It wasn’t like Aiden to be so aloof – in fact it was very out of character. He’d stood on one side, facing away from her with his feet planted firmly on the ground and his hands stuffed in his pockets, and had mostly looked in the opposite direction.
‘I’m confused. The other day he was asking me out on a date and now he’s completely ignoring me in public. What’s going on?’
‘I’ve no idea. Do you want me to text and ask him?’ Elle offered, not knowing what else to say.
‘Oh God, it’s Wilson, isn’t it? They’ve been talking. Do you think he’s told Aiden we spent the night together? Aiden will never come near me now.’ Her eyes were wide, worry written all over her face. ‘I knew this would cause a situation.’
It was a thought that had already crossed Elle’s mind but she hadn’t wanted to say anything. ‘Let’s not jump to any conclusions. Try not to worry about it now – there’s nothing we can do about it tonight,’ she soothed, looking through the window to see Irene holding up a wine glass and madly waving at them to come inside.
‘We best get ourselves in there – otherwise they’ll be talking about us. So, forget Aiden, forget Wilson and don’t let it spoil the evening. Tonight is all about Eleni.’
‘Agreed,’ replied Pippa, but the look on her face was telling a different story. She reluctantly followed Elle into the restaurant with one last glance over her shoulder but the boys were now nowhere in sight.
* * *
An hour later, after a delicious banquet, Elle was fit to burst and couldn’t manage another morsel.
‘Dessert, anyone?’ Eleni chirped, patting her stomach. ‘I’m taking advantage of this eating-for-two lark! I don’t know or care what is fat or what is baby!’
‘Not sure what my excuse is,’ Elle replied, laughing before patting her own stomach. She glanced over at Pippa, who’d been particularly quiet throughout the whole meal. She’d played with her food on her plate, drunk copious amounts of wine and hadn’t stopped messing around with her phone.
‘Hey, are you okay?’ Elle whispered.
‘Not really – I feel sick to my stomach.’
‘Why, what’s going on?’
‘Aiden is reading my texts but isn’t answering them.’
‘There could be a number of reasons: lack of signal, caught up with the boys as they’re on a night out…’
‘And so are we but if someone wants to text you, they will.’
‘I know it’s easier said than done but you’ve got to try and put it out of your mind until you can have a proper conversation with him. Aiden has to be in touch at some point – he’s invited you to the cinema tomorrow.’
‘That’s true.’
‘Sit tight, turn your phone off and come and join the party.’
‘It’s not exactly rocking though, is it?’
Elle shot Pippa a stop-blooming-moaning look and put a smile on her face.
‘I think you’ll find Isla has some news but you’ve been too preoccupied to listen.’
Pippa looked up. ‘Anything interesting?’
Isla and Felicity were sitting at the opposite end of the table, grinning like Cheshire cats. Isla was clutching a leaflet and held it up for Pippa to see. ‘Ta-dah!’ she shouted down the table.
‘What does it say?’ Pippa queried.
‘Ladies night!’ confirmed Florrie.
Isla had a mischievous look on her face.
‘Who’s up for seeing Dangler Dan in all his glory?’
‘Dangler Dan? Such a classy name for a stripper,’ joked Elle.
