In That Way

Andy and Billie sat at their usual pub table, side by side, their backs to the window. ‘It's Always the same,’ Andy said.

‘What is?’

‘Us. We come here and then… well, we do this.’

Billie turned to look at him, her head cocked to one side. ‘So?’

‘Well, we could… I dunno… do something different.’

‘Like what, for example?’

Well, I'm a man, and you're a woman.

‘Er… yes,’ Billie said. ‘That is something I've noticed.’

Andy stared off into the distance, not meeting her eye. ‘So, have you ever thought… y'know… us?’

‘What? You and me?’ Billie laughed and shook her head. ‘Never.’

‘Really?’ Andy turned back to look at her. ‘Not once?’

‘No.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes.’

Andy picked up his drink and took a sip. ‘But, I thought you liked me…. Well, we get on all right - mostly - don't we?’

‘Yes, of course. And I do like you… a lot. But not in that way.’

Andy put his drink down. ‘Ah, Not in that way.’ He nodded as in confirmation.

Billie turned to him. ‘What do you mean by that?’

‘It is something - as a man - that I find hard to understand,’ Andy said carefully as he ran his fingers up and down the outside of his pint glass. ‘If I like a woman then the… er… in that way, as it were, is a part of that… an important part of that.’

‘So… have you… y'know….’ Billy edged closer to Andy on the seat, leaning towards him. ‘Have you… thought about us in that way?’

Andy looked away from her again. ‘Well….’

‘Come on, be honest.’

‘Yes… but….’

‘Now, I'm interested - what did we do?’

‘I can’t… well… y’know…’ Andy felt himself getting hot around the neck.

‘Oh,’ Billie took a drink. ‘That is a shame.’

Andy looked down at his lap.

‘Well if you can’t tell me….’ Billie said.

‘What?’

Billie finished her drink and stood up, taking Andy’s hand. ‘How about we go somewhere more private and you show me?’