Page 62 of The Night Before Christmas
‘Just once, mind.’
‘When?’
‘Just after you broke up.’
Felicity shot her a look.
‘No, not then,’ said Bex hastily. ‘The first time. When you went to university. It was a one-time thing. Never to be repeated.’
‘Never?’ said Felicity, raising an eyebrow.
‘No! Never. I would never do that to you.’
‘It sounds like you already have!’
Bex ducked her head, sheepishly.
‘I actually wouldn’t mind,’ said Felicity, to her own surprise. ‘Genuinely. In fact, you two would make more sense in a lot of ways. But I should warn you, he’s a serial cheater.’
Bex looked up at her then, her eyes shining, but her voice steady. ‘I know. And that’s not even the main issue.’
Oh God, Bex was actually in love with Adam. This was… unexpected.
‘Er, I know I’ll probably regret asking this question, but what is the main issue, exactly?’
‘Surely you know what I’m talking about.’
Felicity took a sip of hot chocolate and then shrugged.
I don’t dare guess.
‘Come on, Felicity. The main issue is that he will never get over you. He’s obsessed. He always has been. Even when he was with that Tabitha girl. He never got over you completely. I could never compete with that.’
Felicity flushed in spite of herself.
‘Oh nonsense. It’s not me he’s obsessed with. It’s just the idea of me. Not even that. The idea of someone. Anyone. I think the truth is he’s just scared of ending up old and saggy and alone.’
Bex giggled.
Best not mention he came all the way to Guernsey to see me a couple of days ago.
‘He’ll move on soon, he’s only ever been in love with himself, truth be told.’
Felicity stared at her own reflection in the coffee shop window. She wondered why she didn’t feel more upset.
This was their favourite bijou independent café – there wasn’t a Costa or Caffè Nero or any such chain in sight on this elegant street – and this was their favourite spot, wedged at the front of the shop in a leather booth, their backs to the baristas, with a perfect view of the lane, just right for people watching. Today, though, she was seeing a flashback of sorts as she stared into the glass. Adam and her, his face when she told him she was going away to study. His all too frequent and sometimes surprise visits to her in halls of residence. The way Tom the handsome barman had stepped aside so quickly when Adam came to see her that weekend.
They had always had something.
Before she could take that train of thought any further, Bex decided to drop the bombshell of all bombshells. She did it ever so casually, didn’t even look up, almost delivered it under her breath, but Felicity heard every word.
‘I didn’t know Adam and that lovely penguin guy knew each other, by the way.’
Palms sweating instantly.
‘Who? What?’
‘The penguin guy, the one you met on the doorstep. The one you went on that date with.’
