Page 43 of Be More Lucy

‘I’m glad you and Mark are friends again,’ Em said. ‘And not just because it makes the wedding planning easier.’

‘I don’t know how to feel about it.’ Lucy wasn’t sure how much to tell Em. They’d all been laughing and joking together earlier like nothing was wrong. But Lucy’s emotions were in turmoil.

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’ve still got the hots for him.’

‘For Mark? But what about Josh?’

‘He’s attractive as well, but … I don’t know.’

‘Spoilt for choice?’

Lucy stared ahead at the countryside, flying by outside the car window. ‘Not really. Mark’s spoken for. But you know how you used to say Jack made your heart skip a beat? Mark has the same effect on me. He has ever since that first night we met. Even when I was angry with him. And now we’re back to being friendly, it’s worse. Josh doesn’t do that for me. No one else has. Not since Dylan.’

Why did you say that? You mustn’t think about Dylan.

Em looked surprised. ‘That’s the first time you’ve mentioned Dylan for years.’

Lucy didn’t want to reminisce about the man she’d dated nearly ten years ago. It still hurt to think about him walking out on her. Em didn’t know the whole story. If she did, she wouldn’t have said that.

Lucy wanted to tell Em about it, but today wasn’t the day. It would ruin their mood for wedding dress shopping. She needed to shut down this particular conversational cul de sac immediately. ‘That’s all in the past. Right now, I need to work out what to do about Josh.’

‘I know I said earlier that Mark was due to leave Hannah, but Jack thinks he seems really content with her.’

‘Really? So why was he getting a hard-on when he hugged me earlier?’

Em raised her eyebrows.

‘I probably imagined it,’ Lucy said. Had she? She was sure she hadn’t. ‘Tell me about Hannah.’

‘Would you like to meet her? You’ll be able to judge for yourself then. I bought Jack tickets to see Muse at the O2 in London next Saturday as it’s his birthday. Mark and Hannah are coming. Kate was meant to be joining us too with her new man, Andy, but they cancelled yesterday.

‘Kate?’

‘Jack’s sister.’

‘Oh, that Kate.’

‘Andy snapped his Achilles heel playing football on Wednesday night. He’s had to have an operation, so a trip to London is out of the question. Do you and Josh want to join us instead? We’re all stopping in Nancy’s flat in Bloomsbury. You don’t have to worry about booking a hotel.’

Was it a wise idea to spend a weekend in close proximity to Mark and his girlfriend? Probably not. But Lucy hadn’t been to London for a while. And Josh had said they should do something together next week to make up for being apart this weekend. Plus, she’d see how Josh behaved with her friends.

‘I’ll text Josh to see if he’s up for it.’

‘There’s the wedding dress shop over there.’ Lucy pointed to a window with a dressmaker’s dummy dressed in lace and silk.

‘I’m starting to think it’s a bit early for shopping for the dress. We haven’t finalised the date yet. And the way things were going with finding a venue, it could be two years away.’

‘But you’ll still have a summer wedding. We’re here now. It wouldn’t hurt to have a look. As your matron of honour, I insist.’

Lucy had a point.You’re just getting cold feet because it’s reminding you of getting married to Connor.

The shop looked small outside, but as they walked in, there was a sign on the wall advertising the large showroom upstairs.

‘Have you booked an appointment?’ the haughty woman behind the counter asked. Her name badge described her as ‘Julie, Assistant Manager’.

‘Yes,’ Lucy said. ‘It’s in the name of Emily Gillespie. I booked it online last week. We’re a bit early.’

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