Page 38 of The Wedding Game

‘Oh, that’sgreat,’ she exclaims. ‘You’ll love it here. If you want any pointers about shops or whatever while you’re here, I’m your woman.’

Eventually we say our goodbyes.

The front door bangs as Tamara bounds out. ‘She’s so nice,’ I say. ‘And gorgeous’, because I want to sound Josh out about this in particular. I’ve never been in a scenario where a guy I’m dating has a best friend who’s a very hot female.

‘I suppose so, but she’s like family,’ Josh replies, and I take that at face value. He carries on, tidying away mugs and spoons while I finish off the rest of the blackberry-ripple ice cream, which is incredible. Ice cream for breakfast is the best.

‘Is this a recent best friendship?’ I ask.

‘No. Since we were children. Babies, I guess. Tam was born the day before me, and her mum was next to mine in the hospital ward.’

‘Oh,’ I reply, wondering what to say next.

But Josh saves me. ‘We weren’t always friends. We hated each other when we were about ten or eleven. Can’t remember why, though. Then we met again through Young Farmers.’

‘Young Farmers …?’

‘It’s a rural social group, and we’ve been hanging out ever since. Then Tamara started here when I needed more of a hand. She works hard, wants the best for the farm, the best for me – she’s a great friend. I’ve got male friends and while they’re good for banter, you couldn’t ring them up at two a.m. and cry down the phone to them when something’s gone wrong,’ he says, laughing off his confession jokingly.

But I think he’s being real. ‘Have you done that?’ I ask.

‘Yeah. Once. I made a bit of a bad decision on the farm. It all worked out in the end, but I needed to sound off. Sometimes girl mates are just better, less judgemental,’ he finishes.

‘Yeah,’ I agree as I think of Scarlet and how she’s always there to be real with me, to pick me up when I’m down or simply to be sympathetic, depending on what I need. I hope I’m that for her too.

It’s nice that Josh has got a good friend to whom he can show his emotions. I’m pleased for him.

‘Is she a bitch? I’ll bet she’s a bitch,’ Scarlet says on the phone to me later, in an outstanding show of unasked-for solidarity.I had to break it to her that Josh’s best friend was not a single handsome farmer.

Josh is in the kitchen, cooking a roast dinner from scratch. I’d helped peel potatoes, but after I sent Scarlet a message telling her I wasn’t coming back home yet, she rang me straight away and demanded to know if I was being held hostage. I’ve snuck into the sitting room and am completing slow laps around the huge sofas, while talking. We’ve moved on to Tamara now, although I dropped her into the conversation so gently that I thought Scarlet wouldn’t say anything. She leapt straight on it, which means I’m now worried.

‘You can’t be best friends with a girl if you’re a guy,’ she says. ‘It’s a fact. Look at all the shit that went down inWhen Harry Met Sally.’

‘I’ve not seen it,’ I confess and Scarlet splutters in surprise. ‘Give it to me in a nutshell,’ I command.

‘You don’t want to know.’

‘Don’t be silly. Tamara’s not a new friend. They’ve known each other since they were kids. They’re like … family.’

‘Just be aware. Monitor the situation and react appropriately,’ she instructs, as if we work at NASA and there’s a live mission under threat.

‘Yeah, OK,’ I say trying not to sound dismissive and we sign off as I return to Josh, who’s waiting patiently for me, candles lit on the table.

‘Ta-da,’ he says with a flourish as he presents a roast dinner with all the trimmings.

‘Is this one of the cows I met earlier?’ I sort of half joke.

‘Don’t start …’ he warns with a smile, and I decide I’mgoing to have to put their cute little faces out of my mind if I’m going to carry on like this with Josh. I look around the homely farmhouse kitchen and then back to him. I could get used to this.

Saying goodbye to Josh a couple of days later at the train station was hard for both of us. ‘I wish you could stay longer’ was his parting shot to me as I waited for the London-bound train to arrive. Then he followed up with, ‘Come back next weekend?’ before giving me the most delicious kiss.

How could I say no?I feel so secure with Josh in these early stages. And they are early stages. But feeling this wanted and secure in a relationship is something I didn’t think I’d experience again, after having been so horribly cheated on. In a way, now, I almost understand why Simon waited for me to rumble his actions rather than confess. Yes, there was cowardice there, but also the desire not to hurt someone.

Or perhaps I’m bestowing my own morals onto him. Because, although what passed between Chris and me was brief, it wassomething.And yet I still have not replied to his last message. It’s been days since his last simpleHi. And last night he messaged again, which makes me close my eyes tightly and put my hand over my face in embarrassment when I see it.

Big Talk round … whatever we’re on.Chris’s previous message is still sitting above this one, unanswered. I’m wrong. He hasn’t got the hint at all. I feel awful now.What would you say if I told you I think I can get you a job?

Well, that’s not at all what I was expecting. There’s no more to the message. As teasers go, it’s up there.

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