“And me!” Lois replies.
“Do you drink wine, Harri?” Hannah leans over Lois to ask.
“I do. White, red, rose, as long as it’s wet.”
“Perfect! You are my sharing friend tonight then!” Hannah squeals.
“Great, I get to deal with the two winos tonight instead of the usual one.” Lois rolls her eyes and smiles.
Hannah playfully taps her hand. “Oh stop, you love it.”
Lois kisses Hannah on the nose. “I do.”
It doesn’t take long until the dark country roads start to light up with streetlamps and houses. Sam is right. Ravenswick is just a bigger version of Brindlewood. Far more houses though, including a huge church, shops, cafes, a school, a playgroundand, of course, a pub. We pull up on the side of the road. I climb out onto the cobbled pavement and wait for everyone to join me.
Looking through the windows you can see the traditional English pub is filled to the rafters with people enjoying their Saturday night. A young woman is currently on the small corner stage singing with people crowded around her singing along. Sam walks to the back of the taxi and takes his guitar out of the boot. Hannah scurries behind me and links my arm.
“Come on, Harri. We will find a table while those two get us some drinks.” She pulls me through a small group of men smoking outside and into the pub. The heat from the pub warms my bones. Chatter, song and laughter fill the air. The smell of stale beer and cigarettes are ingrained deep into the old walls and carpets of the place. I love it.
We find a table right near the stage just as the young woman is finishing her cover of “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes. The people around us clap and cheer as she takes a bow. She starts to pack up her guitar case.
Lois and Sam join us with a round of drinks. Sam notices the girl packing up her case.
“It’s Cherish. I’m just going to say hi.” He runs over to the woman on stage waving at her as he goes. I watch as she gives him a hug, and they stand chatting. I can’t hear what they are talking about, but I can feel the envy burning in my belly.
Hannah pours me a glass of wine from the bottle and hands it to me, noticing me staring.
“She’s married,” Hannah whispers to me.
“Huh?”
“You look like you want to punch her in the face. She’s married. No threat.” She smiles.
“I wasn’t… I’m not bothered if she is or not. I was just looking.” I sip my wine, not able to take my eyes off them.
Lois swigs her pint and laughs. “If you haven’t picked up onthe vibe, our Sam is very much smitten with you.”
Lois’s statement pulls me back to the table. “What?”
“And you definitely like him, right?” she asks.
“I don’t really know him that well.” I can feel the fire protruding through my cheeks.
Her grin is a telltale sign that, like Aradia, she is loving this matchmaker business. “But you fancy him, right?”
Hannah nudges Lois. “Leave her alone, Lo.”
“I’m just saying, he’s a really good guy. I just don’t want to see him get hurt.” She swigs some more of her pint and stares at me.
“I’m not trying to hurt anyone.” My brow furrows and Lois notices my defensiveness.
Her face softens. “I know you’re not, sorry. I’m just protective, you know? Sorry, Harri, it’s not my business.” She takes another drink. “I just mean that you seem really nice, and we’ve been waiting for someone like you to meet Sam.”
“Thank you, it’s sweet of you, but my life is also complicated at the moment.” I try to ease the awkwardness.
“I get that.” She nods. “Sorry if I’m too blunt sometimes. It just comes out.”
Hannah nods along to what Lois is saying. “It’s true. Lo opens her mouth before thinking all the time, but her heart is good.” She kisses Lois’s cheek.
