Luckily, I had bought a massive lemon cheesecake, and after two slices, Gav’s injured pride was restored.
I was in the kitchen making another round of teas and coffees when I noticed a text from Nick. He was asking for my address so he could pick me up later. I texted back without thinking much of it, but as I rinsed everyone’s mugs, Nick’s suggestion niggled me.
When I realised why, I rang him.
‘Why would you want to come to Shepherd’s Bush?’
‘Excuse me?’
‘You said you had a meeting in London Bridge beforehand.’
‘Oh, right. Yes. My meeting got cancelled.’
He sounded off, but I had no idea why. He wasn’t really treating this like a date, was he?
‘Let’s just meet by the river at half seven.’
‘Whatever you prefer.’
We rang off just as Lucy walked into the kitchen.
‘Everything okay, boss?’
She must have noticed me frowning. ‘I’m fine.’
Was Nick being weird or was I imagining it?
Lucy opened the fridge to get the milk. ‘He’s such a sore loser.’
‘Who is?’
‘Gav, of course. Who else?’
She then proceeded to give me a litany of Gav’s complaints, the first of which was that he’d come without his lucky dice.
When we returned to the living room we were shocked to find Jody in floods of tears.
‘What have you done now, Gavin?’ said Lucy, sharply.
I have to admit, I’d had the same thought. Ayisha and Rob had left soon after the game ended and Mike had stepped out for a cigarette break. Gav was the prime – and sole – suspect.
He shook his head in protest. ‘All I did was ask if she’d like to finish my cheesecake – she hasn’t had any and I felt bad having a third slice.’
I went to sit next to her. ‘What’s wrong, Jody?’
‘It’s not Gavin,’ she said, between sniffles. ‘I got dumped – by text.’
I rubbed her shoulder. ‘Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.’
‘What, just now?’ Gavin had taken a new interest. ‘That’s low.’
Lucy arrived with a tissue. ‘Here you go, Jodes.’
She dried her eyes. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin everyone’s fun.’
‘You’re not ruining anything,’ I told her. ‘You’re allowed to cry if you feel like it. Do you want to talk about it?’
Her hazel eyes were ringed with red. Without make-up she looked so young – barely into her twenties.
