So, a while ago - 20 chapters ago if we're going to be really precise here - I spoke about expectation versus reality.

Examples from my own life, as you'll likely remember, included my long anticipated team lunch at TGI Fridays, which in fact ended up being two bites of katsu curry at Wagamama; and me believing me and my ex Declan were getting back together, when he was actually planning on cutting ties completely after he'd got what he wanted from me.

And those were just the tip of the iceberg. This has been happening my whole life . . .

Expectation: assured by my teachers that I'd get five As in my fifth year exams.

Reality: I panicked during each and every exam and managed 3 Bs and 2 Cs.

Expectation: once started a YouTube channel, convinced I would be the next Zoella.

Reality: I think the the three tutorials still there have had about 10 genuine comments and views between them. (I still get pervy comments from old men, and Nigerian princes, to this day though. Score.)

Expectation: thought the cute guy in the office at my old job was going to ask me out after we had a passionate snog at a work night out.

Reality: I found out on the Monday that he'd snogged four other female colleagues that same night too . . . And that he actually already had a girlfriend.

So I'm trying my best to ignore the growing buzz of tension between me and Ric. The gut feeling telling me it's only a matter of time before that line of electricity snaps. I must be imagining it. I'm deluded.

Yet, as our eyes meet and hold across the table in the pub that evening, and his lips curl into that irresistibly sexy grin, I can't deny that the spark is back. That it has actually always been there - it was just waiting for the match to ignite it.

And maybe it is just lust. But, whatever it is, I'm positive now that he feels it too. That something is going to happen.

Possibly even as soon as tonight.

When we arrived at the pub earlier, Mitch rolled his eyes as Ric introduced Lou. "Oh great, there's two of you now," he muttered, glaring at me. "First she turns up and makes us change our team name... what's next?" He turned to Lou, somewhat aggressively. "You going to put us in matching uniforms?"

Lou eyed him up and down, clearly affronted. I'd forgotten to warn her about Mitch. "What stick got up your arse?" She retorted. "Do you always attack complete strangers like this? Should I take it as a compliment that you're already this rattled by me?"

Mitch backed off, unsurprisingly. Lou was a force to be reckoned with. I'm often glad she's my sister, as I would hate to be on the wrong side of her. "Okay okay, I'm sorry," he said, holding up his hands in peace. "Can I buy you a drink to make up for it?"

"Buy me two, and you're on," Lou winked, linking arms with him as they marched to the bar. Now that part was a surprise!

"Not from the bar tab!" Ric shouted after them. "If he wants to try and win her over, he can do it with his own money," he whispered in my ear, and I felt myself shiver. I glanced up at him, and my breath hitched at the way he was looking at me. Desire pinched at my insides, and temporarily blurred my vision. Then Beth had appeared, hugging us both warmly, and the moment had passed.

But the hope lingered on.

Tonight, the subjects for each round are once again random. We've had stage names, nature, capital cities (get in!) and we've just completed the film round, and are waiting for the music portion of the quiz to begin.

We've also almost nearly used up the £100 bar tab.

Oh, and Lou and Mitch both gave up on the quiz ages ago, and are kissing frantically in a dark corner. We're all trying our best to ignore them.

"Those questions were really hard," Tom observes. "I thought we'd collectively be better at films."

"Well, Mitch is meant to be the film expert, but he's clearly otherwise engaged," Beth replies, rolling her eyes. "At least we got the Romeo & Juliet answer for sure though." She starts laughing, and nudges Ric. "I just got a flashback there to when you auditioned for Romeo in our high school production."

"Oh, don't," he groans, putting his head in his hands. "That was excruciating."

The idea of Ric auditioning for anything really tickles me for some reason. "What happened?" I ask eagerly.

"He just . . . Completely choked on stage." Beth is cracking up. "I think he fancied himself as an actor, but he was terrible. Sorry," she adds directly to Ric, as he removes his face from his palms. "But you know it's true."

His nod is accompanied by an embarrassed smirk. "I know. I long ago had to accept the fact that acting isn't a talent of mine." His dark gaze finds mine suddenly. "It still isn't," he adds quietly.

My heart must be getting better at gymnastics - it's currently executing a double backflip as the meaning behind his words sink in. The judges are holding up Olympic-winning scores, but I can't concentrate on those.

What happened on Saturday night wasn't an act.

I gulp nervously, and drop my eyes to the table. Adrenalin is tearing through my body. I can barely hear the pieces of music playing as the next round starts. My nerves are in shreds.

Ric just threw down the gauntlet. And, just for the sake of mixing a metaphor, that gauntlet is now in my court.

What the hell do I do with it?

"Okay, let's try and work out this connection," Tom says, and I realise I've completely blanked out for the entire ten song clips. I focus on the answer sheet in front of me, temporarily putting Ric's revelation to the back of my mind.

Kylie - 'Spinning Around' . . . Savage Garden - 'To the Moon and Back' . . . Tones & I - "Dance Monkey" . . . Gina G . . . INXS . . .

"They're all Australian," I blurt out, at exactly the same time as Ric. I raise my eyes to his, and there's that smile again. My heart threatens a nuclear war on itself.

Our team wins again. Even though we blew the film round, my capital city knowledge and the music connection saved us.

And then we're standing, gathering our belongings together, ready to head out into the night. To face reality.

I'm not sure I'm ready.

Lou appears beside me. "I'm going to go for a few more drinks with Mitch so I'll see you back at the flat?" I nod. Ric managed to unearth a spare set of keys for her, so at least I don't need to worry about letting her in whenever she decides to get home.

I swallow nervously though, as it hits me that our Lou Buffer has gone. Ric and I are going to be alone, with nothing but this sparkling sexual tension between us.

And suddenly the prospect of this is terrifying . . .

Ooooooh . . .