‘It’s my way of making you feel even more guilty aboutbeing a terrible unresponsive friend.’ Sal pulled up an empty chair and planted herself firmly in it.
‘I’m sorry,’ Eleanor replied meekly.
‘I need more than an apology.’ Sal folded her arms and frowned.
‘I’ll buy lunch?’ Eleanor offered sweetly.
‘I’m on a diet. Try again …’
‘Then a chocolate brownie won’t work either.’ Eleanor lifted her head off the desk and took a sip of her coffee.
‘Don’t,’ Sal moaned, forgetting her role of hard-done-by friend instantly. ‘I’m so hungry.’
‘Eat something then!’ Eleanor cried, happily keeping the subject away from Sal’s anger at her. ‘I don’t know why you even bother with these diets. You are the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.’
Sal’s face melted momentarily, before realizing the direction the conversation had gone in. ‘Wait, no! I mean, thank you.’ She placed her hand over Eleanor’s briefly and squeezed. ‘But no! We can come back to me after we finish withyou.’ Her large amber eyes flashed wickedly.
‘Fine.’ Eleanor threw herself back in her chair.
‘I want you to agree to go on a second date with Ben,’ Sal stated flatly.
Eleanor sat up so quickly she felt her neck jar. ‘How do you even know he wants to go on a second date?’
‘Because, my darling Eleanor, you ignored my texts and calls all weekend and I simplyhadto know how the date went,’ she purred, her voice overflowing with smug delight. ‘So, I went directly to the source and asked Ben. He told me he was going to ask you out again and he’s not the kind of guy to lie, so I assume he’s messaged you already asking?’ Her perfectly pencilled eyebrow arched gleefully.
‘You are unbelievable!’ Eleanor hissed. Sal sat there silently awaiting her answer. ‘Yes, OK, he has messaged me. But he only sent it yesterday so it’s not like I’ve ignored him for days,’ she added defensively.
‘And how do you feel about a second date?’ Sal asked gently.
Eleanor closed her eyes for a moment and brought the image of Ben to her mind. She couldn’t deny that they’d had fun. What more could she have asked for? He was kind. He was gorgeous. He had made her laugh. And he had stayed by her side the entire date. The only person at risk of running away right now was her.
‘I’ll message him tonight when I get home.’ She saw Sal about to protest. ‘I promise.’ Eleanor knew her word would be powerful enough for Sal to concede and she was right. Her friend took a large sip of her drink and smiled.
‘Wonderful. Now, how was the rest of your weekend? Angela stuff another seven courses down your throat yesterday whilst calling you too thin?’
Eleanor snorted. ‘Not quite. Thankfully the attention wasn’t on me for once. She’d invited Fin along as a surprise.’
‘Who the hell is this Fin again?’ Sal seemed to be scouring her memory for any trace of recollection.
‘That old friend I saw at Kate’s wedding.’
‘He must have been a pretty close friend if your mum is inviting him round for lunch. Not even I have managed to swindle one of those invites,’ Sal said, a little put out.
‘Wewereclose, until about fifteen years ago. His mum and my mum were – well, are still – friends. Turns out his mum has cancer, which is why he’s over here visiting. I thinkhe’s staying until she … well, you know.’ Eleanor couldn’t bear to say the words out loud.
‘Shit. That’s sad.’
‘Yeah. It sucks.’ Eleanor could feel the legacy of her own loss starting to rear its ugly head again. ‘But what sucks even more is my mother’s campaign to make me his babysitter while he’s here.’
‘What do you mean?’ Sal frowned.
‘Look!’ Eleanor pointed at her screen. This morning alone she’d received five emails from her mother, all with the subject title ‘FUN THINGS TO DO WITH FIN’.
‘Ahhh.’ Sal sniggered. ‘I see.’
‘It’s like she’s got shares in London tourist attractions or something. Honestly, when this woman gets an idea in her head, she cannot let it go.’
‘Can’t you tell her you’re busy?’
