THE CAR ROLLED AWAY from Melchett’s, the wipers working at full speed as the rain continued to pour down. Holly looked out through the water as it trickled down the passenger window. When it rained when she was little, she used to conduct races, the commentary running through her head as she chose two specimens from the drops on the car window. It was quite the decision at the time, making sure they were two fairly evenly matched raindrops at the top of the window.

Her commentary would begin as the drops rolled slowly downwards. The drops would be named. The race would begin. Two raindrops slowly moving down the outside of the glass as she tried to predict which would hit the bottom of the window first, vanishing from sight and leaving her to choose the next two contestants.

She remembered that as she looked out of her window while Joseph drove slowly through the crowds of people racing from one bar to the next. She remembered too the way the shadows fell across the car as they passed each streetlight. A yellowy orange glow would hit the dashboard, rolling towards her, over her, then darkness, then the light again as they passed the next lamppost. It was a soothing sight, putting her at ease, making her feel safe.

She felt perfectly safe next to Joseph. She knew she shouldn’t. He was a complete stranger and she was in his car. He could take her anywhere, do anything. But the feeling didn’t scare her, not with the rain drops rolling slowly down and the lights rolling over her, the music gently drifting out of the speakers, Beethoven she thought, recognising a couple of the notes.

She still hadn’t answered him. Where did she want to go? Did she want him to take her home? Not really, not if she was honest with herself. She wanted to spend more time with him, make sure he was real, that she wasn’t dreaming this whole thing. He loosely gripped the steering wheel with one hand, the other hovering over the gearstick as they stopped at a red light at the edge of the city centre. “Nearly onto the proper roads,” he said. “Which way should I go?”

“Would you mind just driving for a while?” she asked. “At least until it stops raining.”

“Pretty heavy for June,” he said, glancing at her before turning back to the front in time for the light to turn green.

Holly dug out her phone from her handbag, seeing another message from Fiona was waiting for her.

So, is he everything you dreamed of?

Holly kept a grip on her smile as she looked across at him, his face lit up by the lights of the Pizza Hut outside the window. Maybe, she thought, we’ll see.

I’m in his car, what do I do now?

She sent the message and waited, hoping Fiona had her phone nearby. She closed her eyes briefly, thinking how lucky she was. A perfect date, if it wasn’t for her rambling or her nerves or her desperate need for the bathroom halfway through. Her phone shook in her hand and she opened her eyes, looking down to read Fiona’s reply.

Unzip his trousers and get to work.

Holly stifled a giggle. Fiona probably would do something like that. It would be just like her. A second message appeared a second later.

Only kidding. I’m guessing it’s going well?

V well.

Then go back to his.

You’re not serious?!?

Why not?

Because.

Suit yourself but you’ll regret it.

Holly put her phone away, zipping up her handbag before setting it down in the footwell. It was all well and good for Fiona to suggest going back to his house but she couldn’t do that. It was too forward. If she slept with him on the first date, he’d get the wrong impression of her. She wasn’t the type of person to do that.

Besides there was no guarantee he wanted to do that anyway. He’d not tried to kiss her. He’d not even touched her. That was what the articles said. If they were into you, they’d make sure to brush your shoulder or stroke your arm or something like that and he’d-

His hand tapped her knee, lingering for just a second. “Earth to Holly,” he said, tapping her again.

“Huh? Sorry, did I miss something?”

“The rain’s slowing down. I asked where you wanted to go?”

Where did she want to go? Home? His house? The two raindrops were trickling down and she had to pick a winner. Which horse was she going to back? Home or his house?

“Where do you want to go?” she asked, abdicating the decision. Let him choose. His answer would tell her everything she needed to know. Although it would also lead to a whole new round of questions.

“I think I should drop you off at home. I don’t like the thought of you getting a bus this late at night. It might not be safe.”

My hero, she thought. Thoughtful and not so lust filled as to drag her caveman style into his bedroom. “All right,” she said, surprised by the disappointment in her voice. She hadn’t expected to sound disappointed. “You don’t have to though.”

“I want to. What’s your address?”

“Do you know where the university is?”

“Yep.”

“Head that way and I’ll guide you in.”

“Past the barracks right?”

“Right.”

He swung a left, heading over the river and past the old swimming pool, the scaffolding skeleton surrounding it the only sign of it’s conversion into flats. “I went in there,” he said as they drove by. “About a year after it closed.”

“Oh, wow, really. I wasn’t even here then. What was it like?”

“They’re drained the pool but the rest of it was just like it was. The seats were all still there, even the bottles behind the bar.”

“That sounds so cool. I’d have loved to have seen that.”

“Well I took some photos. They’re demolishing it soon and I wanted a memento of the place. I can show you next time if you like.”

“So there’s going to be a next time?” Holly tried to keep the excitement out of her voice but she failed and she didn’t really care too much. It was hard to keep things casual when she was ridiculously happy about his suggestion.

“Up to you. What do you think?”

“I think maybe yes. Take a right here.”

They turned onto a dead end street, parked cars lining both sides of the road. “How do you tell which is yours?” he asked, looking at row after row of identical terraces.”

“I just try each door until my key works.”

Hey, what do you know, she thought. You managed to make a joke.

The end of the street was fast approaching, blocked off by a brick wall that separated the street from the playing field on the other side. “I’m running out of road,” he said, slowing down to a crawl.

“Just turn round at the end there, by that alleyway. That’s what everyone does down here. Hold on, I’ll jump out now, make it easier.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure. Listen, thanks for the lift, Joseph. I really appreciate it.”

“My pleasure. I’ll be in touch.”

“Well, good night then.” She waited for just a second to see if he might try and give her a goodnight kiss but he just looked at her, that hint of a smile once again playing on his lips. When she was certain he wasn’t going to try, she opened the door and stepped out into the last of the rain. Giving him a tiny wave, she pushed the door closed and hopped up onto the pavement, walking the few feet to her front door. By the time she got the key in the lock, he’d turned the car around and was already driving back past. He let out a little beep of his horn as he went and Holly waved after him before heading inside.

Fiona was in the kitchen, making herself a hot chocolate. She held up a mug as Holly entered. “Only if you tell me everything,” she said.

Holly pulled out the chair in the corner and sat down, watching her housemate make her drink. “There’s not much to tell,” she said, trying not to think about the fact he hadn’t attempted a goodnight kiss.

“You’re back in rather than admiring his leopard print bedsheets. Something must have gone wrong. What was it?”

“Nothing went wrong. He gave me a lift home and here I am.”

“Here you are indeed. But why are you here? Did you not like him?”

“He was great. Look, I’m tired, Fi. Can I undergo the interrogation tomorrow?”

“I guess so. At least tell me if you like him.”

A grin spread involuntarily across Holly’s features. “Maybe.”

She carried her drink upstairs to her bedroom, setting it down next to the pile of books on the bedside table. All of a sudden the man on the cover of The Rake and His Ruin didn’t seem as exciting. Not compared to someone in real life, someone who wanted a second date with her, someone who wanted to see her again. Okay, so he might not have kissed her yet. But she got the feeling he would next time he saw her. She also got the feeling that as long as she didn’t screw it up, he might do a lot more than just kiss her. She had no idea what he had planned for her, no idea at all.