Page 125 of Never Too Late to Date

‘What proposition?’

‘We’ve been offered a spot in a major six-month tour of Europe off the back of that gig in Athens. Kicks off next month.’

He was watching her carefully, waiting for a reaction. Suzie turned away and made a big show of finding her clothes on the floor to hide her shock. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of showing him how upset she was. She’d only just found him again, and he was off. Typical Christian. Last night had been amazing, but it had to be a one-off. Letting him get close had been a mistake. Her fragile heart wouldn’t cope.

‘Sounds like an amazing opportunity.’

She pulled on her shorts and T-shirt and stuffed her underwear into her bag for a faster getaway. Breezy and unconcerned was the name of the game.

‘Six is fine, or a bit later. I’m not working tonight. Why don’t you go back to sleep.’

With that, she stepped into her sandals and closed the door behind her.

Back at her flat, after using the shower for its usual purpose, Suzie was dressed and ready when Vicky rang the bell.

‘Hi, lovely.’

‘Hi, yourself. You look well.’

The night of amazing sex would probably account for her glow, not that she was planning to reveal all to Vicky. She didn’t know how she felt about it herself, especially now it looked like she was about to lose him again.

Vicky had brought the ingredients for a simple salad, complete with juicy olives, ruby red tomatoes and fresh green cucumber, and had picked up a roasted chicken on the way, so they ate out on the balcony, pulling apart the still warm meat and letting the juices drip down their fingers. Combined with the garlicky mayonnaise that Vicky had whipped up in Suzie’s kitchen in what seemed like seconds, it was food fit for the gods. And there were shiny cherries as big as gobstoppers to follow, purple globes of sweetness.

Against her better judgement, Suzie allowed herself to be persuaded to have a glass of the rosé that she’d offered Vicky, and one had led to two. They’d chatted through the events of the last couple of days, and now, pleasantly mellow, were stretched out on the comfy chairs in the sun.

Suzie was willing herself not to fall asleep when Vicky’s hand on her arm stopped her eyes from closing.

‘I’ve got to tell you something. Something I’ve been dying to tell you in person. And now I’ve drunk enough to do it.’

It sounded serious. She hoped her friend wasn’t in trouble, or she’d changed her mind about investing in the sanctuary.

‘Fire away.’

‘I slept with Alex!’

Suzie laughed out loud. ‘And I slept with Christian!’

Vicky joined in the laughter.

‘What are we like? We both swore off men just a few months ago. The thing with Alex wasn’t planned, I can tell you.’ Vicky’s voice changed from shocked to dreamy. ‘But it was amazing.’

‘Good on you. Mine wasn’t planned, either. But also amazing.’

Vicky sat up with a jolt.

‘Was it last night? After that incredibly sexy karaoke performance?’

Suzie nodded, suddenly shy.

‘That explains the glow then. What happens next?’

‘No idea. It sounds like he’s off on tour next month. So probably nothing. We’ll just leave it as a very pleasant memory.’

Suzie tried her best to make her voice sound upbeat, but Vicky gave her a hard stare.

‘Is nothing what you want?’

‘I really don’t know what I want. He’s coming round for a drink later, so I’ll find out more about his plans. What about you?’