‘I always wondered what kind of person is inside animal costumes. Does it require an actor?’
‘No, just a vaguely athletic, reasonably good dancer. I think it was being able to do the worm that got me the job. You should come with me to a game some time.’
‘I would, but I fear it might end up in a brawl,’ I remind him. ‘Maybe, next time you see them, tell them you weren’t really my friend.’
‘I’d never denounce you like that,’ he jokes. ‘Don’t worry, they won’t hold it against me.’
‘Ah, good, I wouldn’t want it getting in the way of your pulling game,’ I tease.
‘I’m not going to lie, the lion suit did bag me a lot of women’s phone numbers,’ he says.
‘I’m no expert, but isn’t your face completely covered in the costume?’ I ask. ‘Are you not just a massive fluffy lion?’
‘I think women are into it,’ he tells me. ‘I think some girls think there’s something kind of hot about the anonymity that comes with the territory. They would see these little glimmers of my personality, my funny dance moves. They could tell I was a big bloke and that I’m fit… I think it’s the danger.’
I feel my cheeks warming, just a little.
‘I’m not attracted to danger,’ I say quickly. ‘If tonight has taught me anything, it’s that dating is terrifying. I wouldn’t be surprised if I took my ex back out of fear.’
‘A specific ex?’ Millsy asks.
‘Yeah, I…’ I stop at the top of a flight of steps that leads down next to the river. Millsy must realise I’m hesitating.
‘I’m not bringing you down here to kill you, honest,’ he insists.
I glance down into the darkness.
‘Are you sure?’ I ask. ‘Because right now I look exactly like the kind of body they pull out of a river at the start of Law & Order.’
‘Promise,’ he says. ‘My flat is down here.’
I exhale before taking hold of his arm again. I have no reason to think Millsy is going to kill me, not when he’s been so generous. His advice might not be great but his intentions are good. Anyway, I don’t lead an interesting enough life to get murdered.
We walk along the edge of the river for less than a minute before we’re outside Millsy’s building. It’s a small apartment building, consisting of five floors. The higher ones have wrap-around balconies with incredible views of the River Aire and the stunning Royal Armouries Museum building across the water at Leeds Dock.
‘You’ve got one hell of a view,’ I tell him. ‘Do you rent?’
‘No, I own mine,’ he says. ‘I used to live in my uncle’s flat, a couple floors down. When I got a decent payday, I had enough for a deposit on the top-floor apartment.’
Does dancing in a lion costume and flashing your teeth in an advert really pay that well?
‘Impressive,’ I admit.
‘You were saying about your ex,’ Millsy prompts, clearly interested, as he lets us into his building and steers me towards the lift.
‘Yeah… Well, I’m just being dramatic. I have no intention of getting back with him. My cousin has invited him to her wedding though. Some crap about how he was my plus one when she invited me so she should honour his invitation. I’m allowed a plus one but my quest to find one isn’t going all that well. I think I’m going to give up, to be honest.’
‘Man, that’s rough,’ he says. ‘Your cousin must really hate you.’
‘I wonder sometimes,’ I reply with a sigh. ‘She’s just a bit spoiled, likes everything to be on her terms. If she doesn’t get her way, you better hope you’re not the reason why.’
Millsy unlocks his front door, holding it open for me to walk in first.
‘Oh, wow, this place is great,’ I tell him.
Millsy’s flat is very much a bachelor pad, but a super-cool one. It’s bigger than I thought it was going to be. His decor is simple: white walls, wooden floors. His sofa, curtains, cushions and rug are all various shades of grey. The only colour comes in the form of LED lighting he has running around the room. He cycles through different light patterns before landing on something warm, with shades of red and orange glowing around the open-plan living space.
‘Shall we sit out on the terrace for a bit?’ he suggests. ‘I’ll grab us a couple of drinks.’
‘That would be lovely, thanks.’
‘What can I get you?’
‘Surprise me,’ I say, unwilling to give up cool, easy-going Cara 2.0 just yet.
I head outside, making myself comfortable on one of the inviting-looking patio chairs. I plump up the cushions and plonk myself down, taking in the view while I wait for Millsy to join me. The Royal Armouries might be closed, but the Hall of Steel, a stunning glass tower with various weapons on the walls, is still lit up. This really is the life, sitting out here on a summer night. I’ll say one thing for this obscenely small dress – it’s nice and cool.
‘Here we go,’ Millsy says, handing me a can of something cold before sitting down next to me. ‘You know, I get where you’re coming from with the plus-one drama.’
‘Oh, yeah?’
‘Yeah. Ruby, the friend who I was telling you about, the one who is getting married. We’ve been best friends ever since we were babies, but she still won’t let me bring a plus one to her wedding in however many weeks away it is.’
‘How come?’ I ask nosily as I play with my new fake hair between my fingertips.
‘I haven’t really been looking to settle down with anyone serious,’ he tells me, which I imagine is quite a tactful explanation. ‘Ruby says she doesn’t want me bringing one of my “floozies” to her wedding. She thinks I’ll turn up with some girl I pulled the night before, both probably still drunk. I guess I’ve done that before, which is why my family won’t let me bring a plus one to family stuff either. They all say that if I find someone I can get serious with, I can get my plus-one rights back. It’s crap though. I don’t want to go to these things alone. I’ve got a bunch of lame family stuff coming up. I hate being the only person not in a couple when it’s all everyone bangs on about.’
I think to myself for a moment. Millsy has done so much for me, perhaps I can return the favour…
‘Ruby was the one in the bar last night?’ I ask. ‘Do you think she’d recognise the new-look me as being that girl?’
‘I doubt it,’ he says. ‘You look more like my usual type now.’
‘Interesting,’ I say. I swig my ice-cold drink and relax into my chair as much as my short dress will allow. ‘Very interesting.’
‘What are you thinking?’ he asks.
‘I’m thinking, you need an acceptable plus one for Ruby’s wedding, and whatever the lame family stuff you mentioned is. I’ve got a summer full of events too. My bosses’ wedding, my cousin’s wedding, my school reunion… I don’t want to go to these things alone, but I definitely don’t want to do any more dating for a while. You don’t want to go alone, but you need a regular girl to go with. I have a job, I don’t drink too much, I can talk to adults, I’m polite. And you said yourself, I look more like your type now. People will think you’ve just found the best of both worlds. I don’t think people will struggle to believe that the right person could make you have a change of heart, do you?’