"How about we move her over there? The light is a lot better right now but it'll be cloudy again soon".
"Good idea, Grace. Guys!! Let's move over there to try and get a better photo".
Today, we're running around Manchester trying to find good locations for a last-minute shoot that we need to get done. There are a few different types of looks, so we also need different-looking areas that fit each theme. And we also need the weather to behave but it's Manchester. We can't ask for miracles.
My phone rings for the 10th time this morning but it isn't anyone from work this time. It's Rúben.
"Hi. How are you?"
"Good, just finished training. You?"
"I'm at work. We are giving the poor model a tour of the city trying to find good locations".
"At least it isn't raining", he laughs.
"Don't jinx it".
Ever since we saw each other at the magazine's party, Rúben and I have been chatting every couple of days. Mainly over text, but we've also had a couple of phone calls. It's been...nice, actually. He reminds me of Bella in the sense that it was very easy for me to connect with him. It felt like we had been friends for years since the beginning and that helped with my major trust issues.
"Remember the restaurant I told you about?", he asks me while I'm putting my phone in between my ear and shoulder so I can use my iPad.
"The Italian?"
"Yes. I've tried getting a reservation again and nothing. It didn't use to be so busy but a celebrity recommended it on their Instagram and now it's always booked".
"Aren't you a celebrity too?", I joke.
"Not important enough, apparently".
"Maybe you should try saying you play for United?"
"Ha ha ha. When do you start with your stand-up comedy? I want to buy tickets for the show".
"I don't know about that. I'll save them for the important celebrities".
The good side of how easy it is to talk to Rúben is obvious. The bad side is that it can be distracting.
"Grace?"
"Yes?"
"I was calling you but you were busy on the phone. Is it Andy?", asks the photographer.
"No, but he sent a message", I say, opening it on my iPad.
"Ok, we'll try that. Are you done with your call? We need to drive there".
"One second".
I move away from everyone to get some privacy.
"I need to keep working. Was there anything you needed to tell me?"
"No, just the restaurant stuff. I hoped we could have dinner there this week but it's impossible".
I can see the impatient faces of everyone on the crew, which is causing me anxiety. "Well, find somewhere else or I'll cook for you. I need to leave, sorry. Bye!"
Running with heels still isn't my speciality, but I have to do it anyway if I don't want everyone to leave me here. "Coming!"
When I'm back in the car, I get a message.
Rúben: are you a good cook?
Grace: I actually am pretty good.
Rúben: dinner at your place then.
My apartment doesn't look good enough all of a sudden. He can't see it. He can't be there. It's probably a lot smaller than his. And my decorations aren't as expensive. And what if he doesn't like Luna?
I need to stop overthinking but now this dinner is all I can think about.
I didn't lie to him, though. I am a pretty decent chef. Abel asked me to practice making a lot of very difficult dishes with him and that's how I learned.
"How about there?", I say, pointing at a building I have never seen before. Looking out of the window and overthinking might have helped us.
"Worth a try. Let's stop here guys!"
**
It's only a couple of days later that I find myself in my kitchen, cooking for Rúben. He's still not here but my nerves are already making this cooking process a lot harder than it should be.
I cleaned the house this morning. Some areas twice. And drove poor Luna insane getting the hoover out so much. She's not a fan.
Now I'm placing all the ingredients on the table to start preparing some spaghetti amatriciana. It's probably my favourite pasta sauce and Rúben said carbs were fine so here we are. I can't go wrong with pasta and he wanted to go to an Italian restaurant so this is the second best option.
I usually put more chilly than what it says on the recipe because I love spicy food but I doubt whether to just put less this time because of Rúben. He might not like spicy food at all and hate the dish.
That's why I'm still holding a chilly when I open the door to let Rúben in.
"Hi! Is that for me?", he asks, pointing at my hand and laughing.
"No, but you got here right on time. Spicy food, yes or no?"
"More no than yes, I guess. A bit is fine but I don't like it when food is too spicy".
"Perfect", I say, running to the kitchen and only adding a little bit of chilly instead of the ridiculous amount I usually add for me. "Can you come here for a second while I finish this? I'll show you the apartment in a bit".
"What are you cooking?"
"Spaghetti with my favourite sauce. Not quite restaurant level but edible".
"I'm sure it'll be great".
Once I am done adding everything to the pan, I leave it to cook and finally turn to properly acknowledge my guest.
"Hi".
"Hi", he laughs.
"Let me show you the apartment. Sorry if it's a bit messy".
We walk around while I show him the few rooms it has, and then we end up in the living room, which is right next to the kitchen he's already seen.
"If this is your definition of messy...".
"You never know with people. Maybe you were an organization freak and got traumatized by how everything looks", I shrug.
"What's that noise?"
"What noise...".
But then I hear it too. The hissing sound that's coming from under the sofa Rúben is standing next to.
"Oh, that's my cat Luna. She always hides from strangers. She'll come out when she feels comfortable. Let's leave her alone".
But Rúben doesn't listen to me and kneels down to look at little Luna, who is still hissing at him.
"Do you have treats?", he asks.
"Yes, in the kitchen".
"Bring some".
I go pick up the bag and give it to him. He takes a couple out and puts them on his hand before extending that hand towards Luna. She's still a bit apprehensive but starts to move closer to him, slowly.
I then notice he's talking to her, but I don't understand a word.
"Are you speaking to my cat in Portuguese?"
"Yes, it usually impresses the ladies so I thought I would use all my charm".
I snort at his words, which makes him raise an eyebrow.
"Well, I need to finish dinner so you keep on flirting with my cat while I do that".
I'm putting everything on the plate from which we'll serve the food when Rúben makes it back to the kitchen.
"Do you need our help setting the table or something?"
"Our?"
And then I see what he means. He is standing by the door, with Luna in his arms.
"How did you get her to let you hold her already?", I ask, shocked. She hasn't allowed anyone else to do that before.
"My Portuguese charm. I told you".
I shake my head, still not believing what I'm seeing. But I like that Luna trusts him. It's almost as if she is letting me know I can trust him too.
"I'll set the table, don't worry. You're too busy with your new girlfriend".
He laughs while I leave with some plates and glasses to set on the table. "I think your mummy is jealous, Luna".
Jealous of a cat?
**
"That was delicious. You were being humble when I asked you if you were good at cooking".
"Thank you", I said, blushing. I'm still not good at taking compliments.
"How did you learn to cook so well?"
"My ex was a chef. I helped him practice".
"That's nice", says Rúben, but he could tell by my tone that my ex isn't a topic I want to talk about.
"I don't have a lot of options for dessert, sorry".
"That's fine. How about we go out and find something. I should have bought something but I still don't know you enough to know what you like and ...".
"It's ok, Rúben. I can use some fresh air after all the cooking too. I'll leave the cleaning for tomorrow's Grace. She'll love me".
"I can help".
"No, you're my guest. Let me get my coat and we'll go out".
When I go back to the living room to meet Rúben, I see him sitting on the floor playing with Luna and giving her little head a kiss. Yes, I guess I can be jealous of a cat.