Acme Time Travel Incorporated - Volume 2

Gabriel cycled his way back home to Clacton. He was meeting Ginny that night at the Horseblanket, a little wine-bar on Clacton sea front.

Barney had asked Gabriel if he had asked her out, and Gabriel had said yes, but then explained that it was Ginny who had asked him out. As they were leaving the Golden Egg coffee shop, she had simply said that she had the evening off, and she would meet him at the Horseblanket at 8pm.

She had simply taken it for granted that he would come, and then she had put her share of the coffee shop bill down on the table, kissed him politely on the cheek, smiled to her friend Sally and then skipped out of the door.

“You’re one cool customer,” Barney had said, laughing good-naturedly.

“I tell you what,” Barney continued. “You know you don’t get paid until next Friday, but I went to the bank today, and I can’t be arsed going there again. Are you ok if I pay you now? Oh, and I’ve slipped in a bonus for your care-home storyline. Is that alright with you, mate?”

So, Gabriel, who had never had a date with a girl before, not only had one tonight, but he also had some money to buy her a drink.