‘Well, I’m not sure now,’ I laughed.

‘You look, um, great.’ He pushed his hair away from his face and looked sheepish. His eyes darted between me and our surroundings.

‘Thank you,’ I said with a small self-conscious smile. I felt the energy build between us in the small space.

I went on to tell him that I was a fitness instructor and after a few minutes he found the confidence to invite me back to the bar. We found seats amongst the chaos and ordered margaritas with salty rims.

‘I hope I didn’t appear creepy. Following you outside like that.’ He was possibly feigning coyness as he tucked his long thick dark hair behind his ear. I couldn’t help but be reminded of Michael Hutchence, with his battered black leather jacket and sultry look.

I looked down at his hands which were large and looked incredibly clean and soft; they were hands that hadn’t grafted.

‘Is this your bag? Clubs like this?’ he asked

‘Sometimes, I’m with my flatmate Eve; we like to dance. Let off a bit of steam. You?’

‘Not really. I was persuaded by a mate to come in for a quick drink. We’ve just finished a gig next door.’

‘You’re in a band?’ So he really was a rock star.

‘Many. I go where the work is, take whatever I can.’

‘So you’re like a prostitute, of the musical world?’

He stared at me blankly for a second. My heart raced as I anticipated a negative response to my throwaway comment. Then his mouth grew into a huge smile.

‘Yes, that is exactly what I am.’ His whole face visibly lit up.

I threw my head back and laughed loudly. I loved his subtlety; he had no ego, everything about him was enchanting and magnetising me more towards him.

I knew then, that moment, I had to have him.

We talked and drank and laughed and I slipped in closer to him on a stool so our bodies were touching. My hand kept finding its way to his leg. At one point he turned and looked at me and neither of us spoke for a second – we just took one another in. I felt a rush of emotion that I had never felt for anyone before and all I could think was how I didn’t want the night to end. My mind had already wandered to the following day and if I would see him again.

When my friend and flatmate, Eve, made an appearance next to us, I raised my eyes at her indicating I was fine. She walked away backwards making an over the top thumbs-up sign behind Ben’s back, but he caught her out of the corner of his eye. I began laughing hysterically and when he looked around properly, Eve had transformed the action seamlessly into a ridiculous dance move. He seemed casually amused.

We ordered beers and drank them in near silence. Occasionally sniggering at some of the more inebriated clubbers. I felt warm and fuzzy with alcohol and I supposed he did too.