It's pouring with rain as I open the door of the building I work in. Shit. I've no umbrella, and I'm dressed for summer, not monsoon season.
I'm aware of the security guard behind me, tapping his foot and jangling his keys in his trouser pocket. I'm already the last person in the building. I'm going to have to brave it.
I make a quick decision to duck across the square for a drink, and hope that it stops soon.
"Goodnight Tom." I say to the guard.
"Goodnight ma'am" he replies, obviously relieved that I'm going.
The square is empty and I race across, water splashing into my shoes, up my calves and down the back of my neck.
I shove open the door of the bar and run inside, head down.
A few people turn and look
"Horrible night!" I say, holding up my arms, and shaking the rain from my hair. A few smile and nod, and then return to their conversations.
The bar is fairly busy, but I easily squeeze into a spot, and examine myself in the mirror behind the bottles. My hair, short and blonde with a long sweeping fringe, has survived the dash through the rain, and there's no makeup running down my face, I look not bad.
The bar tender approaches and I order a whisky and ginger to warm up. Finding a table near the back, I sit and look around.
This bar also hosts a pool hall, which is below me as I sit, and a few people are engaged in games. I watch, trying to pick a game to bet on. I'm good at pool, and like to come here with work colleagues and kick their unsuspecting asses.
Everyone seems to be having fairly light hearted games, and I let my eyes drift over the tables until I find this guy playing on his own. He's cute and I haven't seen him here before. I settle down to watch.
He's fast, and dedicated, knocking the balls into the pockets, and making the minimum of movement around the table. I know a lot of guys who like to walk around the table, eyeing up shots, bending down over the cushion, sticking their eyes in the pockets, it takes forever. And it doesn't make them any more likely to pot anything. This guy is smooth though, clearing the table in a few shots, and then racking them up again. A row of coins holds his place.
I very much want to get to know him better.
I hold back, watching him for a couple of games, to make sure no-one else is on the scene, and then slide off my stool and go down to the hall.
He glances up as I approach.
"Table's taken."
"I can see that." I reply. "I've been admiring your technique, and it's brought out my competitive side."
He glances up again, and then goes back to his shot, potting a yellow in the far corner, then moving round the table to set up the next. Hard to get. My interest if definitely piqued. I shrug to myself and sit down on one of the stools near the table.