Page 64 of All Mine
Wren arched an eyebrow in agreement. ‘I almost feel sorry for him,’ she said.
Gabi kissed them both and Jesse enveloped them in a hello hug they weren’t expecting but seemed to love when they got close enough to smell him.
The bar was two-deep, but Amber had a friend working and they were soon settled in a booth with their drinks. Isabella tried not to be obvious as she scanned the dance floor.
‘He’s not here yet,’ Rosie said. ‘Walker said they’re coming at nine.’
Isabella resisted the urge to check her watch and leaned into Amber’s conversation, who was telling the others about Nonna’s arrival.
‘So, she’s living with you? How sweet!’ Rosie clapped her hands.
‘For the time being,’ Isabella said. ‘I managed to persuade her at last. But she doesn’t want to live with me for ever. She’s a very independent woman. Ideally, she’d like somewhere of her own so that she can bring a boyfriend home if she wants to.’
Amber spluttered on her drink.
‘Boyfriend?’
Isabella laughed. ‘My nonno has been dead a long time. I guess she still has needs!’
‘Must be nice for you to have some family around, with your parents being away.’
‘It’s so lovely to see her. And the restaurant is all about family, so it feels right that she’s here at the start. How long she stays is up to her. I think a lot of it will depend on how long my parents travel, and how long she wants to cook for. We agreed that when she’d had enough, she’ll train someone else on the family recipes.’
‘Has she settled in? She didn’t mind you coming out tonight?’ Rosie asked.
‘You obviously haven’t met her yet!’ Gabi laughed. ‘She’s out herself. Went to join the local chess club.’
‘I guess that answers my question then. Good on Grandma.’
‘Tell us about you, Jesse?’
Jesse wiggled in excitement in his seat at being the centre of attention.
‘What do you want to know?’
‘Everything!’ Rosie said. ‘Like, why you smell so good for a start!’
Gabi and Isabella rolled their eyes at each other as Jesse beckoned the girls closer with his finger to stage-whisper about the aftershave tumble dryer trick.
‘And talking of laundry, did you hear how I met Isabella?’ He then proceeded to tell them in excruciating detail how he met her in the first week of university when she was so drunk she peed in the laundry basket for their dorm.
‘Lifelong friends ever since!’
They all clinked glasses, Isabella distracted by the door opening as Fox, Walker and, finally, Etienne entered the club and headed for the bar.
All nine of them were now squeezed into the booth. Isabella was trapped at the back, hemmed in by Gabi on one side and Amber on the other. She felt something tap her foot and locked eyes with Etienne, who was half smiling at her across the table. Her stomach lurched.
Birthday drinks were ordered, toasts were made.
‘Is there a band on tonight?’ Isabella asked, thinking of Throwback Thursday, and that it might give her a chance to get up close and personal with Etienne on the dance floor.
Wren looked up, surprised. Rosie snorted.
‘Didn’t you tell her?’ Wren asked. Amber bit her lip to stop herself laughing.
‘It’s a thing we do– for birthdays,’ she explained.
‘Whoever’s birthday it is,’ Amber said, and everyone pointed at Etienne, ‘has to do karaoke first. Then there’s a DJ later.’
