Page 52 of Be More Lucy

‘This is for you.’ She handed over the present. ‘I hope you like it.’

‘Thank you. I wasn’t expecting anything. I’m too old for presents now.’

‘Don’t say that,’ she said.Really, don’t say that.She glanced at Josh, who raised an eyebrow as if to say, “I told you so”.

Jack carefully removed the wrapping paper, revealing a long thin black box. He opened the lid. A sleek black fountain pen with silver detailing nestled inside.

‘It’s beautiful. You’re too generous. Thank you.‘ Jack gave Lucy a peck on the cheek.

‘Em said you’d lost yours.’

‘Why do you still use a fountain pen?’ asked Josh. ‘Bit old fashioned, isn’t it?’

‘Perhaps I’m old fashioned.’ Something about the way Jack said it gave Lucy the hint that he’d picked up on Josh’s opinion of him. ‘I like the way the nib glides over the paper. I write better with a fountain pen than with a biro. I thought someone who created luxury cars for a living would appreciate good design?’

Josh didn’t reply.

‘So what’s the plan, birthday boy?’ Lucy asked, slipping her arm through Jack’s.

‘We’ll need to leave here about seven. Would you like takeout first?’

‘Yeah. What shall we have?’

‘It’s Jack’s choice as it’s his birthday,’ Em said.

‘The Japanese restaurant a couple of streets away is good,’ Jack said. ‘We can’t get that in Dashford. There’s a menu on the fridge door.’

Em passed the menu to Josh, who was grumpily scrolling through something on his phone like a bored teenager.

‘Does that work for you, darling?’ Lucy asked him, trying to get Josh to engage.

‘Yeah, whatever.’ He couldn’t have sounded less interested if he tried.

Lucy heard the front door opening.

‘Hi!’ A woman’s voice called out.

Lucy tensed.

‘Are you ok?’ Jack whispered.

‘Yes. This just feels weird.’

He put his arm around her and gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze just as Mark walked in.

‘Swapping girlfriends now are we?’ Mark looked briefly at Lucy and looked away.

‘It is my birthday. I get to pick.’ Jack ducked as Em threw a tea towel at him.

Jack got up and gave Mark a hug. ‘Thanks for coming.’

‘I’ve missed your last two birthdays. Thought I better not miss this one. Hannah, you know Jack and Em. This is Lucy and?’

‘Josh.’ Josh said as he walked over to Mark to shake hands.

‘Pleased to meet you, Josh.’ Mark appeared to be sizing Josh up.

And so did Hannah. Devouring him with her eyes would be a better description.

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