Do things that scare you.
‘Fine,’ she groaned, stuffing her phone back into her bag and pushing all thoughts of Kate’s wedding out of her mind.
*
‘Good morning, love of my working life. How are we?’ Sal planted herself and two large coffees down next to Eleanor.
‘Miserable and already loathing every second spent in this office,’ Eleanor fired back grimly. Every week she tried to convince herself that she could pretend to love her job. And if not love, then at least not despise, but the moment she set foot in the office come Monday, the lack of fulfilment and the despair would strike.
‘Ah, the joys of another week,’ Sal replied sarcastically. ‘But remember, things could always be worse,’ she bleated cheerfully.
Eleanor narrowed her eyes suspiciously. ‘Wow, someone is feeling bright and breezy today.’ Sal was not a morning person and she was especially not a Monday morning person.
‘Is it a crime to want to bring a little positivity into my best girl’s life?’ Sal grinned widely.
Eleanor stopped typing and turned in her chair to take in her friend fully. ‘I know you’re up to something. Tell me!’
Sal clasped her chest in mock offence. ‘Me? Up to something? How dare you accuse me of such things.’
‘Because the only time you’re in this mood is when you’re drunk, you’ve had sex, or you’re plotting something wicked.’
Sal laughed so loudly that Doreen, her boss’s assistant, nearly fell out of her seat. There was nothing small or subtle about Sal. She was bold and brash and filled up every inch of space that she could. Eleanor admired her for it. In fact, it was one of the main reasons why she loved her so much.
‘I wish I’d had sex, and part of me kind of wishes I was drunk. Mondays suck.’ She frowned. ‘But you’re right, as always. Although I wouldn’t call itplotting. I simply have a proposal for you. Please think about it and don’t just say no straight away …’
Realization struck Eleanor, and before Sal could even utter another word, she turned her head back to her computer and began typing furiously.
‘No. No. Absolutely not.’
‘Comeon, you don’t even know what I’m going to say yet.’ Sal pulled her back round to face her.
‘Let me guess. You know this guy who just happens to be single and available and oh … guess who else is single? Me! Could it be that you want to set us up on a date?’
‘Now, why on earth would you think I’d do something like that?’ Sal frowned.
‘Because you’re Sally Moreno, my bullish, stubborn and determined-for-me-to-be-happy best friend?’ Eleanor smiled affectionately. ‘And I can read you like a book.’
‘You forgot the bit about me knowing what’s best for you too.’ She leant closer, her eyes large and pleading. ‘Comeon, Eleanor. What else have you got going on apart from drowning your sorrows with me in the pub once a week and going for hideously long runs?’
Eleanor felt a little stab of annoyance at this. She had stuff to do. In fact, she had plenty of things to be doing.
‘Can I remind you of the last time we attempted this?’
Sal’s face instantly dropped. ‘Hold on, that’s not f—’
‘What part wasn’t fairexactly?’ Eleanor cut across. ‘The bit where you set me up with your friend Curtis who, it transpired, was still completely in love with his ex-girlfriend? Or the part where he ran away during our date. Or maybe …’ – Eleanor’s voice was growing louder and louder – ‘it was when I had to chase him down the road for about a mile and then counsel him for the rest of the afternoon about how to win his ex-girlfriend back.’
Sal seemed to have shrunk considerably by the timeEleanor had finished talking. ‘Well … I appreciate that might not have been themostsuccessful date,butyou can’t tar everyone with the same brush.’ She puffed up her chest indignantly. ‘Curtis practically begged me to set you two up – how was I to know he was still pining after his ex?’
Eleanor laughed. The memory of that fateful afternoon hit her with full force. She reached out and took Sal’s hand in hers.
‘I know you want me to meet someone. It seems like the whole bloody world wants me to meet someone, but I promise … I’m OK by myself at the moment.’
They both stared at her tiny frame, with her clothes hanging loosely off her.
Sal squeezed Eleanor’s hand and took a gigantic swig from her coffee. ‘I wouldn’t go that far. But fine. Let me know if you change your mind, though; this one is a real gem, I promise you. Definitely not a flight risk.’ She winked.
‘Sure.’ Eleanor laughed. ‘Anyway, I have bigger problems right now.’
