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He smiled, untying his black and navy checked scarf. “I’ll hold you to it, darling.”

“I still need that wee.” Harry shimmied past Alex’s empty chair. “Tom, grab me a pint. I’ll meet you there.”

He squeezed Alex. “I’m so glad I bumped into you. Let’s not leave it so long, okay? And thanks for listening to all my soppy engagement talk. What am I like?”

Tucked into his hug, Alex frowned into her arm. “You’re the happiest man on earth.” She pulled away with a smile and shuffled towards the exit.

Twenty-Nine

Alex and Lucy hustled along Upper Street towards the Almeida Theatre. Both wearing black dresses and tights underneath their winter coats, they bundled together for warmth in the nippy late November wind.

“I was worried earlier in the week when you were puking every five minutes,” said Lucy. “The play’s completely sold out, so you would’ve missed it if you were still poorly.”

“I would’ve crawled here on my hands and knees.” Alex pulled her wool coat tighter. The thought of talking to Mark for the first time in five days made her shiver more than the persistent gales. The more she thought about it, the more it became clear that avoiding him this past week was juvenile and cowardly.

Pushing through the Almeida’s glass doors, Lucy spotted Freddie to her right, leaning over the box office counter.

“Made it with lots of time to spare.” Lucy launched herself onto him. Alex smoothed her unruly hair.

“Hello, my darlings. Gorgeous as always. I’m glad you made it.” He twirled to receive Lucy’s hug. “Shame the same can’t be said for Keegs.”

Lucy pouted, looking at Alex. “He’s not coming?”

Freddie shook his head. “I just spoke to the box office manager. They’ll take his ticket as a return and sell it. They’ve got a waiting list on the go since tonight’s sold out.”

Alex blinked rapidly, her mind a million miles away. She removed the tickets from her wallet, handing the fourth one to Freddie.

“I got his text just before you walked in. His boss called him into work. It’s great he’s making lots of cash, but their scheduling is seriously taking the piss and interfering with our social calendar. It’s rubbish.” Freddie tilted back towards the box office counter and surrendered the unused ticket.

“Mark must be pissed off,” said Lucy.

Alex’s eyebrows peaked. “Why?”

“Freddie said he really wanted to see this play. Wild horses couldn’t have kept him away.”

Alex swallowed and scanned the small rectangular-shaped lobby. Mark belonged to someone else, but that didn’t excuse her behaviour this past week. Did her presence tonight make him feel so unwelcome that he couldn’t bear to join them?

Maybe wild horses couldn’t keep Mark away, but it seemed she could.

• • •

All two hours and fifteen minutes of Isabella Archer’s play proved disturbing and unforgettable. It’s dark, supernatural theme fitted perfectly with the season’s dwindling daylight and London’s chilly descent into the grip of winter.

Alex, Freddie, and Lucy stretched their legs in the minimalist white lobby, watching parched theatre fans pound back drinks at the Almeida’s bar. The stage door, located just to the left of the box office, and down a few steps, flew open now and again to allow actors and production staff access to the lobby.

“Well, that was a bit weird,” said Lucy in a hushed tone, leaning on the shuttered box office counter. “I know she’s your idol, Alex, but she does come up with some nightmarish crap. I may have developed some new superstitions after watching that freak show, so be warned.”

Alex shrugged. “I loved it. The thing she did in the script with the ghost and the farmer? I think it was a nod to Banquo’s Ghost in Macbeth. It’s unlike anything she’s written before. It was so innovative. Must’ve been so challenging for the actors.”

Lucy rolled her eyes.

“It was bonkers. But in a good way,” said Freddie. “Mark’s gonna be pissed when he hears about the complex performances. He loves those meaty roles. Maybe I’ll lie and tell him it was rubbish.”

Alex stared down at her shoes.

“That’s what I’ll tell him. No lies necessary,” said Lucy.

Freddie jabbed her with his elbow. “Shut it, we’ve got company.”