‘Holly, you are on fire!’ Angel says, as I complete another circuit of press-ups, pop squats, lunges, planks, burpees and skipping in record time, determined to banish Angus from my thoughts. ‘Go, Laurie,’ Angel encourages, watching her jogging towards us after doing a lap around the park, to the tennis courts and back. ‘Quick water break,’ Angel suggests, ‘then I want you on your mats again. It’s time for some downward dog. Angus, get off your phone!’
‘Yes, get off your phone,’ Laurie mimics.
‘I got it,’ he says, eyes widening in disbelief. He turns to Laurie and me. ‘I got it!’
‘Got what?’ Laurie asks.
My smile mirrors his. ‘You got it?’
He nods.
‘Oh my God, he got it!’ I shout to Angel and Laurie.
Angel places her hands on her hips. ‘Have you got any idea what they’re on about, Laurie?’
‘None,’ she replies. They laugh, watching Angus and me jump up and down together, hugging like excited children. ‘Whatever he got, I want it too,’ Angel says.
‘Me too,’ Laurie agrees.
After we say goodbye to Laurie at the shelter, Angus walks me back to the office. ‘Thank you,’ he says.
‘You don’t need to thank me.’
‘You gave me the shove I needed. You were the one who saw this job opening. I wouldn’t have got it if it weren’t for you, Holly. I wouldn’t be here, if it wasn’t for you.’
‘Oh, stop it, my head’s getting big,’ I say. ‘Carry on,’ I add, nudging him.
‘Let’s go out tonight. Let me take you out, my shout, to celebrate? And I promise you I won’t forget my wallet.’
I smile. ‘You don’t need to do that.’
‘I know, but I want to.’
My head tells me to say no but my heart is in the lead. ‘Oh.’ I place a hand over my mouth. ‘I forgot. I have a date.’
‘Cancel it. Get your dad to fall down the stairs again. He needs to be more careful, your dad. Cut down on the sherry.’
‘Whisky. I don’t know.’ Maybe I should say no?
‘Let’s go dancing,’ Angus continues.
‘I haven’t done that for years.’
‘Precisely.’
‘OK.’ I’m still unsure. Part of me is thinking I should go on my date.
‘We can ask Laurie and Ian,’ Angus says, his mind racing on ahead as he sends Laurie a text, and I notice I feel disappointed, unsure I want them to crash our date. But then it’s not a date, Holly. I feel torn. Maybe I shouldn’t cancel my original plans? I can celebrate Angus’s new job another time. He can go out with the others. Though maybe it would be more fun to go out dancing with everyone? Let’s face it, the next date is bound to be as disappointing as the last one, and then I’ll be sitting at home, alone, wishing I’d made a better choice.
‘I’m going to call Scottie and Nina too,’ he says, before sensing my hesitation. ‘Weren’t you the one who said life is too short? Come on, Holly, we deserve some fun, don’t we?’
26
‘Hope the date goes well,’ Milla says as I’m getting ready to go to an 80s-inspired nightclub in Fulham. I’m wearing a raspberry pink and orange-coloured retro print halter-neck dress which I wore at Milla’s fortieth birthday party almost five years ago, which I haven’t worn since, along with my knee-high black leather boots.
‘I’m not going,’ I tell Milla, trying to sound casual. ‘I’m going out with Angus.’
‘Oh right. How come?’ she asks, trying to sound equally as casual.
