On this evening she was tired and eager to get home. It was now nearly 8pm and she quickened her step so as to get in before the top of the hour. The ...ight was now starting to fade on this mild April evening but still bright enough to see clearly. As she got to the top of the steps she noticed a group of young women about half way across the bridge. She could clearly hear their laughing and giggling and was not at all concerned. As she approached the gang she noticed that they were sharing. Really…?’ she breathed. ‘Why?’I looked up at her, feeling intensely shy, and, shuffling my feet, I shrugged again.‘I – I don’t know. I – I, well, I like you, Kate, and…’‘So?’God, I wish she wasn’t making it so difficult.‘I - you said earlier that I didn’t have any friends. You know that’s true, and I just – I just wondered whether…’‘You want me to be your friend? Is that it?’I nodded. I couldn’t meet her eyes. I felt so small, and stupid. She was bound to make fun of me. She’d tell Jo, and her. ” The tone of her voice was understanding but he knew she was right. The guests had no idea what was on his mind. Most of them anyway.He made small talk with a few of Dani’s friend’s dads and his own parents and hoped that nobody noticed him avoiding his in-laws. Even chatting with his daughter made him a little uncomfortable though he knew he couldn’t avoid her.She was wearing a tight white spaghetti strap tank top with a black shear vest over top. He had tried not to notice but especially now. . But..."She handed me her phone. "Just text yourself and then you will have it."I did so, and then closed the hood on the Wagoneer and bid goodbye.As we pulled away, Katie asked quietly. "Did you get a number?"I leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Yup!"She giggled and turned back to wink at Reagan. "Told ya".We made our way back home and got all the groceries put away before the ice cream became a drink.It was about two weeks before I decided to return the text the girl had sent.I sent her.