London Calling Read Online Free PDF

over. We could meet there. I know a great place, if
you like Mexican.”
    “Perfect.”
    He put his phone back in his pocket and felt it buzz against
his leg. Thinking it was Jenna calling back, he opened it without looking.
    Gavin’s voice greeted him instead. “So, how did it go? Are
you employed?”
    “Yes.”
    “Fantastic. I knew you’d get it. What are you doing to
celebrate? Off to a pub to pick up some lovelies?”
    “Actually, I have a date.”
    “With whom?”
    Tim felt the smile rolling back across his face. “That girl
from the coffee shop. Jenna. I ran into her again last night and we hung out
this afternoon.”
    “And now you’re going out to dinner?”
    “Yes.” The smile broadened.
    “Careful, Tim. Hanging out four times. That’s practically a
relationship.”
    “I don’t know what it is. I haven’t even kissed her yet.”
    He heard static on the line and thought perhaps Gavin had
dropped the phone then he realized he was just talking to Phillip. “He hasn’t
kissed her yet. I’m putting you on speaker.”
    “Gav, wait.”
    “Hi, Tim,” Phillip chimed from the background. “Tell me
about the girl.”
    “There’s nothing to tell. Yet.”
    He could hear Gavin laughing. “You like this one, I can
tell. Good for you. Don’t muck it up.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Well you’ve not got the best track record, you usually just
shag whatever girl literally falls into your lap after a show. When was the
last time you actually asked a girl out?”
    “This afternoon.” Tim scrubbed his hand through his hair. He
wasn’t in the mood to have Gavin analyze his dating patterns or lack thereof.
    “And before that? Six months? A year?”
    “A while. I know.”
    “I’m just saying, if you like this girl, don’t do anything
stupid. Where are you taking her for dinner?”
    “Dunno. She said she knows a good Mexican place.”
    “Well, don’t eat any onions. Even you’re not that charming.”
    After Tim hung up he couldn’t help tossing around Gavin’s
words. Don’t muck it up. Christ.
    The closest thing he’d had to a relationship lately was a
girl he’d dated on and off for a few months. She’d seemed relatively normal at
first. Nicer than most of the groupies he’d met at shows, but she’d always been
pretty pretentious. She name-dropped every chance she got and insisted on going
to the “in” places rather than just hanging out someplace that might actually
be fun.
    When he told her he wasn’t taking her with him to the States,
she’d had a holy fit and broke off with him. He was relieved. He’d been
dreading calling things off and she’d saved him the trouble. She was, however,
the most recent sex he’d had and that had been well over a month ago.
    His mouth was suddenly dry. He popped into the market on the
corner and grabbed a bottle of water and a tin of Altoids. Whatever happened
tonight, fresh breath seemed a good idea.
    Jenna was standing at the counter when he arrived, talking
to the blonde woman. The second she saw him she smiled, making his nervousness
melt away. She’d changed into a short patterned skirt, a black sweater and
chunky-heeled black shoes, giving her a sweet but sexy schoolgirl look that
made him swallow hard.
    “Hey,” she said. “Tim, this is Natalie. She owns the café.”
    Natalie waved as she continued taking cookies off the silver
pan and placing them into the case. The two women exchanged a look that Tim
couldn’t quite interpret but when Jenna turned back to him she was smiling
again. “You ready? Oh. I brought your jacket.” She handed him the shopping bag.
    “Thanks. Pleasure to meet you, Natalie.”
    “Likewise.” She grinned and tossed Jenna another look. “You
kids have fun.”
    Jenna scooted out the door and Tim followed. There was no
breeze and it felt much warmer than the night before. Or maybe it was just her
presence. Being around her made him feel warm all over. “Mexican?” she asked,
her head cocked to the side, hair falling