Page 36 of The Vow We Made
“Not long. Help yourself,” Steph answers while retrieving the milk but Bronte doesn’t need to be asked twice. She’s already filling her mug.
“Amazing,” I announce dreamily as I’m released from his kiss in my thoughts.
“Right, that’s enough,” Steph warns as she pulls out a chair and fills her mug. “What happened? Properly this time, andyou,” she says pointing a finger at Bronte, “keep it zipped. I can’t take the suspense any longer.”
Excitement dives through my stomach while I drift back. “He’s open, honest, has nothing to hide and he isn’t trying to impress. He puts thought into everything he does and, well, he’s just gorgeous. I’ve never met anyone like him before.” My tone is completely dopey. I genuinely can’t get Aiden out of my head and it’s turned me into a sap of the first order which Steph soon realises.
“You really like him, don’t you?” I beam but stay silent. “Holy shit,” she squeals, not giving me a chance to say a word. “Did you see that look?”
Bronte grins. “I saw it alright.”
I try to calm them down. “It was one date girls.” But they don’t fall for it. Why would they? Ihavegot it bad and it’s written all over my stupid face. So much for taking it slow.
“It might be one date, but it’s taken you forever to get here. In fact, the last time I saw you like this—” Bronte’s sentence reaches an abrupt end, so I finish it for her.
“Was my first date with Andy?”
“Sorry Vickie, I didn’t mean to bring it up.” I can tell she’s mortified. Like so many of my friends, Bronte thinks I’m still in mourning over the man I married, but her worries couldn’t be further from the truth.
I don’t want her to feel bad, so I reach over and rub her arm. “I’ll take it as a positive. If Aiden has the same effect on me as Andy, then he must be worth it.” I glance over to Steph who gives me the side-eye. She knows all too well how my husband wasn’t everything we believed him to be and doesn’t let an awkward silence hang in the air for long. Instead she smoothly moves the conversation back to the man I want to talk about.
“So, come on. We need to know more about Aiden and you haven’t told us all the gory details yet.”
I’m grateful for the way she steers the conversation and my excitement is obvious. “Well, first off, we took a trip on the London Eye.”
Bronte screws up her nose. “Why the hell would he take you there?”
“Haveyoubeen on it?” I ask.
“Well, no, it’s for kids and tourists. Why the hell would I want to?”
I grin again. “Believe me, you would if it was a romantic pod for two.” I can’t help the huge sigh leaving my chest while I’m deep in thought. “Then we had a gorgeous dinner and talked all night.”
“Well I think he sounds perfect,” Steph sighs dreamily.
“At least he didn’t take you to the pub at the end of the road and leave you to walk home by yourself.”
“Nu-huh.” Steph slams the breaks on Bronte’s assault of an ex-boyfriend. “We’re not talking about my nightmares here.”
Bronte slurps her tea. “Fair enough, but just for the record, I knew you could do better.”
“Thank you darling,” Steph blows Bronte an air kiss then her focus is back to me. “When are you seeing Romeo again?” She questions.
I sit back and place my hands to my forehead and drag them through my short, messy hair. “I have to go to this bloody meeting in Scotland tomorrow and even if I wasn’t, I couldn’t see him for a few days. He’s working the night shift.”
“He works nights? What does Mr Perfect do for a living?” Bronte asks while drinking her tea.
“He’s a doctor.”
She chokes on her mouthful. “Fuck me. He really is perfect!”
I sigh breathlessly. “He is.”
“Enough now,” Bronte declares. “I think you’re done for the day Miss Vickie.”
“She would be if she didn’t have to get ready for her trip.” Steph raises her eyebrows in Bronte’s direction as she gets up from her seat. “I can’t do anything with her when she’s like this, so it’s a good job she has something to keep her occupied.” I love the way they talk about me as if I’m not here sometimes.
“Oh yes, the big interview. Do give my ex a big hug from me?”
