Page 51 of Date with Destiny

‘Thanks,’ she replies, delighted. ‘I found it in a cookbook.’

I turn wide-eyed to Myfanwy and Sonali, who are struggling to keep it together.

‘I really like Harissa, too,’ Sonali says in a whisper. ‘Especially on my chicken.’

‘I’m going to call my firstborn Celeriac Puree,’ I tell her in a low voice. ‘Or maybe Tarte Tatin?’

‘Gorgeous.’ Myfanwy gives me an on-point chef’s kiss before adding, ‘I’ve been considering Remoulade for a girl and Emulsion for a boy.’

Sonali shuffles closer. ‘How about Penny?’ We cock our heads at her and she smirks, ‘Penny Pasta.’

We hide mouths behind hands, trying to contain our joy.

‘I can’t really talk,’ I say through giggles. ‘I’m named after an alcoholic beverage.’ As we all dissolve into more laughter, I turn to look for my accompanying mixer. But Toni and Shawn have stepped away and are now engaged in conversation with the posh food fans. Heated conversation.

‘No,’ he’s saying with irritation. ‘Shawn is actually an incredibly cool name! It’s much better than Amadeus or Mazikeen!’

‘Show them your trouser initials, baby,’ Toni says helpfully, without a trace of mocking.

‘Oh my gawwwwwd,’ Perm says as he scrambles to pull up his hem again. ‘Youdon’thavethosedreadful trews?’ She turns to her cohorts. ‘Annabellisey, Penelopicity, do you remember my awfers ex, Square? Remember how he used to wear those? Oh my gawd! I can’t believe peeps are stillwearing those!’ She turns back to Shawn, who is horrified and purple again.

‘YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT FASHION!’ he shouts as the young women regard him with amusement.

‘Why do I work for a premium fashion website then,Shawn?’ Perm asks archly and he blusters.

‘Probably because your daddy owns it!’ he gets out at last, hit by a moment of clarity.

She pouts and then raises her voice. ‘Just because he owns it doesn’t mean I automatically got the job. I’m so sick of everyone accusing rich and famous people of helping their children also become rich and famous. Me and Brooklyn Beckham are so misunderstood. Daddy hasn’t employed my little sister, so that proves it! And he won’t even when she gets out of rehab.’

I glance over at Myfanwy and Sonali, who are both enjoying all this drama immensely. I want to remind her that the idiot man-child over there is my baby sister’s boyfriend. A man she plans onmarrying.

I glance over at Toni, who looks mortified and like she is close to tears. What is shedoingwith him? She’s so lovely and kind and beautiful. She could have anyone; why is she settling for this absolute idiot? Is this really all that’s on offer out there in the dating world? If so, I’m doomed. Maybe Ishouldbe trying to get back with Daniel.

On the other hand, is it purely love that’s making me want to run back into his arms? Or is it the fear of ending up with only options like this guy in front of me, shouting at women half his age over what is cool and what is not cool.

No, I don’t think it’s just that. I really do miss Daniel. I ache for him. I miss the smell of him, the heaviness of his body next to me in bed, the way he’d grin and ruffle my hair when I brought him coffee in the morning.

I pull out my phone, rain drip-dripping onto the screen as people yell all around me. I find Daniel’s last message and start to type…

‘GINNY!’ a new shouty voice finds me and I jump, throwing my phone back into my coat pocket. There is something I recognize about the…

Oh my god. It can’t be.

The shouter bounds over to me in short leaps, a huge smile across his familiar features.

It’s Mikey. Mikey Yates from a thousand years ago.

Mikey and I dated for a year when I was twenty-four. He was my first serious relationship.

I gasp out his name as he gathers me up in a huge bear hug.

Instantly, I think of one of the predictions. About someone coming back into my life. It couldn’t be about him?

He pulls back, flashing the biggest row of white teeth. I’m sure his smile was never so bright and perfect? He looks great; all glossy and sheeny. His hair is just long enough to tuck behind an ear, and he does so now as he takes me in.

‘Ginny Bretherton!’ he says in an exhale as he smiles again. ‘I can’t believe it’s you, this is so weird! Like fate or destiny!’ The fortune teller’s face flashes across my vision. He continues, oblivious, ‘I came over to see what all the shouting was about.’ He waves at Shawn and the tall women.‘Why is that purple old guy yelling at Trinny Woodall with a perm?’

My friends burst out laughing and I turn to them.

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