It was posted earlier today, the likes already pouring in as her friends wish them all the best in a conveyor belt of congratulations.
And what stings the most is I know who her fiancé is. He’s the man who Clara had been secretly seeing the entire time we were together. A sharp intake of breath and another sip of my drink. An elephant has just walked straight into this bar. Alice is on her way and Istillhaven’t told her about my messy last relationship.
Alice brings a waft of fresh air with her as she sits down next to me, her face breaking into a huge smile as she spots the two empty glasses on the table. ‘Easy tiger! Did I take so long that you had to drink all the cocktails?’
‘Ah, sorry,’ I say, attempting to laugh back. ‘I was thirsty. Let me get some more.’ I head over to the bar and order the same again, my head feeling slightly woozy from necking two drinks in quick succession. ‘They’re called Hugos. I thought you might like them because they contain lots of things you can grow,’ I explain when I get back.
‘Zach, that’s sweet,’ she says, taking a sip. ‘Mmm, it’s good.’
She looks even prettier this evening. Her hair falls around her shoulders and she’s wearing a navy silk shirt with yellow polka dots tucked into loose-fitting jeans, a pair of butterscotch block heels on her feet.
I crack my knuckles, willing the tension I can feel throughout my body to dissipate.
‘Are you okay?’ She asks tenderly. ‘You seem a little on edge.’
Pull yourself together, Zach.
‘I’m fine thanks,’ I nod, trying to soak up Alice’s positivity. Why am I letting Clara get to me like this. She’s in the past.
‘Okay. Everything all right in the studio?’
‘Um, yeah, it went well actually. Thanks. How was your day?’ I ask, trying to shift the conversation away from me. There’s no point dwelling on this, I tell myself.
Alice claps her hands together, excitement lighting up her face. ‘Remember that bride I mentioned to you this morning? We had the best meeting. She brought her fiancé too and they were just the cutest couple. And they’re keen, too. They only got engaged on Friday but she’s already so on it, she’s got a clear vision of what she wants and the best bit is that she’s a fashion director, so this could have a massive impact for my business.’
A fashion director who got engaged only a few days ago? You’ve got to be kidding me.
Alice is asking me if I’ve heard of the magazine where she works, which of course I have. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, willing this conversation to move in a different direction.
‘So anyway,’ Alice charges on, ‘she found my work through an interior blogger they featured in the mag, who I’ve collaborated with before. How cool is that? So she’s already been into the shop and knows that I get booked up quickly, especially during wedding season, which is why she got in touch so fast. This could be huge exposure for the shop, Zach. She’s super influential and I already know that their wedding is going to be stunning.’
She pauses to take a sip of her drink and I find myself unable to think of anything to say.
‘They’re such a sweet pair. They decided to make it Instagram official this afternoon, just before our meeting, and she kept checking her phone and getting all excited when she saw the comments coming in.’
My ex is getting married and the woman I’m now seriously into is doing the wedding flowers. I can’t believe this is happening – just as I was over it and finally moving on too.
Alice is so full of enthusiasm and I shake my head, hoping to shift the thundercloud that’s gathered there, but it’s not working. I’ve just found myself slap bang in a very awkward situation.
‘That sounds good,’ I say trying to muster some enthusiasm to support Alice on her important new client.
Alice takes a long sip of her drink.
‘Zach, I feel like I’m missing something. You seem … off. Is there something on your mind or are you annoyed with me because I’m late?’
‘No, it’s not that.’
‘Because it was only twenty minutes!’
‘Like I said, it’s not that.’
‘Well, what is it then?’ She bristles. ‘Am I boring you with my work chat? You’ve barely said a word to me since I got here.’
‘I’m not the same as you, Alice,’ I find myself snapping. ‘I’m not always full of the joys of spring, okay?’
Alice flinches.
Stop being such an idiot.
