Operation Soulmate by Diane Hall Page A

said, gesticulating half-heartedly.
           “I’m not being secretive; there’s just nothing else to say about it ...just yet.” He added, briefly turning around to face her and raising his eyebrows, slightly before returning to the calendar.
          “Ooooh, this sounds interesting.”
          “No, it’s not interesting.”
          “ I’m interested!!”
          Ben stopped scribbling for a second and looked straight into her eyes. “Are you?” He said playfully.
           “Oh, Ben, stop being so ridiculous.” She said, but for some reason, her heart leapt irrationally for just a second. She chose to ignore it. He was just so hard to figure out sometimes. “Look, if you don’t want to talk about it that’s fine, I’m off to make a start on my pieces.”
           Ben sighed. “Okay, we met up after karate, had dinner, came back here for a drink. I'm sure you know the rest.. Oh yeah, that reminds me,” he said, deftly changing the subject. “Are you okay for Thursday night?”
           Geraldine sighed, “Yes, I’m okay for Thursday night. I have to be, don’t I; it’s in my contract...” Ben winked at her, and smiled his twinkly smile, happy to have the attention taken away from the subject of his own love-life, once again.
           “Gerry,” He said, pouring himself a second cup of coffee, “I’m sensing a distinct lack of enthusiasm here. What’s up Hon?”
        “Oh, nothing...” Geraldine checked her phone again for missed calls and pouted sullenly. Then quickly decided that there was probably no point whatsoever in being vague with her own love coach. “Okay, Toby still hasn’t called.”
           “Huh? Who’s Toby?” said Ben, rolling his sleeves up and buttering some toast.
          “Toby, the guy from the seminar!!!?!?”
           “Oh, great!” He said without irony. “He’s thinking it through. So while he’s thinking, let’s get back out there again.” He added, rubbing his hands together, briskly. Geraldine stared back at him, blankly. Why was it was so easy for him to just dole out such glib advice in this blunt and detached way? Did he ever really think about what he was saying? He was such an odd combination. So emotionally distant sometimes, and, yet, at the same time, he was so kind, thoughtful and sweet. There were times when it was almost impossible for Geraldine to even reconcile these two very contrasting sides of his personality. They just didn't sit well together.
           “Ben I really, really want him to call, I really liked him .”
           “Look Gerry, and I’m going to have to get tough with you now.” He said, resting his toast and coffee on the table and rolling his sleeves even further up his arms. Geraldine was momentarily distracted by the healthy covering of thick, dark hair as it contrasted with his crisp, white shirt and pale skin. There was something striking about it. Not attractive per se, but definitely striking. She quickly shook herself to attention and brought her focus back onto the topic at hand. “You don’t know anything about this guy. It’s too soon for you to get all ...involved and invested like this. Is he going to call, when is he going to call, why hasn’t he called yet, should I call him, maybe he lost my number, maybe he was kidnapped by Martians... .just forget about him! Until he calls you, he no longer exists.”
           “Oh my God, that is so cold ! How can you say that? You saw him. You liked him. You said he was a good guy. You gave him the thumbs up...remember...?”
           “I said he was a potentially, good guy. It’s just potential at the moment. He's no one until he fulfils that potential. Step back, detach, keep looking, that’s all I’m saying.”
           “But Ben, I just know he could be the one. I can feel it.”
           “Okay.” Said Ben, patiently, “I hear you. Can I just ask you a few