Yes.

‘Sure, Doe, I’m not too keen on the idea of going back to my place and being alone in this weather myself anyway.’

‘Great, what would you like to do?’

I few suggestions pop into my head but none of them of the sort that I could say out loud! I want to choose something that will get her to sit close to me; a board game would probably be my safest bet.

‘What board games to you have Doe?’ I ask.

‘Oh, most of the classics I think, Monopoly, Game of life, Sorry, Trivial pursuit, actually, far too many to mention. Let’s go have a look and we can pick one.’

I follow her to a hall cupboard, she opens the door and reveals about 2 shelves of board games. I’ve noticed that lots of older people have large amounts of board games, probably quite popular before electronic games started to take over. Of all the titles I see, only a few of them I recognize, and my head is still a little too fuzzy to contemplate trying to learn a new one, so I take an easy option.

‘Might as well go with a real classic huh? How does Monopoly sound?’ I offer.

‘Sounds great John, you set up while I refresh my glass.’

I begin setting up the game on the coffee table in front of the couch, its not that big a coffee table, and Monopoly once fully set up will take up plenty of room, helping me keep Doe sitting close.

‘Do you want something to drink John? You look a little bleary eyed.’

‘Anything cold would be fantastic Doe thanks.’

A moment later Doe sits down, handing me a glass of coke, while she puts her wine down on the coffee table, close to the wine bottle, which is now a glass emptier.

‘Any house rules that we should discuss now rather than later? Free parking? Property buying etc?’ I ask, noticing that her leg is only inches from mine, as she sits at a slight angle as I do, facing towards each other.

‘Not that I can think of John, I haven’t played this in a long time.’

‘Ok.’

And so the game begins. We play our way through some of the loudest thunder flashes I’ve heard in a few years. Doe getting the upper hand, then me as our luck with the dice and property makes us rich, then strips us down to bare essentials. I’m having fun, it’s quite nice to be spending this time with Doe. She’s pretty funny and as she slowing imbibes more wine, she gets a little more flirty. Nothing out and out obvious, but every time I make a joke or silly observation, she pats my leg as she laughs, a couple of times her hand lingering for a few seconds, and once, squeezing my thigh.

Its 2 hours later and the bottle is 2 thirds empty when the game is over, myself being the victor……