Page 52 of Wish You Knew
I had a funny feeling our history might be all we turned out to have.
26
Rosie
“Excuse the mess. Tris is being a typical builder and putting his clients before his own house.” Saff ushered me in through the front door of their new house, the hallway of which was cluttered with paint tins, offcuts of wood, boxes of flat pack furniture and a roll of carpet.
“Oy, I heard that!” Tris called from the living room. “Can I help it Col became a decorator to the stars after doing your brother’s place?”
She directed me to the kitchen. “This is the only room that’s really sorted. Ironic as we mostly get takeout.”
The small room at the back of the house overlooked the garden, a strip of grass with a patio and space for a table and chairs. Functionally kitted out with the usual appliances and decorated in a muted yet warm mushroom colour, it screamed cosy and traditional - the exact opposite of Saff.
“Wine?” she asked, reaching into the fridge for an unopened bottle.
“Please.” I sat down at the table and dropped my bag on the floor beside me.
She sloshed the wine into two large glasses and passed one to me. “So. I haven’t seen you since Brixton, but it seems I’ve missed out on a hell of a lot of gossip. You wanna tell me about it?”
I lifted the glass to my lips and took a large slug. “Not really. There’s nothing to tell.”
Her eyes narrowed as she sipped her own drink. “You and Scott in a cosy country hideaway and there’s nothing to tell? I call bullshit.”
“Do you see him here?” I gestured around the room with my glass. “Is he by my side when I’m coming over to dinner with my best friend?”
“Um, he lives in Manchester?”
“Details, Saff, details. If there was anything between us, he’d be here, I’m sure of it.” I gulped down more wine, needing the alcohol to loosen my tongue and bring out the real truth.
The doorbell rang, and Saff yelled out to Tris to answer it.
I guessed it was whatever food we were having tonight. Mumbled voices came from the hallway and the door slammed shut. Expecting Tris to appear with the bags, my jaw dropped as he arrived in the kitchen with another guy.
“Hey, Rosie.” Tris came over and hugged me. “This is Andy. He’s one of my mates from home.” He jerked his thumb in the direction of the dark-haired chap standing behind him.
My head snapped around to Saff. “What’s he doing here?” I mouthed.
“We arranged it ages ago.” Saff wasn’t so bothered about keeping my discomfort from Andy. “Double date kind of thing.” She waved her wine glass around as if that explained everything.
Honestly, I couldn’t remember agreeing to it. Judging by Andy’s bugged out eyes, I wasn’t sure he had either.
Tris went to the fridge and grabbed two bottles of beer, opening them both and passing one to Andy. He downed almost half of it in one go, gulping hard.
“Nice to meet you, Rosie.” He swiped a hand across his mouth, before holding it out to me.
“Er, you too?” I glanced between his hand and Saff, who was trying not to laugh.
The guys sat down at the table, and we made polite conversation while we waited for the food. Saff stopped asking about Scott, choosing instead to focus on how single and available I was. Andy barely said a word while he listened, knocking back beer as if it were water. The same could be said about me and the wine.
Around fifteen minutes later, we were saved by the bell - literally.
Saff and Tris went to the door leaving me and Andy alone.
“Do you want another drink?” He stood up.
“Sure, thanks.” I glanced around the kitchen. “I guess I could find some plates and cutlery.” While he refilled our drinks, I opened cupboards and drawers until I got what I was looking for. I could feel Andy watching me, and I wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or alarmed. Poor guy had probably been expecting a fun night with a supermodel - ha - and he’d ended up with me, pining after a rock star. Even if nothing came of it, I should at least make some sort of effort.
During dinner, I did exactly that.
