AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Stepping into Jaz’s lounge with her hair loose around her shoulders, she put a hand on her hip. ‘It’s a bit glam for the pub.’
‘Rubbish, you can never be too glam.’
‘This is all mad. Totally mad. I should be in bed.’
‘Maybe true. But Dr Jaz says let your hair down.’
They steppedout of Jaz’s apartment block which was in a low-rise development, a stone’s throw from the Cathedral and market square. Holly pulled a thin blue pashmina close to her body tripping along in the heels, hoping she wouldn’t twist her ankles on the cobbles.
Jaz caught her arm. ‘They’re not even high, hun. We should have practiced.’
As they walked into the pub, Holly noticed several guys turn their heads in their direction.
‘Just like the old days,’ Jaz said. ‘Always a good move to be best friends with the hottest girl in town.’
Holly shook her head. ‘I’m not hot.’
Jaz laughed. ‘You so are.’
Holly scanned the room. ‘This is awful, Jaz. They’re all staring.’
‘Of course they’re gawping, you’re a stunner.’ Jaz put her arm on Holly’s back. ‘Relax, you clearly haven’t been out for ages. Enjoy yourself. Have a bit of fun.’
Holly noticed a man smiling at her from the bar.
‘He seems familiar,’ Jaz said.
He had neat fair hair and Holly vaguely recognised him. ‘I can’t place him.’
‘Maybe he’s someone off TV?’ Jaz said.
‘When do you ever watch TV? You’re always at work,’ Holly said with a laugh. ‘He’s probably someone from school.’
‘Trust me, I knew a lot of the boys from school and he’s not one of them.’ Jaz smiled at the man.
He waved.
Two suited men approached and chatted to Jaz, she flashed a big smile at the guys then turned to Holly. ‘These guys are two of my work colleagues. They’re getting a bottle of bubbly to celebrate my award.’
The man at the bar saluted Holly before turning back to his drink.I definitely recognise him,she thought.
Holly and Jaz sat at a table and were soon joined by Jaz’s colleagues. Holly stifled a yawn, her throat felt sore and she wished she had stayed at home. She pondered on the word home. She of course was now homeless.
Jaz belly-laughed, pushing one of the guys on the shoulder. One of the men walked around and sat beside Holly. She tried to show interest as he threw quick-fire questions at her.
‘What do you do? Where do you live? Any kids?’
She gave brief answers: ‘This and that, Eversley and No.’ She wanted to escape. ‘I just have to pay a visit.’
Holly made her way across the room towards the toilets, her ankles wobbling in her shoes as she trotted across the stone floor.
She took a lot longer than was necessary in the ladies, deciding to make her excuses when she returned to the table. As she passed the bar, the guy she thought she recognised walked up to her.
‘Holly, it must be like ten years and you’ve not changed a bit.’ He looked her up and down.
Holly scratched her head and bit her lip.
He laughed. ‘It’s me – Ethan, from college.’
