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“Yep.” He glances at Beck. “Unlike Cinderella here, I am going to the ball.” He looks at Brian and winks. “Luckily, all I have waiting for me at Christmas is a large bottle of Scotch and my bed.”

Beck lifts a brow. “Unless the Scotch is called Andrea, I think you’re lying.”

Caleb smirks.

“Well it’s good to have you here,” Brian says. “All of you.”

I look at my two closest friends. Sure, we’re only a few hours from London, but I know how much they had to rearrange to be here. The fact that Beck came up for the night even though he can’t make the party touches me.

I know how lucky I am to have them.

“Thanks, Brian,” I murmur. “It’s good to see you too.”

Hearing my voice, Georgia looks up at me, her head tipped to the side. Her lips are slightly parted. Our eyes catch and I smile at her.

Daisy whispers something in Georgia’s ear and she laughs, before picking up the blue pencil and getting on with the coloring.

Beck watches them for a second. “I like her,” he says quietly.

“She’s your daughter. You should,” I reply.

“You know who I mean. Look at her with Daisy. She’s a natural.”

“You know what they say about dogs and children,” Caleb says, grinning. “You can trust their judgment.”

“Shut up.” I shake my head at them. “Christ, you’re worse than my mother.”

They look at each other and back at me.

“What?” I ask. Because I know they’re desperate to say something. I can tell from the way Caleb’s jaw is twitching. The man has the opposite of a poker face.

Caleb shrugs. “We were just wondering if you two have had the balls to talk about what happens next.”

I glance across the table again before I can stop myself.

Daisy is telling Georgia a story, something about a nativity play and a donkey who started to cry. Georgia listens to her carefully, nodding solemnly as though Mary throwing baby Jesus at the donkey is of national importance. Daisy leans into her side, utterly at ease. She looks delighted at not being the only girl with us.

“You could be happy, you know, if you pulled your head out of your arse,” Caleb murmurs.

“What do you mean?” I frown.

“Look at her,” Caleb says, his eyes on Georgia. “She’s fucking beautiful. She’s good with kids. Fuck, she’s good with us. And even your mother hasn’t scared her away.”

Daisy starts giggling at something Georgia tells her. Then she throws her arm around Georgia’s neck in a hug. I look at her, eyes closed, breathing Daisy in.

And for a moment, I can picture it. All of it. Georgia with two kids. Blond hair, American twang.

There’s nothing I want more right now.

“It’s not that simple,” I say softly, low enough that she can’t hear. I can’t make promises I’m not sure I can keep.

“It’s not exactly complicated,” Beck murmurs. “You’re both single, you’re both in good health. And let’s face it, for some reason the woman hasn’t run screaming from you. I’d say she’s a keeper.”

I let out a low breath.

“Are you really going to let her leave?” Caleb asks.

“I don’t think I have a choice. She has a life in New York. A job,” I tell them. “And my job is here.”