“So darling.. here we are again” Jay pushed Zu’s chair in behind her and took his place opposite her. La Boheme was quieter than it had been the previous few times they had been there, but it was still quite early on a Thursday evening.
“You know what Jay?.. I think I’ll just go for what I had last time.. the Celestine de boeuf”
“And do you know what?.. I think I’ll join you!”
They gave their orders to the waitress and asked for a jug of water to accompany the meal.
Zu leant forward with both elbows on the table, resting her chin on her clasped hands “Are you prepared for tomorrow Jay?”
Jay was unprepared for the question “Yes.. err.. well.. as well as I can be I suppose”
“Where is this course anyway?”
“Oh.. it’s in Oxfordshire.. About an hour and a half away”
“And they don’t have any mobile phone signal there?” Zu pulled her napkin down to her lap as the water arrived.
“Err.. yeah.. yes, of course they do.. but they confiscate all telephones when people arrive”
“That sounds very weird Jay.. Couldn’t you just tell them that you don’t have one and just smuggle yours in?”
Jay felt very uneasy about lying to Zu, especially when his answers were becoming more and more contrived. He just hoped he would be able to remember what he’d said to maintain the facade.
“No.. I can’t do that.. it’s a security conference.. and they don’t want any equipment that will interfere with their stuff.. including mobile telephones.. They’ll have scanners there that will find them anyway..” Jay reached over to hold Zu’s hand “..Don’t worry Zu.. It’s only a long weekend.. I’m sure we’ll survive”
“I’ll try darling.. It’s just going to be difficult not having anyone I can talk to.. and moan at” Zu squeezed Jay’s hand as she poured some water for them both.
“Oh.. is that what this is all about?.. And there I was stupidly thinking that you were going to miss me!” Jay lifted up his glass of water and tapped it against Zu’s “Cheers!”
“Well.. I might miss you a little bit Jay.. Let’s see”
Jay dropped Zu off at her parents’ house. She stood on top of the doorstep with her arms draped over Jay’s shoulders. They talked, kissed and caressed each other for twenty minutes or so before Jay finally persuaded Zu to let him go home and get some sleep. He promised to call her as soon as he left the training centre’s facilities. Jay stole one final kiss before he walked down the steps back to his car.