Page 60 of The Village Christmas Party

We chat about our respective days, and Gemma tells me it’s been hectic at Bentham’s and that I was lucky to have had the day off.

‘I so need this,’ she says, taking a long gulp of her wine. We chat away, and half an hour later there is a tap of a microphone as the pub manager announces the arrival of the band who are going to play some live music. The pub slowly begins to fill, and as the sound of music fills the bar, it becomes more difficult to continue our conversation.

A bloke smiles at Gemma across the bar, and she returns his smile before telling me he is fit.

‘And what about Brad?’ I raise an eyebrow. ‘Have you forgotten about him already?’

‘Brad who?’ She laughs. ‘I’m only joking, really, but it’s nice to be noticed occasionally. Something you never need to worry about, all eyes are on you whenever you enter a room.’

‘I’m sure that’s not true,’ I say, even though if I am entirely honest I did notice a few men glancing in my direction as I walked in the pub, but maybe that was because I was alone.

We finally manage to have a chat whilst the band take a break from performing. The band had played a rousing set, covers from rock bands mainly, but one or two slower songs that really showcased the lead singer’s great voice.

‘You don’t think guys notice you? Well just look at the lead singer checking you out.’ She nods towards the small stage at the end of the room.

I glance over at the long-haired singer, who raises his pint and winks at me.

‘Well, it’s very flattering but I’m not interested.’

‘Why not? He looks as sexy as hell to me,’ says Gemma.

‘Possibly, but he’s not really my type. Besides, I am going on a date with Kian. We’re going to the cinema.’ I feel a tinge of excitement as I tell her this. Once more, there is a bit of a lukewarm response from Gemma at my news.

‘Oh right,’ she says, taking a sip of her drink.

‘You don’t think it’s good idea?’ I say, now wondering if there really is something she is keeping from me.

‘I never said that.’

‘You didn’t have to. The look on your face said it all. Gemma, is there something you are not telling me?’ I almost demand.

Just then, the band fires up once more, and an ear-splitting rendition of a Freddie Mercury song reverberates around the bar.

Gemma mouths something, but I can’t really make out what she is saying.

I’m puzzled by Gemma’s response. I’ve never known her to be anything but happy for me when I’ve had a new boyfriend. And she is always making me aware when a man glances in my direction.

I’m mulling this over, ready to resume our chat, when the guy who had been looking at Gemma across the bar walks over and asks her if she would like to dance. A few people have already jumped up and are dancing away on the small dance floor. She agrees, and is soon up there waving her arms in the air and really going for it with the tall, fair-haired guy and I wonder when I will have the chance to talk to her properly about Kian.

I don’t have to wait long though, as Gemma returns to the table after a couple of dances, and the band finish their set to rapturous applause.

‘Mike has gone to buy us both a drink,’ she says, looking over at the guy, who is waiting at the busy bar to be served.

‘Good, because I need to ask you something and I want you to be honest with me. Why don’t you seem happy about me going out with Kian?’

‘Oh, Lauren, it’s not that I’m not happy for you, it’s just… well…’

‘Well what?’

She pauses for a moment before answering.

‘I served him the other day with a gift. For a woman,’ she tells me.

‘And what’s wrong with that? It’s Christmas time, it could have been for anyone,’ I reason.

‘Which, of course, is exactly what I thought, but then I saw him with Bella and another woman. She was tall with blonde hair,’ she tells me in a quiet voice. ‘The three of them were coming out of that American diner across town.’

‘It might be a relative,’ I say casually, although I swallow down a feeling of disappointment. Kian never mentioned another woman, although there is no denying that I also saw him with a tall blonde woman. Perhaps she is Bella’s aunt or something, but he never mentioned her on the phone. Then again, why would he?

---