Page 23 of Knotting Hill
“Yes, mum,” I drone. She always answers the same way, as if she is expecting disaster. “I’m going out later, so can we meet up tomorrow instead?”
“Yes, of course. Going anywhere nice?”
“Just to the pub.”
“Who with?”
“Cass and some other friends.”
“Any boys?”
I can almosthearthe gleam in her eyes.
“Not sure. Not that I know of, and don’t start. I don’t want to mate yet.”
“I know, I know, but I want grandbabies before I’m too old to pick them up.”
I snicker. “That is decades away. I’m sure you will have grandbabies before then.”
“I better had do,” she sulks and hangs up.
I know she’s not really upset. But she was mated with me on the way when she was twenty-five, medical school be damned. She was having it all and no one, not even life, messes with Gloria Rivers. But she doesn’t realise times have changed and mating isn’t the be-all and end-all anymore.
My thoughts wander briefly to JP and his visit to Cass’s store yesterday. Did he really buy a top with cherries on the front? I don’t see why Cass would lie, but that is just a bit weird. His asking questions about me makes me a bit uncomfortable, but I know Cass wouldn’t have told him anything personal. I wish I hadn’t ended up on his radar, but now all I can do is ride it out and hope he goes away when he doesn’t get me in his bed.
Avoiding the coffee shop and its vicinity in case he is there, I duck into the practice nice and early, glad that Sadie isn’t here already.
Cheryl is, though, looking all gorgeous and tanned.
She shrieks when she sees me and rushes to hug me. We aren’t that close, just work buddies, but I return it anyway and let her regale me with her holiday stories, not letting me get a word in, not that I really want to anyway.
My mood is pensive and stays that way all day until it’s time to meet up with Cass, Karen and the others. I’m not sure what is dragging me down, but something is niggling at me. It is soon replaced by laughter and chatting as I catch up with some of the girls I haven’t seen for a while, and also finding myself drawn into a conversation with Elle.
She beams and gives me a hug. “I knew I recognised you,” she says knowingly.
“It’s like that round here. Everyone knows everyone or someone who knows you,” I say with a laugh.
“Yep. Did your mum like the book? She is fabulous. She comes into the shop all the time.”
“I haven’t seen her yet. Tomorrow.” I take a sip of my soda water and grimace. This is the pits. I can’t sit here sober while everyone else is getting merry. “I’m going to get a real drink,” I inform her.
She giggles. “That’s the way, girl. Catch up with you in a bit.”
Her words are laced with a mysterious tone which immediately makes me suspicious. Standing at the bar a few moments later, ordering a Vodka tonic, I totally get why.
“Hey,” a familiar male voice says from right next to me.
“Well, if it isn’t Joshy. Shoulda known.”
“Ouch,” he says, leaning on the bar and regarding me with those remarkable brown eyes. “Forgive me for yesterday?”
I narrow my eyes as the bartender hands me my drink. “Why, what did you do?”
Josh holds his hand up and pays for it, to my annoyance, but I accept it because I’m not standing here making a fuss when I can’t really afford the drink in my hand anyway.
“I was a bit of an idiot. I saw you earlier in the coffee shop. We crossed in the doorway. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
Okay, he definitely appears smoother now than he did yesterday. I’ll give him that. Prepared suits him. He doesn’t think well on his feet. I don’t doubt for a second that Elle set this up. I slide my gaze over to her. She presses her lips together to hide her smile and turns away.
