Page 25 of Just a Number

Great, I’m already here and have bagged us some seats. See you soon!

It’s comforting to know she’s already there and I don’t have to walk in by myself and wait for her to arrive.

The cab pulls up outside, and I offer my thanks before climbing out.

It’s busy as I step inside, with people eating and the band setting up in the corner. I look around, searching for Cassidy, and see her waving.

She’s sitting at a high-top table set back from the bar. It’s a decent position—close enough to the bar that we can grab drinks, but also with a good view of where the band will be playing.

I grin as I step closer. “Hi.”

“It’s so good to see you.” She gives me a squeeze. “What are you drinking?”

“Err, not sure. What are you having?”

“I thought we could make our way through the cocktail menu. Fancy it?” She waggles her brows, and I chuckle at the obvious excitement on her face.

“Sure, let’s have a look and see what they’ve got.” I grab the menu and see a few different cocktails I enjoy listed.

“Wanna start with rum?” Cassidy asks as she glances at her menu.

“Yeah, sounds good. I’ll get these.”

“No, it’s all good. You get comfortable. I’ll go.” She weaves her way through the crowded tables to the bar. I use the footrest to lever myself up onto the tall stool and take a moment to look behind the bar. No sign of Alex. I can see Abby and Tom and another guy that I vaguely recognise from a previous visit.

I can’t decide if I’m disappointed he’s not here or not, although it’s probably a good thing.Let’s take this as one of Cassidy’s signs from the universe.I’m clearly here to have fun with my friend and not seduce a younger man.Thank goodness for that. I wouldn’t have a clue what I was doing.Alex knew what he wasdoing yesterday. That kiss. It blew my mind. I run my fingers over my bottom lip, and my heart races as I replay it.

It’s not too long before Cassidy is back with a couple of mojitos. The first sip of minty freshness sets my taste buds alight and I hum with pleasure.

“Any word from Jack?” I ask her.

“We’re texting all the time. He’s doing well in New York, but I miss him so much. Tom and I both do, but thankfully, Tom’s taking good care of me.”

“Will he come back?”

“I don’t know.” I can hear the sadness in her voice. “I hope so. But he needed to do this. Tom and I are talking about visiting him at some point. But it’s a bit tricky with the bar and everything. Hopefully, now they’ve trained Alex up and he’s an extra pair of hands, Tom might be able to get away.”

I try to school my features into something calm and zen, but I can’t stop my gaze from flicking back to the bar. Still no sign. He’s clearly not here tonight.

“It’ll be good if you can visit. I’ve always wanted to go to New York in the lead up to Christmas.”

“Me too. I’d love to set a book there. So really, it could be a business trip.” She giggles into her glass. “So, made out with any more hot young men this week?”

I blush. “No, still just the one and only once. Thankfully.”

“Dammit, that’s disappointing. I really hoped you were going to turn up tonight to tell me you’d been railed.”

“Honestly?” I lean closer, trying to keep my voice as low as I can in the busy pub. “I can’t decide if I’m disappointed or relieved that it’s not happened.”

I jolt in my seat when a hand clasps my shoulder and squeezes. My eyes widen as I look at Cassidy who has a giant grin on her face. I turn my head, trying to work out if I need to shout at some inappropriate guy or not, only to see it’s Abby.Phew.

“Hey, keep the juicy gossip to a time when I can join in. Cassidy filled me in. You and Alex? This is golden.” She’s not keeping her voice down, and I glance around to see if anyone is paying attention. I’m not mad that Cassidy told Abby, but I’d rather it wasn’t public knowledge.

“What do you mean, Alex and me? There is no Alex and me,” I gasp.

“Oh, but there’s totally gonna be,” Cassidy drops into the conversation in a sing-song tone.

“Please don’t say anything to him,” I beg Abby, hoping she’ll see how mortified I am by the whole thing and take pity on me.

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