He really liked Lucy. And I’d been too wrapped up in my own stuff to notice. ‘You should talk to her.’
He shook his head. ‘How do you think that would go?’
‘You don’t know till you’ve tried.’ I was being a hypocrite – I’d never managed to tell Simon.
‘She probably thinks I’m too fat or bald or short.’
Gav was really wallowing now.
‘You’re none of those things.’ I turned to face him. ‘But if it helps, I’m sort of smitten with someone who only thinks of me as a friend.’
His eyes widened. ‘Really? Is it that Nick bloke?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Who then?’
‘No one you know.’
‘What a couple of saddos we are.’
Jesus, you try to help someone...
‘Anyway, it will all be forgotten in a couple of days.’
He looked at me skew-whiff. ‘If you like this guy, it will take time to get over him. There’s no short cut. You have to feel your feelings.’
But what if I didn’t want to feel my feelings?
I attempted a smile. ‘Or there’s always alcohol.’
Gav didn’t smile back; he looked pensive. Why had he gone all serious? I didn’t need pity. My muscles were straining, but I widened my smile. Feelings safely boxed away; nothing to see here.
He awkwardly patted my knee. ‘You’re always here for us, you need to know that we’re here for you too.’
Why wasn’t he letting this go? ‘You’re overreacting, Gav. It’s nothing I can’t handle.’ If I could convince him, maybe I could convince myself.
‘Bullseye!’ came a shout from the corner. Snooker Man had moved on to imaginary darts. He spun in a circle, pumping his fist. The fool looked so happy in his little dream world.
Any chance there was space in there for two?
