‘Oh, Ames, you shouldn’t!’
‘You don’t know what it is yet!’
‘I know. But it looks pretty.’
She shook her head. ‘I love that you’re my friend. You’re so easy to please. I can just give you a pretty box and you’re happy. It’s great!’
I shrugged, smiled and opened the gift – a cashmere wrap that we’d oohed over online and that was just as beautiful as the wrapping that had enclosed it.
‘No Alex or Charlie yet?’ Amy asked as Matt poured them both a glass of champagne after I’d thanked them.
‘No, not yet. Alex had some mountain bike thing on today after his rest, and Charlie said he’d be here as soon as he could.’
Amy raised her glass to me. ‘Happy birthday, Libs.’
‘Thanks.’ We clinked glasses and sipped our bubbly.
‘I thought Alex might have spent the day with you. You know, young love and all that.’ She giggled.
I pulled a face. ‘A few dates is not young love, thank you very much! And for your information, he did offer but I’m up to my ears in work at the moment so taking the day off wasn’t really an option. Plus, he’d had this thing arranged before he knew it was my birthday. I’m hardly going to ask him to change it.’
This time it was Amy’s turn to pull a face. ‘I would have done,’ she said, honestly.
I laughed and glanced at Marcus.
He shrugged. ‘Guess I’m not going mountain biking on your birthday, then.’
‘Not if you want to see your next one.’
‘Fair enough.’ He grinned and kissed her on the cheek.
I rolled my eyes, but my smile told them I actually loved it.
‘Charlie!’ Liam’s voice rang out and he bounded off his chair and ran across the restaurant.
‘Hello!’ Charlie dropped to a squat and laughed as Niall caught up with his brother and they both careered full speed into him.
‘Have you brought your car?’
‘Not today, I’m afraid.’
‘Ohhh!’ they chorused, sadly.
‘Sorry about that. Another time though?’
‘Yeeaaahh!’ They jumped up and down, still half hugging him.
He stood and each boy grabbed a hand, pulling him over to show him their artwork. As he passed he raised his eyebrows at me. ‘Hello, birthday girl. Be right there.’
I grinned and made a ‘no problem’ gesture. Charlie paused briefly to place a small turquoise gift bag in front of me. Amy’s eyes widened as she mouthed the word ‘Tiffany’s!’ to me. Surprise showing on my own face, I looked back up to Charlie, but he was already being tugged away by the boys.
Movement at the door caught my eye. Alex stepped through and gave a quick recce glance before his eyes rested on me.
‘Oop. Here comes lover boy,’ Marcus whispered.
‘Oh, shush up, you.’ I laughed and rapped him on the knuckles with a breadstick before standing and going to meet Alex halfway.
‘Hello.’
