Page 10 of Asking For a Friend

Oh my god, I’m having an argument with a cat, a cat that has fucked off.

When I finally step into the coffee shop, it’s past nine o’clock, and I’ve missed him. Kate gives me a knowing grin. What’s she up to? She hands me my tea and a cinnamon swirl pastry. “Already bought and paid for. He says he’ll see you at lunchtime.”

And just like that, my morning looks so much better.

As Sophie, Ellis’s beautiful wife, lets me into their large Notting Hill home, shrieks of high-pitched laughter float down the hallway. She grins at me. “It’s bath time for the girls. Ellis will be wetter than them by the time it’s over.”

I kiss her cheek and roll my eyes. “He’s a bigger kid than both of them put together.” I hold out my offering, a bottle of her favourite wine. “For you. Thanks for inviting me.”

“You don’t need an invitation to visit us and your goddaughters.”

Ellis shouts down to us. “We’ll be with you in a few minutes.”

We wander down to the large kitchen, which is full of photographs, drawings, and paintings of and by the kids. The enormous property has been renovated into a warm, friendly family home. Mouth-watering aromas waft in the air. And if I’m not mistaken, they come from my favourite dish. “Is that your cassoulet I smell?”

When she nods, I pretend to go weak at the knees. “Of course. It’s been too long since I made it. And I know it’s your favourite.”

“Why didn’t you marry me instead of that knucklehead.” I point upstairs.

“Genitals, sweetie. You don’t like the ones I’ve got. Otherwise, maybe.”

“I would’ve switched teams for you and your cooking.” I give her my most sincere expression, but we both end up laughing. “Okay, maybe not. I still love you, though.”

The patter of bare feet on the slate tiles and the cries of “Uncle Hes, Uncle Hes!” interrupt us, and Esme and Esther rush to me. The twins are identical, but after knowing them for all their six years, I can tell them apart.

“Leave my wife alone, you reprobate.” Grinning, Ellis pulls Sophie to him and kisses her.

I ignore him and crouch down, holding out my arms for the girls. After peppering me with all their news compressed into half a dozen high-speed sentences, they bounce to the squashy sofa and watch the telly.

“Wine or beer?” Ellis holds up a bottle of red and a bottle of beer.

“The wine, please.”

While he opens the wine, Sophie makes the salad and cuts thick slices of rustic bread. They move around each other as if in a synchronised dance. A little pang of envy at the domesticity and routine they share pricks me. Fifteen minutes later, Ellis and Sophie take the girls upstairs to bed. I’m comfortable enough in their home that I don’t mind being left alone.

As I wait for them to return, I pull out my phone. I haven’t had a running conversation with Lando since lunch yesterday, but we’ve texted back and forth enough for me to message him now.

How’s it going? I’m at Ellis’s for dinner tonight. Are we still on for tomorrow?

He doesn’t reply, so I guess he’s busy. Is he out tonight? He said he was home all weekend, but plans change, I suppose. The people he was out with in The King’s Head looked like a great group of friends. He could be with them tonight. My stomach clenches at the thought of him doing more, of him hooking up. No, he wouldn’t do that. At least in the time I’ve known him, he’s never given off the impression he goes for a one-night stands. Not if his earlier hesitancy to talk to me is anything to go by.

Sophie and Ellis walk back in and let out a sigh of relief. “That’s them settled. Thank god for Friday.” Sophie picks up her glass and takes a hearty slug of wine.

Ellis pulls out a chair at the dining table and fiddles with the cutlery, then gives me a wicked grin. Uh-oh, he’s up to something. “Hey, Soph, has Hesketh told you about his new man?”

She spins around so quickly the wine slops precariously up the edge of her glass. Luckily, none is spilt before she steadies it. “Tell me everything. Oh, Hesketh, this is great news.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you. It’s nothing like that. Ellis is winding you up.” It’s been an amazing three weeks in which I’ve talked to Lando and learnt a little bit about him each day. I loved every shy smile he gave me when he caught me watching him. If Ellis knew I’ve only managed to hold Lando’s hand and kiss his cheek in these weeks, he’d be laughing himself off the sofa. And tomorrow we’re going out on a date. I’ve considered our shared lunches as such, but I don’t think Lando has. My phone buzzes and lets out a chime. A message has come through, and as much as I want to whip the device out of my pocket, I daren’t. If it’s from Lando, then my face will give away more than I want my friends to see.

“Aren’t you going to read that?” Ellis grins at me, putting me on the spot.

“Nah, it probably isn’t anything important. I’ll check it later.”

“But aren’t you taking him on a date tomorrow? It could be him.”

Sophie, the sweetheart, is on my side. “Ellis, leave him alone. You do this every time.”

She’s right; he does. He’s so desperate to see me as loved up as he is that every man I meet becomes the one. He pushes and pushes until I lose interest in the guy before I’ve even got to know him. It’s like having my mother looking over my shoulder. Although sometimes it goes the other way, and Ellis doesn’t like him. Then he lets me know it in a constant drip feed of negative comments. Which is why I don’t want him anywhere near Lando.

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