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Being friends with Mark.Alex wasn’t sure she could be. Seeing him with whomever he happened to be dating at the time would be a constant reminder of what would never be. Sometimes, the best way to heal and move on was to remain strangers.
“Niamh, I don’t mean to be rude, but I have moved on. My plays are in demand. I’m working here until the end of summer. And to be fair, Mark’s moved on, too. I appreciate what you’re saying, but…I think talking will just stir up a lot of stuff that’s better left in the past.” A pang squeezed her heart. “I’m sorry.”
Niamh nodded, resigned. “I understand.”
The Sherlock theme drowned her out.
“Is that your phone, love? You ought to get that.” Niamh smiled. “And Mark will be home from the gym soon.”
Alex picked it up off the desk. “Oh, it’s London. Sorry, Niamh. I have to go. Thank you for the birthday wishes. It was lovely seeing you again.”
“Take care, darling.” Niamh waved and the tablet went black.
Alex accepted the call. “Hello?”
“Good afternoon, Alex. It’s Sue at the Lyric Hammersmith calling to confirm receipt of the final Suffragettes edits. Is now a good time to talk?”
• • •
By three-thirty P.M., Alex was nose deep in edits for Lucy’s graphic novel. She welcomed the work: it was fun and challenging, and a distraction from Niamh’s strange call.
A key clicked the lock. Her eyes didn’t leave her laptop screen. “How was the sightsee—”
“SURPRISE!” Freddie and Simon burst into the loft. “The party starts NOW!”
Alex jolted in her chair and spun around so quickly, she almost flew off.
Freddie smirked in the doorway, cradling a large box of Sprinkles cupcakes in his skinny arms. Simon filled the space behind him with a bouquet of twenty-five red balloons bobbing around his head.
“What about your meeting?” Wide-eyed and giggly, Alex leapt out of her chair towards the couple.
Simon shrugged. “I fibbed—it’s Monday morning.”
“You’re sneaky!” Alex laughed. “But I love it!”
“Not so fast…” Freddie shifted the cupcake box out of her reach, tossing his hair from his eyes.
He walked in, and Simon followed, wrestling the rambunctious balloons through the doorway, revealing…Lucy and Harry. Tied to the handle of Lucy’s case, a foil Paddington Bear balloon waved in their wake.
“No way!” Alex did a happy dance on the spot and threw her arms wide, gathering Lucy and Harry into a group hug.
Lucy beamed. “Tricked ya!” She squeezed her best friend. “You only turn twenty-five once. There was no fucking way I’d miss it.”
“Happy Birthday, Lex.” Harry kissed her on the cheek. “We’re a week early—”
“I don’t mind!” Her eyes strayed to Freddie, lifting the lid to the cupcake box. “I’m happy you’re here!” Her smile softened, allowing a shaky laugh to escape.
“You…sure?” Lucy pulled back slightly. “You preoccupied with something? Besides those chocolate cupcakes…”
Alex sunk slightly. “Mark’s mum called.”
Lucy’s face pinched. “Why?”
“What?” Freddie mumbled through a bite of cupcake. “You talked to Mark?”
“No, he wasn’t there. Was still weird, though. Niamh said something about Mark not being completely honest with me. What’s that about?”
“Fuck.” Lucy threw her hands in the air. “You don’t need that. Not on your birthday.”
“Do you know?” Alex turned to Freddie, who was licking peanut butter frosting off his fingers.
He shrugged. “Got me. You gonna call him?”
“No. Why would I do that—”
“Here’s a little birthday advice, Sparkly Girl.” Freddie placed the half-eaten cupcake back in the box. “Stop listening to your head. Listen to your heart.”
