched enough with her. Actually she got me into them so if I’ve suddenly gone down in your estimation, then feel free to blame her.’

      ‘Down?’ I stated, surprise that he would think that clearly evident in my voice, ‘No, not at all. I just – I suppose I didn’t expect that of you. But, it’s a nice surprise. Don’t get me wrong. A lot of blokes just moan the whole way through. Sort of takes the edge off the enjoyment.’

      Rob leant back against the sofa cushions as he pressed play on the movie. ‘By most blokes, you mean Steven?’ He rolled his head to the side to look at me.

      I rolled my head in a similar fashion. ‘He wasn’t exactly a fan, no.’

      ‘Ok. Well, as I say. I like them. Blame my sister. And bonus for me, the women in them are usually pretty hot.’

      ‘Aha! I knew there had to be another reason!’

      ‘Oh,’ Rob scoffed at me, ‘and tell me you’re not going to be drooling over him five minutes in.’ he asked, pointing the remote at the admittedly suitably handsome male lead.

      ‘Ha!’ I said, ‘You see, that shows how little you really know me.’

      Rob raised a disbelieving eyebrow at me. ‘Oh really?’

      ‘Yes, really.’ I said, leaning over to grab a handful of the popcorn he’d now tipped out into a bowl. ‘It will be at least ten minutes.’

       Chapter Five

      The credits rolled on the film and I stretched my legs out under the fuzzy blanket. The wine was all gone and Rob had gradually slouched right down during the movie until his legs were now almost hanging off the other edge of the coffee table.

      ‘Would you like some more wine?’ he asked, as he wriggled back up into a semi seated position.

      ‘Oh no, thanks! I’ve got some designs to work on tomorrow. Hangover Head would not be helpful.’

      ‘Fair enough. Can I get you a coffee or anything?’

      He really was a great host, despite my dig at him earlier.

      I smiled. ‘No, really. I’m fine. Thank you.’

      ‘Ok.’ He wriggled a bit more and pushed himself off the sofa. Leaning down he picked up the glasses and bottle in one hand and the popcorn bowl in the other. I made to help but he shook his head.

      ‘It’s all right. You look comfy. Stay there.’

      I was comfy. I was beyond comfy. I picked up the remote and switched the TV off, then laid my head back on the sofa and looked out of the picture window. The lights in the room were low and offered little reflection on the glass. I sat and watched as London slowly covered with snow. Rob was scootling about in the kitchen, eventually coming to sit down on the table, next to my feet, a coffee cup in his hands. We sat there in companionable silence for a while, just watching the snow fall on the city. Eventually I looked up at him, without lifting my head.

      ‘Won’t that keep you awake?’ I indicated the coffee cup with my eyes.

      ‘Nope.’

      ‘Oh.’

      ‘Sure you don’t want one?’

      I smiled. ‘Yep. Thanks. I’m ok.’

      We turned our attention back to the window and then both jumped when my phone let out a noise that I recognised as Mags’ personal text tone.

      I pushed myself up and pulled the phone off the table.

       Just wanted to check you got home ok. Saw that trains being delayed/cancelled. Sorry I didn’t call earlier. Met someone!!!!

      I frowned at the phone. Met someone? How could she have met someone? I saw her get on the bus and the stop was about a five-minute walk from her front door.

       Where did you meet them?

      I waited.

       On bus. Normally drives to work but car in garage today. Went for drink. Gorgeous!!!!

      I was pleased for her. Obviously I’d have to check him out. That was our unwritten rule. But if he’d got past the hurdle of getting Mags to have a drink with him in the first place, he was doing pretty well. Mags wasn’t one for wasting her time on people. I think it came as part of our peripatetic background. Moving around had meant we didn’t get the chance to form a lot of long term relationships. We got to sussing out pretty quickly whether people were worth us investing what would inevitably be our short time, or whether that time would be better spent with someone else. It sounded harsh but was really just a case of making the best of the situation. It was pretty clear I’d lost the knack over the years, having wasted four years of investment time with Steven. But Mags? She still had it.

      ‘Mags met someone.’ I said. For some reason, telling Rob seemed the most natural thing to be doing.

      ‘When?’

      ‘Tonight.’

      ‘I thought you were together tonight?’

      ‘She met him on the bus.’

      Rob pulled a face that said ‘hmm, interesting’ and moved to the chair, putting his now empty cup on the table.

      ‘So, what’s she said about him?’

      ‘Not much. That she met him on the bus and went for a drink.’

      ‘Blimey. I’ve known you for four years and I still couldn’t get you to go for a drink with me tonight.’

      ‘Oh ha ha!’ I stuck my tongue out at him, ‘I’m here now, aren’t I? And we had food and drink. Anyway. Different situation.’ I stated.

      ‘How so?’

      ‘Because this bloke’s obviously got different interests in Mags than you have in me.’

      Rob did a thing with his hand that indicated more explanation was required.

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