Page 10 of The London Girls
‘Don’t be silly, he would never hurt me.’ Ava waved her hand in the air as if to dismiss her words, and Olivia glanced at Florence, who looked as alarmed as she felt. Perhaps the other Wrens’ misgivings about Ava weren’t quite so far-fetched after all. ‘But thank you for your concern.’
They sat a moment in silence as more people came into the bar, but Olivia’s thoughts were interrupted when a man approached them, his accent thick as he smiled and spoke.
‘Ladies, could I buy you a drink?’
Oliva sat back and looked to Ava, who immediately seemed to revel in the role of flirt.
‘Do you have any handsome friends?’ Ava asked.
The man looked over his shoulder, before turning back with an empty look. Clearly, he didn’t.
‘Sorry, we’re discussing work,’ Ava said. ‘We haveveryimportant jobs. Perhaps we’ll come and find you later.’
The man looked perplexed, and when he left them Ava burst out laughing at the same time as Florence’s face fell.
‘The poor man!’ Florence said. ‘He looked absolutely crestfallen!’
‘He’ll be fine,’ Ava said. ‘Look, he’s already found someone else to ask.’
Sure enough, their would-be suitor was leaning in to talk to another young woman, which did make Florence feel a lot better.
‘Girls, this could be one of our last nights of freedom!’ Ava said, finishing the rest of her champagne in one gulp. ‘In a few weeks’ time, we could be racing around on motorcycles all over England. We need another drink!’
Olivia swapped glances with Florence again, before looking at her watch. She still wanted to leave before it was too late; she was terrified of not making it home before the witching hour when bombs began to fall.
‘Maybe just one more,’ she heard Florence saying.
‘Olivia?’
She sighed. ‘All right, but justonemore.’
Ava slung an arm around her shoulders on one side, and Florence’s on the other. ‘We’re going to be formidable, the three of us,’ Ava declared. ‘We’re going to be handpicked for these jobs, I just know it.’
‘I wish I shared your confidence,’ Florence said.
‘Me too,’ Olivia murmured, as Ava rose to go and get their drinks for them.
‘She’s something else, isn’t she?’ Florence shook her head, and Olivia sighed.
‘She certainly is. Don’t you just wonder where some people get their confidence from?’
‘I have a feeling it wouldn’t matter what she set her mind to, she’d believe in herself,’ Florence said. ‘I’m only worried she might not make the height or weight requirements, although I don’t want to be the one to tell her.’
‘Don’t want to be the one to tell me what?’
Olivia and Florence both jumped in surprise, not having noticed Ava arriving back at their table.
‘You were fast! Where are the drinks?’ Olivia looked past Ava, wondering if the barman was carrying them for her.
‘I didn’t even make it to the bar,’ she said. ‘The barman called out that the next round is on the house. Now, what was it you couldn’t tell me?’
Olivia glanced at Florence, shrugging her shoulders as if to tell her she may as well just say it.
‘Well ...’ Florence began.
‘Come on! What is it?’
‘I’m worried you might not meet the weight requirements of the medical.’
