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“What happened? You were upstairs for a while.” Em crunches on a few crisps.
“I was in my underwear, and he just walked in. Like honey I’m home, and by the way, we’re dating.” I wave my arm around dramatically.
“What, really!” She snickers.
“I'm being over the top, but yes, when I mentioned that my mum had suggested we were more, he seemed to think as much.” I shake my head and pick up my wine. “I’ve known him for years, and I do love him as a friend, but I never once thought we’d ever be more.”
“No offence, he's a bit of a wimp.”
A wimp! I cough and choke, spraying wine out my nose.
Emily roars with laughter, and I do too. My nose is burning, and my eyes are watering. “You looked like a dragon,” she cries. “Wine was just,” she points to her nose, “oh my god. I'm gonna wee!” she howls.
“God, that really burnt,” I complain a few minutes later, twitching my nose.
“I'm not surprised it looked like an exorcism was taking place in your living room.” She chuckles. Well, I seemed to exorcise my mother and Marcus from my life. I will give it a few days and contact her.
“How are you feeling?”
“Sore, but it’s not throbbing as much. Elevating really helps.” Emily winces.
“Do you want more ice before I go to bed?”
“No, I'm okay. Are you sure you’re going to be okay in the shop on Tuesday? I mean, can Jeremy even work a till?” she mutters. He offered to take the day off and help me in the shop, as Emily is still resting. The doctor suggested a week’s leg rest. She is flapping and I’ve taken it on the chin. We will be busy andoverworked. I have no idea how I will manage the shop or with collecting Beau, but I’ll somehow make it work.
“Probably not, but even if he cleans up, it will help,” I muse.
“Dan has a lot to answer for!” she mutters sullenly.
“Maybe you can ask him to kiss it better,” I joke.
“I did think he was seriously hot until he knocked me over.”
“Really?” I sit up, intrigued.
“Not anymore, though. I hope he gets a flat tyre on the way to work, and he ejaculates too early with his next date.” She huffs and we burst into laughter.
Chapter Fourteen
Holly
Four Weeks Later…
We’re havingthe best evening. Em, Jer, and I have become a trio, and I'm enjoying my new life back in Richmond. The shop is doing great. I’ve patched things up with my mother. Beau is happy. I'm happy. I'm flipping great!
“Let's go in here,” Emily calls us back when we pass a brightly lit bar called The Lounge. It's a cosy setting with low sofas, hanging lights and industrial tables. It looks nice. Lively.
“Sure.” I hook arms with Jeremy, and we all make our way inside.
“Oh, I love this song!” Emily whoops and shakes her way to the bar, not a wince in sight. Her leg has healed nicely, and she carries on sashaying her way through the place, mouthing the lyrics.
“She’s so pissed.” Jeremy chuckles. I grin at him, and he takes my hand, spinning me round like a ballerina. I look more like a drunken waif as I stagger away, and he tucks me back in. Giggling, I hold on to him for support as we reach the bar. I'mdrunk too. I haven’t consumed this much alcohol since before Beau. Or actually ever! I'm drunk and happily so!
“G and T please!” I sing when I stand beside Emily. I slap my hands on the bar and frown when my fingers stick to the surface. “Gross.”
“I already ordered. Jer, did you know you have a ketchup stain on your top?” Em informs him with a slur.
He moans. “For fuck’s sake. This is new!” He scrapes the stain, but I shoo his hand away. “I look like I had a nosebleed,” he mutters, squinting at the speck on his chest. We ate dinner in Barton before having drinks and getting a taxi back to Richmond.
