without the need for machines. Even though my heart rate is the same, my central venous pressure is undoubtedly up. It’s not every person who can walk along the street and declare their CVP is high. But, then again, it’s not every person who wants to.
‘This is not bad, you know. Bit hot, though.’
‘I think you’re meant to leave it to cool down for a bit.’
‘I wanted to try it. You should try some too. It’ll be better than your rice portions.’
‘I’ll try the porridge if you have rice one morning.’
Lucy pulls a disapproving face.
It will be interesting to see if Lucy not skipping breakfast for once has the desired effect of reducing the snacks she tends to go through between starting work and her lunch hour. It was only yesterday I found her happily gorging on a pack of mini savoury eggs that were supposed to be for her lunch. I decide I’ll leave Lucy to monitor her food intake. It’s only possible to conduct so many studies during the day.
‘How was it then?’
‘How was what?’
‘Your date?’
‘Oh, that.’ Is it bad to have forgotten about it already?
‘Yeah, that. Surely it wasn’t another duff one?’
‘I fear that’s exactly what it was.’
‘How come? What was wrong this time?’
‘Two inches of inaccuracy.’
‘Woah. Two inches is a lot. I take it we’re talking about his height?’
‘Naturally. And it wasn’t just that. There was some unchecked nostril clearance. Some things are a very clear indicator that I’m not in the same room as the one.’ He’ll probably report the same about me, especially as I scarpered off, but whatever feeling it was that I was hoping to find, I definitely hadn’t got it with him. I always find the whole dating thing far too awkward. It’s probably why I’ve never managed to have a proper boyfriend.
‘Ewww. I do wish you’d let me come with you one time. I want to be a fly on the wall.’
‘We’ve talked about this. It’s a no.’ I already do far too many things with Lucy. Dating together is not about to happen.
The fact that Lucy and I have to take our lunch breaks at different times is a saving grace in many ways. Being alone means I get the opportunity to branch out and eat at Tess’s café. It’s the reason I have more than one friend.
‘If you’d switch to some dinner dates like I’ve suggested,’ Lucy carries on, ‘I can just happen to be at another table. I might be able to give you some pointers.’
‘It’s still a no. It’s bad enough with Tess keeping an eye on proceedings.’
The post-analysis with Tess is often the part I look forward to more than the date. I’ll be doing that with her later.
The phone rings at the same time as the microwave beeps. I look over to Lucy and she opts to head to the desk and pick up the receiver. I respond to the beeps and go to the tiny kitchen.
The microwave is empty.
‘What were you attempting to heat up?’ I ask when I get back to the desk. Our first participants for a trial looking at the effects of a new beta-blocker should arrive soon and I need to do more preparation.
‘My porridge.’ She shows me the pot in her hand as if it’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.
‘But I thought you just had to add hot water?’
‘Oh yeah. But I’d not realised at first and had put the time into the microwave already. I let it do its thing. It’s the only way to get it back to zero.’
I gawk and have to tighten my jawline to stop it from slacking. ‘There is a cancel button for that.’
‘Is there? I like doing it my way so I get the numbers back to neutral. It’s a quirk. I think I have a quirk.’
I’m not even sure how to respond. ‘What was the phone call?’
This early on a Thursday it is likely to be a cancellation.
‘It was our favourite doctor.’
‘Dr Hutchins?’
‘Yes. He has a takotsubo syndrome case for your PhD.’
‘He does? And they’re willing to take part in the study?’
‘Yes, he thinks so, although he said it was a bit complicated. You’ll be able to do the paperwork at the hospital soon.’
‘Did you take the details?’ Even if Lucy is prone to thinking that running an empty microwave is a logical idea, hopefully she’s not lost the ability to take down the appropriate information when fielding phone calls.
‘Of course. Patient details are here.’ Lucy passes over a Post-it note.