I nod.
‘Wow, that’s great! Congratulations.’
‘Thanks.’ My smile is starting to feel genuine.
‘Hello, Ally.’ Lucy gets up and gives her a hug.
‘Lucy!’
‘Look at you!’ Lucy cries. ‘Your hair’s grown.’
‘Aah, I could never afford to get it cut.’ She laughs.
She’s so warm and friendly that it’s hard to feel jealous. ‘Take a seat,’ I urge, sliding up the bench. She glances over her shoulder at her friends.
‘Sure, okay, I’ll just grab my drink.’
Richard sits down next to me. ‘Are you okay?’ he asks in my ear.
‘I’m fine,’ I reply. ‘She seems nice.’
Ally returns and takes a seat next to me.
‘So you guys all knew each other in the UK?’ I ask.
‘Ally, Richard and Nathan shared a house in Archway,’ Lucy explains.
‘That place was a tip,’ Nathan jokes.
‘You can talk,’ Ally responds. ‘Your washing-up sat in the sink for days on end.’
‘What did you do over there?’ I ask her.
‘Nursing.’ She smiles at me. ‘What about you?’
‘I work for a publishing company,’ I reply.
‘That’s so cool!’ she exclaims.
‘You’re back atMarbleson Monday, aren’t you?’ Lucy chips in.
I nod.
‘Marbles?’ Ally repeats. ‘As in that trendy, glossy guys’ mag?’
‘That’s the one,’ Richard interjects.
‘Wow – that’s such an awesome job!’
‘Aah, I’m only the secretary,’ I say.
‘Editorial assistant,’ Richard corrects, smiling across me at Ally. ‘She’s too modest.’
‘Sounds ultra-glam to me,’ she says. ‘What about you guys?’ She looks at Nathan, Richard and Lucy. ‘What are you up to these days?’
She stays and chats for another ten minutes before getting back to her friends. Richard puts his arm around me and kisses my temple.
‘You okay?’ he asks again.
