‘Oh.’ Ros didn’t feel she could press him further; there was clearly something she was missing because she didn’t feel they had achieved very much at all – not on the awayday or since.
‘This is our opportunity to give some feedback to each other about what we think individuals do well, where we feel they have improved and where we’ve identified opportunities for growth in the future. Who wants to go first?’
Ros had to fight hard not to let her disdain show. Sadly the company was probably paying a lot of money for this sort of rubbish.
‘I’ll go first,’ said Alistair. ‘Mike, I thought your knot work was excellent. Sonia, you got better once I’d explained which rope did what. And, Ros, maybe learn to swim.’
‘I didn’t mean on the awayday so that’s not exactly—’ began the captain but Ros was already responding.
‘Fine,’ said Ros. ‘Sonia, you were positive even when facing a day of mansplaining. Mike, things got much better once you’d stopped posing like a Bond girl. And, Alastair, why don’t you try not being a complete arse for once?’ She turned to the captain. ‘How did I do?’ But as the man had his head in his hands she felt that communicated his answer quite well.
Even Ros wasn’t in the mood for another flip chart session but needs must. The first outing for Cameron and Ros as a pretend couple had not been great. She wouldn’t go as far as to say it’d been a complete disaster but, in the captain’s words, there was room for growth. She opened the door on Thursday evening to a yawning Cameron.
‘I won’t keep you late,’ she said.
‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just last night they had games night at my digs.’
‘Ooh what sort of games?’
‘Drinking ones mainly,’ said Cameron. ‘Which rapidly got out of hand, ending in a food fight just after three this morning. So I’m a bit done in.’
‘That’s not on.’
‘Tell me about it,’ he said, flopping onto the sofa. ‘But do I gather you like games?’
‘Bridge. Do you play?’
‘Nah. I’m more of an Uno fan but I’m a demon at strip Jack naked.’
Ros pulled her chin in. ‘I definitely don’t play strip poker or the like.’
Cameron laughed. ‘No clothes are removed. It’s just a card game. Maybe I’ll show you one day.’
‘Maybe. Anyway, can I get you a drink? I did get some beer in if you’d like one but as I don’t drink it myself I have no clue if it’s any good, but I have seen Darla drink this brand.’
‘That’s really kind of you, Ros. Yeah, I’d love a beer.’
‘Excellent.’ She was delighted that he seemed genuinely pleased.
She popped the cap off and brought it to him on the sofa. ‘Scrabble,’ she said.
‘Thanks, and what now?’
‘I like a game of Scrabble. I don’t have a board here but Dad has one. We play at Christmas and Easter sometimes.’
‘Cool. I like Scrabble too.’ They smiled at each other.
‘I’ll add it to the list,’ said Ros. She turned over a new flip chart with the header ‘Things We Have In Common or Both Like’. Currently all that was listed was cricket.
‘I know you’re going to disagree but I think there was a lot about Sunday that went well.’
Ros stared at him. ‘For example?’ she prompted.
Cameron leaned forward. ‘Barry bought the fact that we were a couple. I know I’m currently not his ideal son-in-law but he didn’t suspect a scam.’
‘Please don’t call it a scam,’ said Ros, feeling the punch of guilt to her gut. ‘He may have accepted that we were a couple but if he can’t understand what I see in you then he’s going to get suspicious. Which is why . . .’ Ros tapped the flip chart; she needed to keep them on track.
‘I’ve had an idea,’ he said. ‘What if I took your dad out for a beer? Have a man-to-man chat. Say that I get that I might not be his first choice but I want to do whatever I can to make him like me.’ Cameron grinned at her, clearly pleased with his suggestion.
‘Then he’d definitely know you have something to hide,’ said Ros. ‘How about we have a list of subjects that we feel are safe to discuss and agree exactly what we can and can’t say about them?’
Cameron swigged his beer. ‘Sounds like a bundle of fun.’
‘Sarcasm is not helpful,’ said Ros.
They were interrupted by a buzz on the entry system. Ros paused for a moment; she wasn’t expecting anyone. It buzzed again. ‘Shall I get that?’ asked Cameron. Already reaching for the phone. ‘Hallo,’ he said.
Ros strode across the room but Cameron stood up, making it difficult for her to grab it off him. ‘Barry! We were just talking about you,’ said Cameron. Then completely unnecessarily he mouthed to Ros that it was her dad. ‘Come on up,’ he said into the receiver as he pressed the entry button.
‘Buggeration,’ said Ros. ‘Hide the flip chart. I’ll stall him.’
‘On it,’ said Cameron.
Ros was sweating. She did not need this level of stress. There was a tap on her door. She took a deep breath and checked over her shoulder. The flip chart was gone and so was Cameron. Ros opened the door and was immediately assaulted by Gazza who was over the moon to find Ros on the other side of the door. He yelped his excitement as his claws trashed her tights in one easy move.
‘Dad, hello. This is a nice surprise,’ she said, kissing him on the cheek.
‘I’m not interrupting anything, am I?’ asked Barry.
