Page 71 of The Wedding Game

‘You what?’ Scarlet says, the enthusiasm replaced by surprise.

Best to get this out of the way now, I think. Like ripping off a plaster. ‘I haven’t said yes,’ I tell her. ‘Because it wasn’t really a question, just a mention. But Josh did tentatively put the suggestion out there, as in “one day soon”.’

‘Wow,’ Scarlet says. ‘That’s big.’

‘I don’t know,’ I reply, with a level of dismissiveness I don’t feel – but I don’t want to brag. ‘We’ve kind of been discussing it on and off for a while …’

‘You’re not keen?’

‘I am, but not yet. I’m enjoying what we have.’

‘You and me? Or you and him?’ Scarlet jokes.

‘Both,’ I say truthfully. ‘It’s kind of perfect as it is, hereandthere. It’s too soon to move out of here and in with Josh. Plus, I kind of don’t want to yet.’

‘You’ve got your city life here and your country life with Josh,’ Scarlet agrees. ‘Why mess that up?’

The question is rhetorical, but I nod and then pause. And I’m not sure I agree with it being simplified like that, now I’m thinking about it. To mix the two into one wouldn’t be messing it up. It would be the next step. But now that I’ve got a job where I need to pop in and out of central London at a moment’s notice, it’s not ideal timing.

I’m getting ahead of myself. Josh and I have only just told each other we’re in love. There’s plenty of time for everything that might naturally follow. And I really hope it does. But I’mnot in a rush, I remind myself. However, ‘I was starting to wonder if he’d say he loved me at some point. That can only be a good thing, can’t it – hanging on and waiting for it?’

‘I always think it’s so brave, being the first person to say it,’ Scarlet chimes in. ‘What happens if the other person doesn’t say it back? Humiliation. Total wipe-out.’

I am pleased Josh said it first, and I tell Scarlet all about how it happened. ‘We were sitting in his garden, basking in the spring sunshine, sipping local wine that Tamara and Mark had brought round the night before. Yet another new tub of ice cream to taste-test. Total perfection.’

‘Ooh, which flavour?’ she says, getting easily distracted from the main thrust of the story.

‘Christmas pudding.’

‘Yum,’ she says. ‘Though it’s a bit early for that, isn’t it?’

‘It takes a long time to plan these things, apparently.’

‘Is Tamara doing more new flavours? Can you bring some home for us?’

‘I think she’s doing mince-pie too.’

‘Ugh, no thanks.’ Scarlet shakes her head.

‘It’s got real flakes of pastry in it,’ I say, mimicking Tamara. I feel I’m being mean sometimes, and I make up for it by saying, ‘She’s building quite the empire.’

I’m proud of both her and Josh, who’s become more heavily involved in the business, as it turns out that Tamara’s recipe skills are par excellence, but her ability to understand the concept of a profit-and-loss sheet is less so. I’ve warmed to Tamara quite a bit over these past few months, which is handy as we see a lot of her.

‘Has her threat level diminished in any way?’ Scarlet asks, always on the lookout for hefty wedges of scandal.

‘She and Mark are a proper couple it seems, so yes, I’m not worried. And nor was I.’ Although I might have been, a tiny bit. After my ex cheated on me, I have become more sensitive about these things.

‘I was just looking out for you,’ she placates.

‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘Tamara’s sweet. She always has kind words for people, makes fabulous ice cream and is very giving with her friendship. To both Josh and me. It can be lonely in a rural environment. I wonder if she feels it too, even though she’s lived there for ages. She must have friends other than Josh, although she never mentions them. She works long hours. It’s tough to meet new people.’

‘I feel her pain,’ Scarlet says.

When we finish gossiping, Scarlet tells me she has news.

‘Go on,’ I say, inching forward on the sofa where we’ve camped out. Scarlet was watching a crime drama before I got in and it’s on pause in the background.

‘I’ve met someone.’

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