Page 19 of Promise Me Ever After
“You okay?” Ems joined me, clutching her arms around herself to keep warm.
“Yeah, I think I’m going to head home. That last glass of wine was a mistake.” I ran a hand over my forehead. “I’m waiting for Darcy and Fraser though. They were getting our coats but have no doubt run into some friends they have to say goodbye to.” No doubt including Trevor. I shuddered.
Ems laughed. “Why do you think I got Sonya to agree to let me have tomorrow off? I have no responsibilities except Netflix and my sofa. No tidying up, nothing.”
I groaned. I had to work in the evening. And face up to Alex. My cheeks flushed even thinking about it.
“What are you going to get Alex to cook for you? I never said congratulations by the way.”
“If I decided I didn’t want the prize, can you give it to someone else?”
“Seriously?” Ems looked taken aback.
“The wine wasn’t the only mistake.” I raised an eyebrow, then dropped my finished cigarette to the floor, grinding it out with my heel.
Ems placed a hand on my arm. “Don’t think about it now. Get some sleep and call me in the morning if you still feel the same way. We can work something out if we need to.” She grinned. “I bet you’ll change your mind after a good night’s sleep.”
I doubted I’d even get a good night’s sleep the way my brain was overthinking everything. Too tired to argue, I nodded. “Sure. Enjoy the rest of the evening. And thanks, Ems.”
Darcy and Fraser came out of the door as Ems went back in. They were wrapped around each other, giggling as if they shared a secret only the two of them had. My heart ached. They were perfect together and I knew they couldn’t wait to get married. Had things worked out differently, that could have been me.
“Do you want us to drop you off first?” Darcy asked, linking her arm with mine and heading over to the taxi queue.
“Mmm, please. I’m knackered.”
“Drunk, more like. I can’t believe you won that prize! How much did you bid?”
I mumbled something under my breath, so she didn’t realise how stupid I’d been. Fraser opened the taxi door and I got into the back seat, waiting for Darcy to join me.
“Sorry, what did you say?” she asked.
“Oh, it’s fine. It’s all for charity anyway, isn’t it? Did you win anything?”
“I got one of the spa days at Blossom. Maybe you could come along, and we could make it a sister thing before the wedding?” Darcy squeezed my arm.
“Sure, why not?”
We chatted on the short journey back to my house. I could probably have walked it, but given my current state, dropping me right outside my door was the best option.
“Sorry things didn’t work out with Trevor,” Fraser said.
“Maybe check with me first before you set me up with another one of your work friends? Didn’t exactly work out well the last time, did it?” I couldn’t have been more serious. I clambered out of the taxi, waved as they drove off and then headed into the house.
Twenty minutes later, I settled down on the sofa, a glass of port as a nightcap. Yeah, if I was going to be hungover tomorrow, I might as well make it worthwhile. I picked up my phone and dialled.
“I need three grand.”
“Georgie? Are you drunk?” Russ’s voice was thick with sleep, as if I’d woken him — good.
“Of course, I am you dickhead, I’d need to be to talk to you these days. Particularly today.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Shit.Apparently, I’d said that out loud rather than in my head.
“You do know what today should’ve been don’t you?”
The deafening silence which met my question-slash-accusation had me wondering if Russ had hung up. Couldn’t have blamed him if he had.
