‘Pete, it’s been a hell of a day. I think I need to go home.’ Now was his cue to stop her if he was going to .?.?.
‘I’ll have my phone on if you need me.’
That was definitely a boundary – she’d need a serious reason to contact him, not just some flirty text.
* * *
Going home on a steamy, crowded Luas, despite the clenched feeling in her stomach (delayed shock, probably), she made peace with the fact that Pete was currently in her ‘what can you do?’ category. So, in a bid to take positive action somewhere in life, she texted Rosemarie, who’d been sitting with Fergus in A&E for hours.
Hiya, what’s happening?
Great. Still here. ??
Ally pinged back a smile emoji. Clearly, they were making the best of it.
That evening, she sat cross-legged on a cushion opposite the fish tank, munching a brie, ham and pickled-pear toasted baguette (delicious), accompanied by a giant mug of tea. The fish companionably nibbled away at their crumbs of food, although she did notice that Sally was looking a little chunky. In fact, for a fish, she was looking feckin’ huge. So, either she’d been elbowingHarry out of the way at dinner time, or else .?.?. could there be some new arrivals due at the aquarium? Boy and girl fish .?.?. Was it really so surprising? Crikey, she thought, even my pet fish have a better sex life than me.
* * *
She woke the following morning to a grey sky, with a blanket of glumness covering her. Why? she asked herself. Nothing awful had happened .?.?. had it? Count your blessings, she instructed herself. At least herself and Rosemarie weren’t like a pair of pressed daisies this morning. She pulled her phone out from under her pillow (bad habit, must add to New Year’s resolutions list) and thought that, as a good friend, she should check in on Rosemarie to make sure Fergus had been seen to and was once again a happy camper.
Hi wot time u get home? Is foot broken? ?
Unusually, there was a lull before the reply came.
?? ?? Simple break, no op. whoop whoop
There was something in the tone of the reply that felt, well, proprietorial, like this was their shared ankle. Wow, that was quick. She also felt a flash of panic. What if Rosemarie really had found someone? Such thoughts felt really selfish, because it’d been the other way round for years. She’d be delighted for her best friend, she really would .?.?. but what would she do without her? Oh God, time for Shower Wisdom. She stood under the stream of hot water and let her thoughts wander .?.?. What goodthings had she done? She’d been instrumental in her best friend getting together with her crush (haha, bad-taste pun), and that was a good thing. She’d also given her two fish a forever home, so that was another win, plus she’d recycled all her wine bottles to help save the planet. What more could be asked of her?
She mooched around the apartment, listlessly clutching a mug of cold coffee. If yesterday had felt like a roller coaster, then today felt like the end of the ride, when everyone else had got off, leaving her alone and stranded. Just then her phone rang. Gratefully, she crossed the space between the bedroom and the kitchen in two bounds; it was Rosemarie.
‘Hiya, how’s it goin’?’ Ally panted.
‘Great, ssssh, he’s gone to make tea for us so I’m phoning you, but I might have to go suddenly.’
‘Right .?.?.’ said Ally, feeling a bit unsure about this new version of Rosemarie.
‘Do you want some good news? You can stop wondering. I found out the pattern on his duvet cover! It’s sort of geometric, in shades of navy.’
‘Very heterosexual.’ Ally laughed. ‘But .?.?. was it not awkward to .?.?. I mean .?.?. is he even able to walk?’
‘Well, you see, that wasn’t really a problem because I went on—’
‘OK, OK, got it .?.?. got it .?.?.’ Ally laughed again, although that bubbling-over happiness felt a bit like a knife in the ribs for a Sunday morning solo surfer. Rosemarie, in fairness, might have picked that up.
‘So, anyway, how’re you?’
‘Well, Pete and I talked for a long time after he got back. It was a really good talk, but then .?.?. nothing. I don’t know, Rosemarie, you got a chance to see him, what do you think?’
‘He’s a good boss, tough but fair .?.?. William is a sweetheart, though, and he does like you.’
Oh no, she was talking about William as though she was his friend’s girlfriend who was rooting for him .?.?. being protective. What about me? she wanted to shout. You’re supposed to be Team Ally!
‘Oh, listen .?.?. I think I can hear him coming. Anything else?’
‘I think my fish is pregnant.’
Normally, that would have been the trigger for a lengthy analysis.
