Introduction.
Ok so as mentioned in a previous chapter, during our time spent watching the doggers and our brief but exciting friendship with Mike the gamekeeper, I did start seeing someone else.
So to bring you this encounter I'm going to backtrack a little, to the start of our time with Mike.
This was something that started out very innocent and fairly straightforward but ultimately ended up being rather weird.
Anyway, you'll see what I mean.
On with the show.
Chris.
"What was that?"
Rita asked as she breezed up to me while I mopped a spillage down one of the aisles.
It was a monday morning and I was halfway through a shift at the supermarket.
The emphasis on the last word, 'that?' and the excited look in her eyes confirming what I kind of already knew, Rita had seen me scribbling something down on the young man's receipt after I'd served him earlier that morning.
Part of me was cursing inwardly at Rita knowing what I'd done, the other part....honestly? I felt proud.
I'd come a long, long way in the past several years, growing from a shy, quiet, insecure introvert.
To.... well, I'm still shy and quiet at least openly, that is my nature.
But I have grown inside, matured.
Every encounter I've experienced has made me stronger, boosting my inner confidence.
Every man I've had has changed me for the better.
Gone are the days of just fantasising, now instead of daydreaming I make it happen.
At this point in time I was juggling between trying to keep Rita out of my private life, and being strongly tempted to reveal all.
I instinctively knew that my new friend could be trusted.
However, we had some time to go before that trust and friendship would be explored to the full.
Looking back at her expectant face, I couldn't help but grin.
"What do you mean....what was that?"
A good half hour had elapsed since she'd witnessed my little indiscretion, but my words did not match up with the cheeky grin plastered all over my face.
Rita beamed back as she replied, "Yeah right.... I saw you....what did you write on that receipt?"
What my friend had observed that morning, was me passing a scribbled message to the gorgeous young man I'd been after for a while.
As previously mentioned, this particular young guy, whom both myself and Rita fancied, had been regularly coming into the store and I was determined to get to know him better.
I'd made my intentions clear to him, giving him 'the look' at every opportunity, and making small talk whenever I served him.
However up until recently his shyness had prevented any further interaction between us.
It was this shyness and apparent inexperience that had only encouraged me more.
But it now appeared that my efforts weren't going to waste.
He had begun to return my smiles and also exchange small talk, all while turning bright red....oh my....adorable.
He looked even more handsome when blushing.
So, that morning as I served him, an idea quickly entered my head.
Spontaneous, risky....and exciting.
Looking around as the young guy put his pin into the card machine... nobody else behind waiting for my till.....grabbing a pen I took his receipt and quickly wrote my name and number down on it.
My heart pounding as I did so, this was after all a bold move on my part, I didn't know hardly anything about him he was basically a stranger.
What would he think of me?
He could already have someone, a girlfriend or wife, although in my experience that didn't mean anything.
It was a risk alright, but one worth taking.
Although quick with my writing the young guy couldn't help but notice what I was doing, and as I looked up to hand him the little piece of paper I was met with a look of sheer surprise.
Fortunately there was no distaste or offence in that look, just his natural reaction to my unexpected act.
I grinned confidently back and caught him off guard with a cheeky wink before saying, "You have a nice day now... sweetheart."
All he could do was turn bright red while thanking me in a slightly shaky voice.
He turned and walked away while studying the receipt with my name and number on it, looking back briefly once before exiting the store.
It was while watching him leave, my eyes glued to his cute little bum, that Rita's presence became known to me.
So focussed on the young man, I'd not noticed her close by pinning some information up on a noticeboard.
She was staring right at me wearing a quizzical frown and would have questioned me right then if not for being called away on some errand by our supervisor.
And now, as I faced her down the aisle, mop in hand....the game was up.
There was no way she was going to let this go and I had no choice but to admit what I'd done.
Rita's mouth opened wide and the excited look she was already wearing intensified as I confirmed what she clearly suspected.
Feeling a sense of pride and succumbing to her infectious excitement, as I did so.
Fuck to secrecy....this was fun....it felt good to tell her.
"Oh my god....I knew it....ooh Pippa you are a rum un....I bloody knew it...."
She abruptly trails off for a second as I interrupt with a 'shhhh' and a worried expression, adding that she keep her voice down, I don't want the whole place knowing.
Undeterred by my reprimand Rita moves up close to me and continues, "....so what did he say?....I bet that surprised him!"
I told her what had happened while she listened intently, soaking up what little detail there was.
As we chatted in secretive hushed voices, like giddy schoolgirls discussing their latest crush, I couldn't help but wonder....what would it be like....to tell her everything?
If she was so impressed by this?
In time, I would find myself revealing all to Rita, as we became very close friends.
But that was still some little way off in the future.
For now, my friend was all questions about the young guy.
However, with customers now joining us down the aisle, those questions would have to wait.
Rita reluctantly goes back to her duties with a promise from me to keep her posted on any progress I might make.
And it's this 'progress' that was foremost on my mind throughout not just the rest of that shift but indeed, the whole day.
I checked my phone during break....nothing.
Checked it at home time....nothing.
Kept checking it throughout the day....nothing.
Oh I tell a lie, one text message from o2 trying to get me on a contract, another from my sister, and one phone call from dad insisting that I'd just called him when I hadn't!
By 'nothing' of course, I meant the handsome young man.
The one that I appeared to have....made a fool of myself to.
It was beginning to look like he wasn't interested.
When John got home from work early that evening I explained what I'd done.
John knew all about my desires involving the young customer at work and despite our attention being focussed upon Mike at the time, he gave me his whole hearted approval.
He's very understanding like that, you see.
Anyway, it had gotten quite late about 9.30 and i had all but given up. Steve was home in his room, Chris off somewhere with zoe.
I'd just gotten out the bath after a long soak with a bottle of chilled chardonnay for company and I was feeling very relaxed.
Going downstairs wrapped in a bathrobe I met John at the bottom, he was looking excited and holding out my mobile.
"It beeped a couple minutes ago....hope you don't mind but I had a sneaky peek...."
He trails off, a big grin breaking out, spreading across his face, shaking his head before continuing, "....your guna love what he's called."
I took the phone, excited too but curious at my hubby's reaction, what did he mean? I'm guna love what he's called?
Looking at the text, it read.
(Hi. Thank u for ur number Pippa u served me at the store this morning. Hope I got right number? Txt me when u get this. Chris x)
Chris.....same name as my eldest son, who by the look of my store guy was not much younger.
I look up from the phone wearing a reluctant grin back at John, "Ah....see what you mean."
So, the object of my lusty attention has the same name as my son who's probably not much younger than him....not awkward at all.
As if to read my mind John chimes in with a comment that puts an uncomfortable image in my head.
"Well....that's guna be interesting at the point of no return....losing yourself in the moment....calling out his name!"
My face contorts in disgust before snapping at my hubby, "Oh thanks a lot you bastard... for putting that in my bonnet."
It's accompanied by a sharp prod in his side as I push past him.
He knows I'm not serious however, and quickly recovers, following me into the living room where we excitedly discuss what my response will be.
And it's there in our living room, cuddled up on the sofa together that we spend the next hour with Chris, my new boy.
