‘No. Maybe the year after next.’
‘Another long engagement,’ Sam tuts, rolling his eyes at Nathan.
I just shrug and smile innocently.
I catch an earlier ferry the next morning so I can get in to work in time to quiz Nicola about Pier Frank. She tries to keep a straight face as I walk up to the reception desk.
‘How was it?’ I ask.
‘How washe, you mean.’ She smirks.
‘You didn’t!’ I gasp.
‘I did.’
‘You didn’t!’ I cry again.
‘I couldn’t help myself,’ she sniggers.
‘You shagged him?’ I’m unable to contain my reaction.
‘Shhh!’ she whispers. I glance behind to check no one has entered the building. We’re alone.
‘What was he like?’ I’m still taken aback, but curiosity gets the better of me.
Her lips turn down and she cocks her head to one side. ‘Pretty good.’
That doesn’t sound too convincing.
‘No, he was alright,’ she says again when she notices my reaction.
‘Pretty good?Alright?’
‘He’d had a few drinks. And he’s not that big anyway.’
I can’t help but guffaw at her honesty. She starts to file her nails, nonchalantly.
‘Are you going to see him again?’ I ask.
She shrugs. ‘Maybe. He knows where to find me.’ She quickly puts down her nail file as a petite brunette in her twenties walks through the door, carrying three cups from Starbucks. It’s Cara, the girl who’s covering for me while I’m upstairs.
‘I’ll catch you later,’ I mouth and she grins and raises her eyebrows.
‘Good morning,’ Cara says brightly to Nicola as I push the button for the lift. ‘I brought you a coffee.’
‘Awesome,’ Nicola says gratefully as the lift arrives and I step inside.
Coffees?Takeaway coffees?And not cheap ones at that. What a bloody cheek, attempting to muscle her way into the affections of my friends! Don’t get too comfortable, missy, I think grimly. I’ll be back in a week.
‘How was it?’ Jonathan asks me on his way past my desk a few minutes later.
‘Good, thanks,’ I lie politely.
‘I told you,’ he says in a singsong voice. ‘Dull as ditchwater, right?’
I laugh. ‘Am I that transparent?’
‘Totally. Did you speak to Pier at all?’
