Page 2 of The Last One to See Him

‘I know, you’re right,’ Kate says. Still, she ignores Aleena’s frown and pulls out her phone, quickly sending a message to Ellis.

It’s Friday and the bar is busy; it seems like everyone is out in Putney tonight. Kate’s never been to Tequila Mockingbird; in these colourfully painted walls is a world she doesn’t inhabit, and she feels conspicuous as they walk in. ‘Maybe we could go somewhere else,’ she suggests, stalling by the door. ‘Somewhere quiet? We won’t be able to hear each other speak.’

Aleena grabs her arm. ‘Nope. Don’t even think about it. You’re thirty-seven not ninety! We can talk any time. We arenotdoing quiet tonight. This place is great. There’s a basement bar downstairs with a dancefloor too.’ She points at Kate’s patent leather Mary Jane shoes. ‘You’ll be fine in those block heels.’

‘I’m not dancing!’

Aleena chuckles. ‘Come on, let’s get you something to help loosen you up.’

Surprisingly, Kate feels a lot better with a drink in her hand. She’s barely touched alcohol since her separation – a subconscious choice she hadn’t been aware she’d made until tonight. The memories of sitting down with Ellis in the evening and sharing a bottle of wine are too raw.

‘Are you really okay about it all?’ Aleena asks, once they’ve found a seat. ‘I’ve known you long enough to sense when you’re…blocking things out.’

Kate shakes her head. ‘Nope. Not at all.’ She takes a swig of her drink, hoping her friend will stop digging.

‘I know it must be hard,’ Aleena continues. ‘My mum’s divorce nearly finished her off.’

Kate nods, and takes a huge gulp of her cocktail. ‘Affairs destroy people.Bothpeople.’ Like other things, she hasn’t talked about this to Aleena, and her voice sounds like it belongs to a stranger. How can this have happened to her?

‘Yeah, I guess. I’ve never thought of it like that,’ Aleena says. ‘We always just think of the person who was cheated on being hurt. But I suppose the one who did the cheating loses out too.’

‘Let’s change the subject,’ Kate says. She doesn’t want Aleena’s pity; she’s not going to crumble because her marriage is over. She’s got Thomas and that’s all she needs in her life.And to keep the past at bay.‘Everything’s fine.’

‘I salute you for being so forgiving,’ Aleena says. ‘It’s a sign of strength.’

‘Aleena? I thought that was you!’

Kate and Aleena both look up as a tall, dark-haired woman grabs Aleena and gives her a hug.

Aleena jumps up. ‘Oh my god, it’s been years!’ She turns to Kate. ‘This is my old school friend, Heidi.’

‘You have to come and join us?’ Heidi asks. ‘There’s a whole group of us – you’ll love everyone.’

‘Yeah,’ Aleena says. ‘Maybe we will.’

This is the last thing Kate wants, but she doesn’t want to seem antisocial. ‘Why don’t I get some drinks and I’ll meet you down there?’

‘Are you sure?’ Aleena asks.

‘Yep. Go. I’ll be right there.’

They disappear downstairs, and Kate makes her way to the bar, unsteady on her legs, as if she’s detached from her body. At the bar, she finds herself merging into a huddle of men, their booming voices fighting to compete with the music. They look like they’ve just come from the office, but their jackets and ties have been removed, along with their inhibitions it seems.

‘Hey, make room,’ one of the men says, clearing a space for Kate to get to the bar.

‘Thanks,’ she says, forcing her way into the space he’s created.

‘Not a problem.’

He smiles at her, and she takes in his features. He’s around her age, his hair an unusual mixture of dark blonde and brown, short at the sides and longer on top. It looks freshly cut, and his face is clean-shaven.

‘You might have to wait a while,’ he warns, gesturing to the two harried bar staff. ‘I’ve been trying to get their attention for ages. It’s packed in here tonight.’

‘I’m not in a rush,’ Kate says. She imagines Aleena’s already lost in conversation with Heidi.

‘Well, enjoy your Friday night.’ He smiles, and when he turns away to re-join his friends, the jolt of disappointment Kate feels takes her by surprise.

She spends some time downstairs with Aleena and her friends, then when they’re engrossed in conversation she slips upstairs again, planning to leave. But the man from the bar catches her eye and he beckons her over. ‘Going already?’ he asks.

---