‘My key.’ He grinned, waving it in the air.
‘That was for emergencies only!’ Rose cried, swatting the air in a pointless attempt to grab it from his hands. He just held it higher. At over six feet tall, he was almost a whole foot taller than Rose, and she looked like a little girl trying to grab a toy from a big boy in the playground.
‘Thiswasan emergency,’ Sam said.
‘Really?’ I raised my eyebrows at him.
‘I’ll have you know I’ve cut a very successful date short to be here tonight, with you lot.’ He glanced at the bottle in my hand. ‘And Ineedsome of that Champagne.’
I grabbed his hand and tugged his arm. ‘Come on then,’ I said, and pulled him into the kitchen, leaving Rose and Greg behind. I closed the door.
‘Erin, are you pissed?’ He peered closely at my face.
‘No! We’ve only been here a few minutes.’
‘Well what was all that about then? Why have you dragged me in here like that?’
I stuck the Champagne in the fridge and poured him a glass from the Prosecco bottle that Rose had left on the side, topped my own glass up then took a huge gulp.
‘I’ve just had one of those days,’ I said, resting my hip against the worktop.
Sam held his arms out. ‘Do you need a Sam hug?’
‘Do you know what, I really do,’ I said, and I stepped into his embrace gratefully, collapsing against him. His chest felt solid, and he smelt divine, as usual. He rubbed circles on my back until I drew away.
‘Now come on, tell Aunty Sam what’s wrong. Is it Greg?’
I shrugged and looked down at my toes. ‘Yes. No.’ I looked up at him. ‘Partly.’
‘Well that’s cleared that up.’ He smiled to show he was teasing. ‘What’s happened?’ He gasped. ‘Has he had an affair?’
‘No. Don’t be daft.’
‘No you’re right. He’d never cheat on you.’ He sighed. ‘At least that’s one good thing about marrying someone who worships you.’
‘He does not worship me.’
‘You know he does. He always has.’ He folded his arms. ‘So come on, spill. If he’s not had an affair, what’s he done?’
‘He’s been gambling again.’
‘When?’
‘Two days ago. I came home early and caught him in the act.’
‘Most women would be relieved it was only a gambling site they caught their husbands on.’
I smiled sadly. ‘I know. But he promised me, Sam. He swore he’d never do it again, never put our house or our marriage on the line again. I told him I’d leave him if he did. And yet he did it anyway.’
‘And you feel betrayed.’
‘Too right I do.’ I sighed and took another gulp of my wine.
‘And what else?’
I looked up at him. He was giving me a knowing look, and I was reminded that it could be inconvenient to have a friend who knew you as well as you knew yourself – better, sometimes.
‘Nothing else,’ I said, but even I could tell my voice was just a pitch too high, and Sam continued to watch me in silence. I let out a puff of air, and crumbled. ‘Okay, okay.’ I swallowed, unsure how to say it. Luckily Sam came to my rescue.
