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After I drop Camille off, I park my car at my cottage and walk to the Rose and Crown. I can't wait for a nice pulled pint and a plate of real food, and not the salad and grilled chicken they served at the dinner tonight. I'm not surprised to see Louis already there when I walk in. I let the smells of yeasty, musty upholstery wash over me and bask in the uniquely concentrated time warp that exists in English pubs. We used to come here together before he left to pursue his career in set design. Now that he's in Paris, these visits are rare and precious. He waves me over and pulls the stool out as I approach.
"You look like you've just marched in the Battle of the Bulge. What the hell's the matter?" He shouts in my ear.
"You don't want to know and you wouldn't understand. You've had nothing but good luck with women," I say glumly and signal to Ryan the barkeep to give me my regular.
"Hey gov. Haven't seen you in a while. Welcome home." He says as he drops my pint of the ice cold, frothy topped answer to all my problems in front of me.
"Traveling, working but it's good to be home." Villages are like large families. Most people are born, raised and die in their village and the pub is the center of the community. I glance around, "Where are your mates? Simon, and what's the other one's name, Dave?"
"Dean. They're coming. They had children to tuck in and women who needed some attention before they could tramp down to join us."
"Where's Camille?" He asks and when my only response is to take a huge gulp of beer, he bursts out laughing.
"Listen, she seems nice, but it's so obvious you're not into her. And seriously, she's so obviously a title hunter it's a little embarrassing. I think Freya's quest to see you married is misguided."
"Do you? What? You think I'm not the marrying type?"
"Of course, you are. More than I am, even. If I hadn't met Cara, no way would I be letting myself be frogmarched up the aisle." He rubs his hands together and licks his lips in anticipation, completely belying his statement.
It's my turn to laugh.
"Yeah, that woman is forcing you up the aisle." I scoff and laugh at him. "You're running so fast to the altar that she's struggling to keep up with you."
He shrugs and grins like an idiot
"Yeah, I can't wait to marry her. I almost lost her, Harry. I fucked up so badly at one point that she left me and I had to move heaven and earth to get her back. From the first time I kissed her, I knew she was going to wreck me."
"Oh great, is he waxing poetic over Cara again?" Simon's voice interrupts us.
"Does he ever stop?" I joke and clap him on the back.
"Oh, shut up, you two. Dean, you understand, don't you?" He turns to the blond, very tall man whose face I've seen on magazines I subscribe to regularly. He's Mr. GQ, literally.
"Oh, do I ever. I'm not the least bit ashamed of the fact that I'm crazy about my woman and if she hadn't practically pushed me out of the door tonight, I'd be with her instead of you guys."
I roll my eyes. "Great, I'm surrounded by love sick losers. Simon, please chime in to complete the trio." The three of them laugh and I can't control the spurt of envy that wells up in my gut. I want that. The woman I want it with is a deceitful shrew who is with someone else. I know how to pick them.
I look past him, “Where’s your brother?”
“He’s passed out in his room. He’s in his last year of grad school and he’s been working hard.” His voice is tinged with pride.
The two stragglers order their beers and I pull my phone out to check my email quickly. Louis plucks it from my fingers and drops it in his pocket. "Not tonight. Dairy stocks aren't going to plummet if you look away from your phone for a few hours."
"I just need to check on a shipment we're expecting tomorrow." I protest.
"No mate, you don't. What you need to do is drink that pint and then order another one. If Dean, Simon and I can neglect our work for an evening, then so can you." He says pointedly. "Ryan bring us another round and let's chase those with some shots of whisky."
"Damn, Louis - take it easy, tomorrow’s got an early start.” I say to him.
"Well then we better get to drinking.”
"You guys,” Simon exclaims, “we should hook Harry up with Lilly."
“Keep walking, it’s fucking freezing,” Louis says when Simon slows down.
We stumble up the road towards the house. We're all drunk enough to think walking home in this freezing cold is a good idea, and sober enough to actually to do it.
"Isn't she here with someone?" I ask grateful they brought this up because it saved me outing myself.
