Page 82 of Always the Bridesmaid

We were such good friends, all of us.

I set my phone down on the floor and close my eyes.

Charlie and I have so much in common, yet so many differences, which made for great conversation and a great friendship this last week. We were completely opposite to Danny and me.

Charlie and I forged a friendship first, then connected physically, whereas with Danny it was the other way around.

Regardless, I miss them both.

31

CHARLIE

I knew it wasn’t my best performance tonight. I’m surprised I didn’t get heckled, in all honesty. I said all the right things in all the right places but I just didn’t have the energy I normally have to land my jokes the way I like to. When I picked up my guitar, I just didn’t play it with any sort of oomph.

A few people in the audience are kind enough to congratulate me on my show as I head back into the Piccadilly-based club after my set.

I would have gone straight home but Jake and Jess are back from honeymoon and they are sitting on one of the front tables, right by the stage.

They have ordered me a pint and it’s sitting on top of the table, where there’s a spare stool, waiting for me.

Jake and Jess are looking at me like I have twelve heads.

Ignoring their expressions, I ask, ‘How was the honeymoon, lovebirds?’

I can’t even ask my friends about the best two weeks of their lives and sound chirpy about it.

‘Okay, where is funny-guy Charlie? What have you done with him?’ Jess asks.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Charlie, man, I love you but that is the worst I’ve ever seen you on stage,’ Jake says.

It’s a good thing I have an affection for his honesty because he is truly tactless.

‘I’m just having a bad night, I guess.’ I shrug, then change topic. ‘Weather was nice, I take it? You two look golden delicious, positively glowing.’

They look at each other then back to me and Jess says, ‘We wish we could say the same, buddy.’

‘Listen, we love you, man, but we’ve been back from honeymoon less than forty-eight hours and have dragged ourselves away from two new comfy his and hers towel robes to come here and make sure you’re OK,’ Jake says.

I feel my face contort with confusion. ‘Why would you do that?’

‘Because Cash and Will have told me you’ve been ignoring their calls. That you won’t go out anywhere or even have a movie night in with them,’ he adds.

‘They only ever want to watch Top Gun and I wasn’t in the mood,’ I lie.

‘You love Top Gun, come off it,’ Jess says.

She’s got me there.

‘See, the funny thing is, I spoke to my brother today and it turns out Sarah is as miserable as he’s ever seen her. Moping around work, not going to her exercise classes or socials, which is so not Sarah. So, why don’t you level with us? What went down between you two?’

I take a drink of my beer, which empties nearly half the glass, then plant it back down on the table and give them the abbreviated version of my time spent with Sarah in London. I leave out any romantic details because these guys are her friends and I don’t want to embarrass her any more than I already have.

When I’m finished, I find myself shaking my head. ‘What can I say except I’m an idiot? I knew she’d have no interest in a guy like me but I fell for her.’

I allowed myself to hope in the way I used to when I was a child every time I got a new foster home that I liked. I would hope that my latest mum and dad would want to keep me but they always cast me aside when I became too difficult for them or they just didn’t want me anymore.

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