Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Chapter 18
‘Here she is!’ Lizzy shouts as I wander into the champagne bar, spotting them all perched on tall stools around a bar table. Micky waves me over, pointing to a stool with a glass of wine on the table in front of it. ‘Good boy, Micky,’ I praise him, landing on my seat with a thud.
‘You okay?’ he asks, giving me a once-over. I don’t know how good a job I did of fixing my face in the cab, but I’m guessing even with perfect make-up right now, my distress would still be detectable.
‘I’m fine,’ I say, holding up a hand to halt Lizzy when she goes to speak. She snaps her mouth shut on a pout and watches as I neck my wine. ‘Just fine,’ I repeat, slamming my glass down.
Nat, Micky and Lizzy all regard me carefully for a moment. ‘Fine.’ I breathe in and out, in and out.
‘She’s fine,’ Lizzy says slowly, nodding her head at me. ‘You sure?’
I nod back. ‘Just an arsehole taxi driver.’
Lizzy rolls her eyes. ‘So let’s get my news out of the way.’ She sits up straight, and everyone else at the table looks at her. She begins to fidget. ‘Well,’ she begins, focusing on her wine glass. ‘I have something to tell you all, but before I do, I want to make it clear that I’ve thought long and hard about it and I’d appreciate your support.’
We all noticeably sit back on our stools, and I look to each of my friends, trying to figure out their thought processes. They look intrigued, like me.
‘I’m back with Jason,’ she blurts out before scooping up her drink and downing the lot, shrinking on her stool.
Realisation dawns on me. ‘That’s who you were meeting for dinner!’ I say. ‘Jason.’ No wonder she’s been so cagey.
She shrugs. ‘I agreed to meet him, yes. I didn’t see the point in mentioning it because I thought I’d tell him to be on his way and that would be that. But seeing him again, seeing how guilty he feels . . . I love him.’ She shrugs. ‘You can’t turn that off.’
When the atmosphere becomes unbearably awkward, I dive right in and reach across the table, taking her hand. ‘Do what makes you happy,’ I say, wholeheartedly meaning it.
Tears of relief flood her eyes and her lips press together to the point they’re white. She can’t speak, bless her, so she nods in return. I feel terrible for her. I saw how cut up she was when she found out about Jason’s affair, and I damned the woman who’d walked uninvited into her life. A woman like me.
Giving Nat a discreet kick under the table, I sit back and let her do her bit, though it’s plain to see that she’s significantly less enthusiastic about it than me. Poor Micky, however, just watches as us girls do our girlie shit. ‘I might go meet the lads,’ he mumbles, rolling his eyes.
‘In other news.’ Nat raises her glass, grinning wickedly, and I wonder for a fleeting moment if she’s perhaps decided to give John a break. Then I remember the chewing gum incident with his kid and dismiss the thought immediately. Her hair has a way to go before it’s back to its former long, luscious glory. ‘I’ve joined a dating agency.’ There are a few funny looks tossed around the table before we all burst into fits of laughter. ‘What?’ Nat asks, disgruntled. ‘At least I can make it clear what’s acceptable and what’s not.’
‘Like kids?’ Lizzy asks, dismayed.
‘Just like kids,’ Nat confirms. ‘Fathers need not apply.’
‘Holy shit,’ Micky breathes, exasperated. ‘Can we talk about football before my balls shrivel to nothing?’
I laugh and reach over to pinch his cheek. ‘You’ll fall in love one day.’
He scoffs, disgusted by the suggestion. ‘There’s a reason you and I are still friends, and it ain’t because you have photo evidence of me dressed up as He-Man brandishing a rolling pin as a sword.’
Right. Apparently we’re friends because we’re both allergic to relationships. He’s talking nonsense, obviously. We’re actually friends because we’ve known each other since day one, but that knowledge doesn’t stop me from wilting. I swallow hard and divert my attention away from him, suddenly remembering why I’m clinging to my wine glass like it’s a life jacket. Then I notice it’s empty. I grab the bottle from the middle of the table. Get plastered. Drown the memories in alcohol.
‘He-Man?’ Nat chimes in. ‘You dressed up as He-Man?’ She jumps down from her stool and throws an imaginary sword in the air. ‘I have the power!’ she roars, before folding in half in fits of laughter with Lizzy.
It’s a while before they look at me in question, like why am I not laughing? I shrug. I have nothing to give in the humour department, despite my life being a fucking joke.