Page 125 of So, I Met This Guy . . .

‘Crikey, can you imagine, over all those rose petals?’

‘Mopping it up with a swan-shaped towel?’

They both looked at each other, imagining – it was all so comically awful – then drank more champagne. It was going down surprisingly well.

‘Then I hiked up a volcano in Sicily –’

‘– and I made lasagne with The Godmother –’

‘– and in Mallorca Mags got her bag stolen along with her phone.’

‘So I lost his number.’

‘They’d been texting each other. I had no idea.’

‘I was going to confront him; he was right there, sitting in the bar where we’d arranged to meet, but then I hit my head and got concussion and had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance –’

‘– only I didn’t know any of this as my boyfriend had surprised me by flying out to propose, but instead we broke up –’

‘She did the right thing.’

‘But then in Ibiza we went clubbing.’

‘Fourteen euros for a bottle of water, George. It was crazy!’

‘And I got totally out of it and ended up in bed with one of my girlfriends.’

‘And she told me the man who’d broken my heart was her dad.’

‘A romance fraudster who ruins women’s lives.’

‘And The Biggest Mistake of My Life.’

‘So there you have it.’

They both stopped talking and turned to George, who’d been sitting, pinned to the velvet sofa, gripping the armrest. He stared at them in stunned silence.

‘Well, say something,’ urged Maggie.

There was a pause, then, draining the rest of his glass, he slammed it on the table.

‘Fuck me,’ he said, shaking his head in disbelief, before breaking into one of his classic wicked grins. ‘This is better than Love Island!’

An Unexpected Question

A second bottle of champagne later, Flick and Maggie had finished answering all of George’s numerous questions.

‘That’s all happened in a week?’ Letting out a low whistle, he rubbed his temples, sweeping his dark hair off his forehead. ‘I’ve barely had time to do my laundry and go to the gym. You must be exhausted.’

But Maggie shook her head. ‘You know the funny thing? I was more tired sitting in my caravan all day, doing nothing.’

‘Yeah, me too,’ agreed Flick. ‘I felt the same sitting at my desk at work.’

‘I have to say, you both look pretty fabulous considering. Especially you.’ He nodded at Maggie. ‘Flying here, I was worried it was going to be less of a birthday celebration and more of a rescue mission to bring you back home. I mean, seriously, the last time we WhatsApped you looked terrible.’

‘Thanks, George. I’ll take that as a compliment.’

‘Anytime,’ he winked.