Page 72 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

‘Snotty cow,’ muttered Belle.

Amber turned to look at her, surprised. ‘Who’s Kate?’

‘Our senior journalist,’ said Molly.

‘I don’t think she’s come into the shop yet,’ said Amber.

‘Don’t expect smiles and compliments. She told me that our pub was a joke,’ said Belle. ‘I mean, she’s got a point, but nobody’s ever rude enough to say it out loud.’

‘She’s not that bad,’ said Molly, although she didn’t sound as if she meant it. ‘And Tom says she’s a really good journalist.’

‘Well, you should have told her to do her own bloomin’ photocopying,’ said Belle.

‘It doesn’t matter anyway,’ said Molly, sinking down slowly to sit on the steps of the veranda. ‘My flatmate has got her boyfriend around for a sneaky morning in bed. So she told me to hop it.’

‘How charming,’ drawled Belle. ‘You should have told her to get stuffed. It’s your flat as well.’

Molly shook her head. ‘Oh no! I can’t do that. She’s been my best friend since we first went to school.’

‘But surely your best friend would understand about you feeling hungover?’ said Amber.

Molly frowned. ‘It’s more important that she spends some time with Taylor. That’s her boyfriend. They don’t get much time together on account of his wife being around so often.’

‘Nice girl,’ muttered Belle, giving Amber a pointed look.

‘My head!’ moaned Molly, holding her forehead. ‘I don’t think I’m going to feel well ever again. What about you?’

‘Same,’ said Amber. ‘I made it downstairs and then Josh sent me outside because I looked so rough.’

‘He’s quite the he-man, isn’t he?’ said Molly, in a dreamy voice.

Amber frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I think the last time I saw you was when he was carrying you across the bridge,’ said Molly. ‘It was like something from the movies.’

Amber sat bolt upright. ‘I’d forgotten all about that!’ she gasped, horrified.

‘Wish I knew someone who could pick me up like that,’ said Belle with a sigh.

‘Oh God,’ moaned Amber, looking at the two other women in horror. ‘I hadn’t really remembered leaving the pub. How am I going to look him in the eye after that?’

‘It doesn’t matter, does it?’ said Belle, with a shrug. ‘We all made fools of ourselves. I even contemplated kissing Dodgy Del before thankfully my last shred of sanity reminded me that it was the worst idea ever.’

Molly giggled. ‘And I danced all the way down the lane before they managed to get me in the back of the taxi to take me back to the flat.’

But Amber was feeling sick to her stomach. ‘But now he’ll think badly of me. He’ll think that I’m an idiot. Which I am, obviously.’

‘What are you talking about?’ said Belle, shaking her head. ‘So you got a bit drunk and he had to carry you home? Most men I’ve dated would have let me fall into the river and then laugh at me.’

But that wasn’t what Amber was thinking. She was now remembering asking him to kiss her. She groaned and sank backwards onto the bench once more.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ urged Molly.

But Amber couldn’t do anything but feel anxious and upset about the way she had acted. The fact that Josh had rejected her on top of everything else made her feel like she had made an even bigger fool of herself.

Despite her hangover, Amber kept busy all day, managing to hide her confused feelings inside.

She would certainly be steering clear of any alcohol from this day forth. Of course, the drink was to blame. When had she ever let go like that? Made a fool of herself? Not for a very long time, she knew.