Page 70 of The Vow We Made
Luke gives Aiden a warning stare but I catch the smile he’s trying to hold back.
“Mate, did you have to mention it today?”
“Hold on, don’t try and get out of it. Are you saying you’ve introduced her to your sister already? Bloody hell, this is more serious than I thought.” Aiden laughs while Luke gives his sister dagger eyes.
“So come on, tell me about her or are you still keeping your cards close to your chest?”
I think Aiden enjoys taking the mick out of Luke. I feel a bit sorry for him.
“It’s nothing mate, I met her on a plane and we got on like a house on fire. There isn’t a lot more to it.”
“I disagree. It must be serious if Georgie’s met her. How long has it been going on exactly?” Aiden asks, clearly put out by his friend’s unwillingness to fill him in, while Georgie can hardly contain herself and Marcus is shaking his head. Poor Luke appears to be under fire which makes me wonder how long it’s been since he last had a girlfriend. Why else would they make such a fuss?
Luke glances up to the ceiling and is clearly exasperated. “A while, but don’t get your hopes up. It’s a long-distance thing and very casual. It’ll probably fizzle out soon enough.”
Aiden smiles. “You’re playing it down, I can tell.” Perhaps he’s enjoying Luke taking all the flack as I’m sure this lot have probably teased him about me.
“Fuck off,” Luke replies while the rest snigger at his expense.
Aiden signals the waitress and we take turns to order drinks and lunch. The conversation flows freely and I take stock of Aiden and his friends, noting their easy banter and how I had nothing to worry about. They’re lovely.
We’re all getting along great and enjoying the afternoon until Georgie asks about my leg. Nodding towards the cast, she asks, “How long until it comes off?”
“Maybe another four weeks, I’m not sure yet.” I look at Aiden.
“She’s doing all the right things and if she carries on this way, it could be sooner.” He winks my way, sending my stomach into an excited flurry while Georgie carries on with her questions.
“You were lucky to get away with a broken ankle I hear.”
“So I’m told. I seem to be very lucky when it comes to surviving accidents,” I reply absentmindedly.
“Accidents? You mean this has happened before?” Georgie questions, throwing me slightly. I freeze on the spot as Aiden glances towards me.
“I- Uhm—” I shake my head to move my hair from my burning cheeks. I don’t want to get into this right now, but it’s my own stupid fault for mentioning it. “It was a long time ago and I survived. Yay me.” I smile brightly towards Aiden once again.
I get the feeling my slip of the tongue may cause questions later, but for now, Aiden continues to talk animatedly with Luke. He obviously didn’t pick up on what I’d said which means I’m in the clear for now. Things are going well and I don’t want to spoil them by telling him about Andy too soon.
Marcus stands from his chair and scans the restaurant for our waitress. “I’m getting a coffee, anyone else?”
“We ought to get back,” Aiden says, his tone concerned.
“Surely we can stay for a quick coffee. It’s been so good to get out and I don’t want to go home yet,” I plead.
“Oh let her stay spoilsport.” I’m delighted Georgie is on my side. She leans over and places her hand on my arm. “You haven’t told me anything about yourself, not properly and I want to hear all the juicy details about how you and Aiden met.”
“Then I’ll have a flat white please Marcus,” I request brightly in the direction of Georgie’s boyfriend.
“Coming up. Anyone else?”
“We’ll all have one, shall we?” Georgie obviously wants our afternoon to continue too, so she flutters her eyes towards Aiden for approval and gains a reluctant, but not totally dismissive, “Sure.”
Georgie carries on, “It must be so frustrating, not being able to get up and do what you want, when you want.”
“I’ve definitely struggled at times and I hate relying on other people, but everyone’s been so amazing.”
I smile towards Aiden’s brown eyes and they lift in response when he adds, “She’s an easy patient.”
“Smitten.” Luke teases while Aiden grimaces and tries his hardest not to smile.
