Page 10 of Promise Me Ever After
“We’ll grab a coffee in the bar if that’s okay?” She pointed towards the area. “Our office is a mess.”
We walked across the room and commandeered a table in the corner. Ems waved to the barman. “I’ll have a latte please, Curtis. Georgie?”
“Same. Makes it easy.” I smiled at the barman.
“I hope Ellis explained why I’m here instead of him,” I began.
“Yes. Tess finally persuaded him he didn’t need to be involved in everything.” Ems glanced down at her notebook. “What do you know about the event?”
What I wanted to say was that it would be on the day I was meant to be getting married, but I hadn’t known Ems long enough to tell her. Instead, I gave her a stock answer.
“I think my grandparents used to come, although I suspect it’s changed a bit since then. Darcy tells me she’s donating a personal shopping experience at Itsy Bitsys this year.”
Ems nodded. “It has. We’re now calling it Favours for Fortunes rather than the Annual Ealynn Marina Hotel Charity Event. Bit catchier right?”
“Absolutely.” I tilted my head. “Your idea?”
She giggled. “Uh huh. Sonya, my boss, challenged me to come up with something and if it was successful, I’d get the morning after the event off. Which given the horrific hangover I had after last year would be a welcome blessing.”
“It’s a good night then? I’ve never been.”
“Oh. God. Yes.” Ems fanned herself. “Some of the favours last year were a bit risqué so I’ve had to tone it down this time.”
Idly I wondered if she had access to any strippers for Darcy’s hen night.
Curtis brought our drinks and placed them on the table, along with a plate of fancy biscuits. I selected what looked like a chocolate Florentine and nibbled on its edge.
“What do you need to know from me?” I asked. “I’ve only been working at the restaurant since Monday.”
Ems’s eyes widened. “Really? Why the sudden move?”
I chewed on the Florentine while I thought about how to answer. I’d known Ems for all of three minutes and wasn’t sure whether I should spill my guts to her. Still, she looked like someone I could be friends with, and I needed someone else apart from my sister to talk to.
“I kind of needed a new start.” I took a steadying breath. “My fiancé decided to christen our new sofa with someone else and I walked in on the scene. Like a bad porno, you know? But one I couldn’t switch off. Anyway, afterwards I knew I couldn’t stay in Bristol.”
Ems did a great impression of a goldfish, her mouth flapping open and closed. “That must have been a bit of a shock,” she said, at last.
I snorted. “Understatement. Then the same night, my mum told me my gran had died.”The night my entire world fell apart.I reached for my cup and took a sip, wishing it was something stronger. Or that I could at least light up a cigarette without fear of being vilified.
She reached across the table and touched the back of my hand. “God, Georgie, I’m so sorry. That’s dreadful. I can’t blame you for moving away.” Ems looked down at her own cup. “Makes my breakup look like nothing.”
“Oh?”
“Mmm. I thought he was going to ask him to move in with me, turned out he was moving halfway across the world for a job in New York.” Ems wrinkled her nose.
“Shit, sorry.” I winced. “Are you still in touch with him?”
“No. Thought it was best to cut all ties. I haven’t spoken to him in months. And Ealynn Sands isn’t exactly the dating capital of the South West.”
I wasn’t sure if I was pleased or disappointed to hear that. There were probably many verging-on-thirty-year-olds looking forthe one.
But I wasn’t, was I?
The last thing I wanted right now was to findthe one.
Why did Alex Kane’s face flash into my mind when I thought that?
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