‘Oh, I won’t.’ When Alice has a cause, she will run with it. Iadmire it, but right now I can’t comprehend a rant on the ethics of AI. ‘I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately.’
‘About what, hun?’
‘Life.’ I gesture around the apartment, then at me. ‘A bit of self-reflecting.’
‘What have we established?’
‘Fuck knows.’
A buzzing alarm rings out with a shrill cry and I bolt upright, having forgotten we’d ordered food.
Alice sighs, elongated and dramatic. ‘Thank God that’s here. I’m starving.’
Chapter Four
WILL
We finish the Indian food, leaving only a couple of poppadoms. I can’t leave it to waste, so I break some off and fling it in Alice’s direction. She screams, sloshing the last of her wine on the laminated floor, and I hunch over in laughter.
‘I’d say that calls for another wine,’ I say between giggles, heading to the kitchen and looking at my wine rack. ‘We’re on the third bottle already.’
‘I think that’s because of you,’ she says as I return, refreshing our glasses before slumping back down.
Alice moves closer, and I lean my head against her shoulder.
‘We should watch something corny,’ she says with a sigh.
‘With ice cream.’
‘How aboutRomy & Michele’s High School Reunion?’
‘I thought you said you wanted something corny.’
‘Oh,’ Alice laughs.
That was us. Together, always there for one another. Available without fail.
‘Would you class this as corny or kitsch?’ Alice asks, halfway through the film.
‘It’s a cult classic, and it is high camp,’ I say. ‘Lisa Kudrow definitely deserved an Oscar for this role. How about Lindsay Lohan’sIrish Wishafter this?’
As Alice chuckles, my phone pings. I fight the urge to open it. Forget about the outside world, I remind myself. Don’t open that door. But something tells me to look.
An email.
An e-invite.
Please join us and celebrate the wedding of Ollie & Alec
31st August 2026
Athens, Greece
Kindly RSVP by 1st June 2026 to confirm your attendance
A scream escapes my lips, feet propelling me to the other end of the room. I throw my phone at the opposite wall like it’s searing hot metal, conveniently landing back on the sofa next to Alice.
Greece? After all our conversations about road trips, hot Greek men, andMamma Mia? I wanted to send him a voice note and ask, ‘How could you do this to me. Question mark.’ Like Countess Luann inThe Real Housewives of New York.
