‘They won’t be in bed,’ Noelle drawled. ‘They’ll be sitting in your living room planning their own night of disreputabul…disreputal…’ She shook her head, giving up on the word. ‘The stag night. Plus, they’ll be staying up to know we got home safely. Proper gentlemen aren’t they, Beth? Their mama raised them right.’
Beth made a dreamy noise in her throat.
Noelle giggled and leaned in to Ash’s shoulder, trying to whisper and failing abysmally. ‘I don’t think she’s thinking about how much of agentlemanNick is, do you?’
‘I heard that.’ Beth bent forward to spear Noelle with a look. ‘You’re one to talk. Noelle’s never heard of TMI.’
‘Me? Never. Have I told you all about my boyfriend, Ash? Have I been bending your ear non-stop about how sexy and smart and generous he is, not to mention absolutely amazing at—’
‘No,’ Ash interrupted. ‘No. You have not. But you were about to.’
‘Right. Okay. Consider my lips zipped. God, being in love and drunk is a recipe for being completely frigging annoying isn’t it?’
‘Neither of you are annoying me. I promise.’ Ash squeezed their shoulders. ‘It’s been such a fun night. Do you feel ready to kiss the single life goodbye, Beth? Has it been a good send-off?’
‘It’s been amazing, butthisisn’t going to change. Not any more than it already did as we’ve been getting older and going off, doing our own things. We’ll still meet up for girls’ nights out and coffee and gossip. This is more like a celebration or a…a renewal of our friendship vows! Just because I’m getting married, doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate my fabulous friends who have always been there for me, and we’ll keep being there for each other.Whateverhappens with the men in our lives.’
‘Oh yes, I love that.’ Noelle broke free but only to throw her arms around them in a group hug. Ash felt herself warming from the inside despite the freezing weather. She squeezed them back.
As they approached the house she smiled at the sight of the lights on down the road. It was so pretty and colourful, lighting her way home. And Nan had even left them on. That was a surprise. Had she done that for Ash to see or just forgotten to turn them off on her way to bed? Oh no, maybe she’d fallen asleep on the sofa or something.
Ashleigh slowed her pace. ‘Ladies,’ she said. ‘Shit. I forgot. My nan. We can’t wake her up. She’s not been well.’
‘Oh right. Of course.’ Beth put her hand to her head. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll text Nick and Stephen and they’ll be here super quick. We can just sit outside until they get here?’
‘Sure. It’s really not that cold. You should try a New York winter.’ Noelle nodded. ‘We’ll huddle together for warmth.’
‘Or you could come and wait in here,’ a soft French voice said from behind them and Ashleigh’s tummy swooped like she’d just missed a step.
They turned and she realised they’d stopped right outside Olivier’s house and he was standing in the doorway, one shoulder leaning against the doorframe as soft light spilled out of his hallway.
‘Who is this man, Ashleigh? Do you know him? Do I need to get my pepper spray out?’ Noelle started rummaging in her bag, but Ashleigh stilled her new friend’s hands.
‘Yeah, I know him. This is Olivier and he’s a good one – you don’t need that.’ She smiled at him and he returned a shy smile. Yes – she might have a bunch of questions about things between them at the moment but that was one thing she knew for definite – he was a good one.
