A visiting interstate colleague proved the stuff of Dani Netherclift’s literary daydreams – but could Al ever move beyond her couch?

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In the spring of 2004, I was working in sales in Melbourne. An IT guy was deployed from our Sydney headquarters to help set up the internet in our new office. Al had a laid-back vibe and played bass in a band and I immediately liked what I saw.

I was in my late 20s and had been single for a few years, living what I liked to think of as a kind of Secret Life of Us existence in St Kilda (it was the era), drinking, smoking, reading good literature and writing (unpublished) poetry while dreaming of perfect kisses.