Page 113 of Be More Lucy

‘Harry is a Harriet.’

Why did Mark still look pissed off? ‘And what about Charlotte’s boyfriend? You were looking very pally with him in the kitchen earlier.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘I’m not blind, Lucy. He’d got his arms around you while you were messing with the coffee machine.’

‘He was helping me load the beans, nothing else. I don’t steal friend’s partners.’

‘Unlike me?’

Oh shit. Why did you say that?‘Sorry. I wasn’t having a go at you. Can we start again?’

‘This conversation or us?’ Was she imagining it, or did he sound like he wanted her to say us?

‘Both?’ she said tentatively.

‘Oh, Luce.’ He pulled her into a hug, buried his head in her shoulder and wept.

61

‘I’m exhausted,’ Em said to Jack as they stood in the doorway of the marquee. The last guest had left, and Nancy was supervising the tidy-up.

‘You two go now,’ Nancy said. ‘I’ve got it all in hand.’

‘Thank you for everything.’ Em gave her a big hug.

‘My pleasure, darling girl.’

‘Was it a good day?’ Jack asked Em as they walked up the path into the courtyard.

‘My best day ever. Thank you.’ She kissed him. ‘Can we go to bed now? I’m absolutely exhausted.’

‘We just have to wait two minutes,’ he said, checking his phone.

‘Is this how it’s going to be now you’ve got a ring on my finger? You don’t normally keep me waiting?’

He grinned at her. ‘You’ll see.’

Em heard the crunch of tyres on gravel. She turned to look as a vintage silver Rolls Royce pulled into the courtyard with a white ribbon tied in a massive bow around the Spirit of Ecstasy on the bonnet.

‘We’re going for a short drive,’ Jack said.

‘Are we? Where?’ What was he up to? She was too tired to think about anything other than walking over to their flat and crawling into bed.

The driver held the rear door open for them.

‘It’s a surprise,’ Jack said. ‘After you.’

‘You know I’m not good with surprises.’

‘I know, but I’m pretty sure you’ll like this one.’

She’d have to trust him. She got into the lush soft leather interior while Jack fetched his overnight bag from the house and handed it to the driver, who put it in the boot.

Jack got in beside her, and the car pulled out of the drive, heading to the village.

She snuggled into his arms. ‘Have you booked us a night away somewhere boujie?’

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