Page 87 of The Dicktionary Club

‘Joshua?’ I managed back quietly, my voice swallowed by the noise of the bar.

‘What the fuck are you doing here?’ He put his drinks back on the bar and wrapped his arms around me, gently lifting me from the ground.

I was immediately enveloped by his familiar scent and his warmth. He was as bright and instantly attractive as I remembered. He looked older though, but even more handsome somehow, in David Beckham type way.

‘I .?.?. I .?.?. came through for this bar opening,’ I said as he lowered me down to the floor again. ‘Wait. What are you doinghere?’ I was still in complete disbelief. I needed a moment to take in the fact he was really standing before me. Never in the three years since splitting up had I ever bumped into him. He had grown out his dark hair so it sat pushed back to the side. It was much more mature and sophisticated than the skinhead he’d had while we were together. He looked healthy and glowing, his arms muscular and his shoulders broad, like he’d entered his gym phase era.

‘I live here now. Well, not here, more in the outskirts. It’s a friend’s birthday, and he told us about this place opening tonight. Fuck, you look great, Ella. So good!’ Joshua rubbed my arms again, and I could feel electricity bounce between us. ‘I take it you’re still hammering the gym?’

As I watched his eyes skim down my body, every emotion and feeling from all those years ago came rushing back.

‘Yeah, I am.’ I paused, then looked up at him, just inches away from me, in reality. Was this a sign from the universe? ‘I was talking about you earlier today,’ I heard myself blurt out, still entirely in disbelief he was here.

‘No way!’ He laughed, grabbing my hands. ‘Wait, let me guess: to Zola and Katy?’

I nodded back, not wanting to admit it was with Philip. ‘Yeah.’ I chuckled. ‘Of course!’ I made a guilty face, thinking of my two best friends.

‘We had something really special, Ella. Jeez, I think about you constantly. Honestly, I could see something totally random and think, “Oh, Ella would love this”!’ His grin was infectious, and I burst out laughing, knowing the same thing happened to me still, even after all this time.

My heart thundered in my chest. ‘Oh my God! Same! I saw an advert the other day on TV and the guy was scuba diving and I immediately thought of .?.?.’

‘Egypt! Ha!’ Joshua finished my sentence and I laughed,thinking of us going on a disastrous scuba-diving trip that ended in him breaking his nose.

I didn’t realise how much I’d missed this man in my life until now. He was the only one I’d ever really let in, the only man who hadn’t disappointed me, the only man I ever trusted.

‘My mum constantly asks about you, too. “How’s Ella? Let’s see her Instagram!” And I’m forced to troll photographs of the prettiest girl in Glasgow. It’s a form of torture, by the way.’

I felt myself blush, and playfully pushed his shoulder, enjoying the compliment, but knowing I had to unfollow all of his family after we split to save myself from mentally destroying myself.

‘Josh! We were wondering where you got to!’ a voice called out.

Suddenly, Joshua turned more rigid and he took a step back, welcoming the voice, ‘Errr.?.?. I’m sorry. I bumped into an old friend. Ella, this is my wife, Sarah.’

I stopped, completely motionless.

Your what?

A beautiful brunette came round from behind him, and my eyes immediately fell on her large baby bump.

‘Yip, a little bruiser on the way!’ Joshua rubbed her stomach, and she grinned back, leaning into his shoulder.

I felt like I had been hit by a double-decker bus.

I couldn’t move.

I felt my chest rise and fall with panic.

The room was spinning. I was entirely speechless.

Say something, say something.

‘Con .?.?. con .?.?. gratulations,’ I eventually whimpered, unable to take my eyes off this woman’s rounded stomach.

‘Ella!’ I heard Philip’s voice cut through the static around me, and suddenly he was by my side. ‘I thought we would have to call a plumber out, you were taking so long in there!’

He looked at me, then at Joshua and his wife, and held out his hand.

‘I’m Philip. Nice to meet you.’

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