“We’re not lovers yet.”
Her face lit up with a smile. “Yet.”
“I think we’ll be taking things slowly.” Because it was new and I was worried about things that didn’t have names, and my mother always said that once you had sex with someone, you couldn’t go back to holding hands.
“Really?” She laughed, probably at my expression. “I wish I had some self-control. I met a man last night and, yeah, self-control wasn’t involved.” She looked semi-embarrassed. “T-M-I, sorry. Too much information.”
I remembered what Carter had said, she knew virtually no one. “What was he called?”
“Jay. He’s a crime writer and signing here tomorrow. We went out for drinks so I could ask him about doing a signing here next month as well as a bit of an event, and drinks led to one thing which led to another.” She stared at her coffee. “I actually really like him.”
“Does he live in London?”
“He does – Battersea, so not far. He’s a single dad looking after his son – he wrote a best seller when his son was just a baby. Before that, he was a cop which is why his books are so good.” She gave a wry smile. “I’m gushing, aren’t I?”
“It’s allowed.”
Laurie shrugged, not looking sure. “I think it’ll just be a one-night thing.”
“Maybe not, you never know.”
“I just hope things won’t be weird tomorrow. Are you still coming?”
I nodded, feeling slightly awkward. “If that’s okay. I haven’t told anyone about yours and Carter’s wedding.”
She put her mug down next to the sink. “It doesn’t matter if you tell your friends, I definitely don't expect a code of silence. I only need it to not get back to my family. The plan is I’ll tell them that the marriage was annulled in a couple of months, and they won’t care anyway. There’s nothing in the details of the trust that says that would be a problem.”
“They won’t be able to take the money back?”
“No. And there are no stipulations about what I can use it for either, and it includes the properties the trust bought which are my other two shops, and technically the business, so I’m in the clear. Trust me, we’ve triple checked everything. I’ve even hadthe legal documents prepared if there is any comeback from my family.” She folded her arms. “I’m sorry for what this did to you and Carter.”
“You don’t need to be.” I meant it. “That was on Carter, not you.”
She nodded. “But please don’t be mad at him. I wanted him to tell you about it, but I think he confused himself. Men.”
“I think we’ll be able to sort it out.” I hoped so. “We’ve been friends for so long.”
“So you already know each other, and you know each other’s pasts. That’s helpful, you know what baggage each other has already. No awkward surprises.”
“I’m not sure that’s ever guaranteed. Will you show me round the bookshop?” I put my mug next to hers and followed her out of the backroom into the shop.
We spent the next twenty minutes looking round, Laurie pointing out different authors and explaining who was there tomorrow and the other events on Sunday and Monday. We were joined by one of new employees, a man in his early twenties with pink hair and more piercings than I could count, and more decoration came in the store, as well as a box of merchandise, including book bags that I immediately needed.
I left Silversmiths feeling more settled, straighter in my head about what was going on. The next thing I did was jump into our group chat – me, Erin, Harriet and Fallon.
Me: We need to catch up.
CHAPTER 16
Rose
Saturday morning was the first chance we had to catch up, because Friday was already ruled out with work (Fallon), a work event (Erin), a meal with her parents (Harriet), and a meal out with some of my cousins and Eliza, which went exactly as you might expect, both my brothers asleep on sofa in my living room on Saturday morning.
Harriet and I left them to it, although as they both had a rugby match, I knew they wouldn’t be there when we got back, and we met Fallon and Erin at Salamancas, a tapas restaurant that did amazing breakfasts.
Fallon looked less tired, I was pleased to see, and Erin looked like a model with a new bobbed haircut. They were both staring at me as if I’d developed a second head.
“Well?” Was how I was greeted by Fallon when I sat down at the table.
