Page 37 of Brighter Together

“Glass?”

“Yes, please.”

“Good answer.” She fills one and passes it across to me.

I laugh and take a sip.

Tommy gestures around the table.

“Right. You know these three troublemakers.”

Christina puts a hand to her chest. “I’m offended.”

“You’ll recover,” he chuckles.

He points towards the man beside Emma.

“That’s Alex. Carpenter, mountain rescuer for almost as long as me and incapable of not gossiping.”

Alex raises his pint. “Don’t listen to him. I’m an excellent secret keeper.”

Tommy ignores him and instead points at a blond guy.

“Phil. Handyman at a National Trust property, the calm one in our FMR unit and proof that Christina can wear down absolutely anyone eventually.”

Christina beams. “He loves it.”

Phil takes a drink before mumbling. “I’ve accepted my fate.”

“Same thing,” Christina waves him off before pressing a kiss to his lips.

Tommy points across the table.

“Nick. Primary school teacher, climbing obsessive and incapable of leaving food alone for more than five minutes.”

Nick looks down at the packet of crisps in his hand.

“I’ve had a long day.”

“You always have a long day when there’s food involved.”

Nick shrugs. “Fair. It’s nice to meet you, Ella. Charlotte has told me a lot about you.”

Charlotte curls up against his chest and adds, “Only that we had a lovely lunch.”

I take that as her gentle way of telling me our conversation about Tommy wasn’t mentioned, although I’m not entirely sure I believe her.

Tommy gestures farther along the table.

“This is Rob. Librarian by day, prankster the rest of the time.”

Rob lifts one hand in greeting from where he’s sitting with one leg stretched awkwardly beneath the table, his crutches propped against the wall beside him.

“He’s also currently the least useful member of Fellside Mountain Rescue,” Nick laughs.

Rob raises his middle finger but the woman sitting beside him laughs before swatting his arm.

“This is Olivia, who has somehow decided this idiot is worth keeping,” Tommy chuckles.