No one else was there yet. Raf and Noah were both behind the bar.
Noah waved her over.
‘I’ve reserved that table over there because it’s busy this evening,’ he said. ‘And Ankita had champagne put on ice and asked for some nibbles, so I’ll bring some over in a sec.’
Georgie could see Raf out of the corner of her eye. He was doing an expert-looking cocktail shaking thing for some blatantly besotted women. She really hoped that she hadn’t looked so stupidly eyelash-fluttering when they used to talk.
She really missed his friendship.
Losing Poppy was even worse. It didn’t seem likely that Georgie would one day meet another man as stop-the-traffic gorgeous and funny and nice as Raf,ifshe was interested in meeting anyone. But there waszeropossibility that she’d ever meet another Poppy. You couldn’t replace someone you’d been best friends with since you were five years old.
They’d got the bus to school together the first time they’d gone without adults. They’d bought their first bras together, with Poppy’s mum because Georgie’s had been busy. They’d tried on their first lipsticks together. They’d got drunk for the first timetogether. And they’d told each other everything. Until now. Now it seemed that they weren’t ever going to tell each other anything again or do anything together again and ithurt, like a big, dull ache in her chest.
‘Glass of champagne?’ Raf had come over while Georgie had been staring at the table and she hadn’t noticed him.
When you hadn’t seen him up close for a few weeks his whole chiselled jaw, laughing eyes and perfectly-not-quite-too-long, thick, wavy black hair thing really made your stomach clench. Yeah, it was pretty bad not seeing him any more.
‘Yes, please. And could I have a glass of tap water as well? I’ll come to the bar to get it,’ she said in her best ‘you are just someone I vaguely know, not at all my ultimate crush’ manner.
She definitely shouldn’t drink too much or she’d end up doing something nightmarishly embarrassing, like propositioning Raf or begging Poppy through tears to be friends again. Or both.
‘No, don’t worry. I’ll bring a jug and glasses for all of you to the table.’ He turned round to go and Georgie tried not to sigh. Then he turned back round. ‘So how’ve you been? All good?’
‘Yes, great thanks.’
‘How’s Max? Still enjoying his sport?’
‘Yes, loving it. We’ve got an end of season football tour in Wales coming up, which he’s obviouslyveryexcited about.’
‘That sounds like fun. And how’s work?’
‘Yep, all good. My Year Elevens seem to be just about ready for their GCSEs, thank goodness. And what about you? Are you still enjoying your gardening leave?’
Raf had had six months off between jobs, because apparently that was what happened when hotshot lawyers switched firms, and he’d spent a lot of time in Melting with Noah and helping out in the pub, because he liked being busy.
‘Yes, I really am. I think?—’
‘Georgie!’ Ankita had erupted into the pub with Alex behind her. He looked even more perfect-for-Ankita than he had in the photos she’d sent. He was tall, broad-shouldered, handsome and justglossy-looking. And then he laughed and Georgie understood why Ankita had fallen in love with him. An immaculate-looking banker like her with more than a hint of naughtiness and a twinkle in his eye.
Georgie stood up and hugged Ankita.
‘Congratulations,’ she said. ‘I’m so excited for you.’
‘Me too,’ said Ankita. The way she’d been over Alex was possibly the least cool she’d ever been in the entire twenty-three years since Georgie had met her. It was lovely to see. ‘This is my husband.’
‘Your husband.’ Georgie gave her a big nudge. ‘You’re sooooooo grown-up.’
‘I know. Myhusband.’
‘Hey, Georgie. Pleased to meet you.’ Alex had a lovely American accent. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you. From my wife.’
‘I’m very pleased to meet you, too. Congratulations. You’re a very lucky man to have married our lovely Ankita.’
‘Yes, I am.’ Alex slung his arm round a still very un-coolly beaming Ankita’s shoulders and pulled her in for a very cute hug.
‘I really want the others to arrive so that you can tell useverything,’ said Georgie.
‘Ankita!’ Beth practically sprinted across the pub and flung herself at Ankita. Poppy was following, smiling at Ankita and not catching Georgie’s eye at all.
