Page 95 of You Belong With Me

Elliot’s parents had yet to vacate their house, and Edie was glad. When that day came, she’d have to take in the fact that Elliot had bought a house for her. Yes, you could rationalise it as an investment, a favour to his parents, a base for him.

The fact remained it was, truthfully, for her.

The plan was drinks then dinner, but Elliot was running late, so Edie ended up meeting the group on her own. She felt more antsy than usual, she supposed because there were people present who didn’t know Elliot. She’d learned you could never anticipate exactly how people would react to a famous face.

Edie

We’ll be at this restaurant from half 7! Will you be all right making your way straight there, if I go on ahead?xx

Elliot

I have Maps on my phone, I used to live here, and I’m a grown human man, so I think so, yesxx

‘Happy birthday, Nick!’ Edie said.

Hannah, looking especially beautiful and like a young Sissy Spacek in a high-necked blouse, ceremoniouslyproduced Nick’s gift, jointly acquired between herself, Edie, and Chloe. It was a limited-edition test pressing of Bob Dylan’sBlood on the Tracksand had cost a hefty sum on eBay. Edie insisted only Hannah was responsible enough to take care of it. Edie could imagine Meg using it as a plate coaster. She’d not been able to attend tonight due to her shift pattern, but Edie had been touched this had been communicated directly with Nick by Meg, with promise of a drink another time. She and her sister shared friends now. They’d come a long way, baby.

‘You’ve made this vinyl collector Peter Pan very happy,’ Nick said, wiping away a tear.

Edie tried not to hawk-watch the door and was gurgling like a fool at a Declan witticism when Elliot was suddenly in front of her, shrugging off a navy jacket with a crimson lining that she’d not seen before: a man of many coats.

‘Elliot …!’ Edie said. ‘Declan, Kieran, this is my boyfriend, Elliot.’ She was pointedly defining him by their relationship, not his career.

There was some brisk hand shaking, and Elliot waved hello at Nick, Hannah, and Chloe.

Elliot said: ‘Ah, I recognise you from your pap pics,’ to Declan, and Edie thought it was funny, but Declan only looked bemused and unexpectedly starstruck. Kieran had been no doubt told not to stare; he still did.

Elliot didn’t notice, in avery well-practised at not noticingkind of way, accepting a bottle of Modelo. Being famous meant you didn’t get to do standard hellos and introductions; you changed air pressure instead.

They fell naturally into three groups, conversationally: the Nick trio, Declan and Kieran catching up with each other, leaving Edie and Elliot to confidentially couple chat.

‘Next time I see you is the wedding, then,’ Elliot said. ‘I’ll send a car to take you there on the morning. My parents are going down the night before for lots of rigmarole with the Molly clan.’

Edie, deciding not to argue the convenience and wisdom of the car, said thank you.

‘I’m flying overnight to make it in time. I’m going to take an Ambien and wash it down with a G&T to get some rest. I’ll look like Beetlejuice,’ Elliot said.

‘They don’t give you time off for close family members weddings?’

‘They have done – they’ve bumped a few days filming, but may I remind you that this involved very little notice. I’m popular with my workmates for it at least – Ines is thinking of doing a UK trip.’

‘Hopefully not to Suffolk,’ Edie said.

‘Hah. The last thing any of us want to do is spend time with each other on our days off, I assure you.’

Edie was emboldened sufficiently to add: ‘Note that I’ve not asked when you’re filmingthat scenebecause I am such a Cool Girl.’

‘Oh, it’s done.’

‘What?’ Edie whispered, alcohol curdling in her gut. ‘Really? I thought you were shooting chronologically?’

‘We are, but Ines asked to get it out of the way. I don’t blame her.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘You said you didn’t want to know!’

He had her bang to rights there. And meanwhile, he’d right banged Ines. She should drop it at once, in company, and of course, she couldn’t.

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