Page 117 of I Knew You Were Trouble

Despite the rain and wind, which has turned my umbrella inside out twice on the walk from the National Gallery, I’m feeling more like myself when I arrive at The Black Penny. Poppy waves from a table at the back, and I skirt past the waiter with an apologetic, ‘My friend’s already here.’

‘Hi – sorry, am I late?’ I ask with a grimace.

‘Nah,’ she says, ‘I’m just habitually early.’

She rises, leaning across the table for a cheek kiss. It’s a kindly gesture, considering this is ostensibly a work lunch, and it instantly sets me at ease.

‘Have you been here before?’ she asks as I sit opposite her. ‘The menu looks amazing.’

‘A few times with Margot. They’re famous for their brunch menu.’

‘And their cocktails?’ she asks with raised brows.

I laugh freely, and it’s like a weight lifting from my chest. ‘Okay, yes, the cocktailsmightjust edge out the food. If you like a Bloody Mary, you’re in the right place.’

‘Hmm.’ She starts perusing the menu, and I do the same, deciding on the same dish I had last time – and the time before that. Sometimes it pays to stick to what’s familiar – less chance of disappointment.

The waiter takes our order, then leaves with the menus, and Poppy gives me a smile.

‘So, we’re here to talk about Willem de Vries.’

It’s a statement, not a question, and her forthrightness catches me off-guard. I’d planned to make small talk before raising the topic of Willem, but why faff about when he’s the reason I asked her to lunch?

‘Ahh, yes,’ I reply with an uncomfortable smile. ‘It’s gone to shit, Poppy, and it’s all my fault.’

‘Oh no, what’s happened?’

We’re interrupted by our drinks arriving – a Bloody Mary for me and a Bellini for Poppy – and I raise mine in a quick toast. ‘Cheers.’ We clink glasses, but I set mine down without taking a sip. I need to get this out.

‘Okay, so at first, I thought I just fancied him. I mean, I’d have to bedeadnot to have noticed how handsome he is. Anyway, I wrote my emotions off as lust, pure and simple, so every time I was around him and there were tummy flutters or my heart started racing, I would tell my libido to check itself. There were far more important things on my plate with the whole Jon situation.’

Poppy regards me intently, nodding along and sipping her drink.

‘But that first time we were in Verona together… I didn’t tell you this, but our accommodation wasn’t as expected. Willem thought it was a two-bedroom flat, but it was open-plan and the only thing separating our beds was this giant shelving unit.’

Poppy sniggers – she must see where I’m going with this.

‘So, there I am’ – I mime holding covers up to my chin, eyes like saucers – ‘wide awake for most of the night, hyper aware that he was lyingrightthere, a half-naked, glorious specimen of man.’

Poppy grins.

‘Andeverytime I heard the rustle of sheets, my eyes would pop open. It was torture, Poppy, torture! I mean, not only was the timing less than ideal, but he was off-limits – or so I told myself. What good could come from complicating the situation with Jon and Adriana and Lucia by throwing myself at my fiancé’s fiancée’s fit brother?’

‘And when did you figure out it was more than attraction?’

‘Lust?’ I ask, talking over her. ‘Oh, “attraction” sounds much better. Less like I’m a randy sad sack whose fiancé cheated on her.’

‘Eh, same difference,’ she says.

‘You’re being kind,’ I reply, and she shrugs good-naturedly. ‘Anyway, to answer your question, it was the following day. We were killing time before Lucia’s gallery opened and Willem was playing tour guide. And Verona’sbeautiful. I would have thought that even if I’d been on my own, but Willem really brought it to life for me, taking me to some of the lesser-known parts of the city, as if he was sharing its long-held secrets. Then, when we got to the gallery and Lucia had stuck that sign on the door, saying she was in Mykonos, we didn’t pack up and leave right away. Instead, we had this incredible lunch and we talked – reallytalked– about all sorts of things. And that’s when I realised I likedhim, the person behind the film-star looks. Andthat’swhen I knew I was in trouble. It’s only intensified since.’

‘And you’ve tried to talk yourself out of it – out of feeling the way you do.’

‘Yes, how did you know?’

‘It’s my job to know,’ she says with a modest shrug.

‘Ahh.’

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