Page 11 of Christmas Romance Galore!
Or perhaps I did.
Seeing her was just such a shock.
When she touched me, it took me right back — right back to the library, my bedroom, my heartbreak.
She nodded, still holding my hand. “Bit of a whirlwind, but yes, engaged.” She glanced up at Melanie, before refocusing on me.
Her gaze burnt into me, and I had to remember to breathe. Nicola looked older, of course she did. Her hair was shorter, her features fuller, her body more solid. But she was still Nicola Sheen, she still owned those eyes and she still commanded that my eyes couldn’t look away.
And of course, she had to meet me just after my failed date when I was looking like this. Thanks a bunch, universe.
I stared at her hand, then at Melanie’s. There were no rings.
“Haven’t got around to it yet,” Melanie said as if reading my mind. “Rings are next on the list, aren’t they, sweetheart?” She was gripping Nicola’s shoulder harder now as if she was trying to stop the situation slipping out of her control. Melanie had brought Nicola over here to gloat. Now it turned out, she was reintroducing me to my first love and I was pretty sure that vibe was seeping out of every single pore of my body.
“I take it you two know each other?” Melanie looked from Nicola to me, then back. Her voice was too high. It scratched my skin.
I nodded. “Went to school together. Best friends for a time, weren’t we?” I locked eyes with Nicola. My stomach dropped. Best friends, first kiss, could-have-been lovers. All I knew was the story we’d written at school had never been fully erased, nor fully written.
“We were, but it feels like a different life,” Nicola said. And then she had the good grace to look away.
A wave of nausea hit me as Melanie kissed Nicola on the cheek — it was as if I’d just been slapped. I didn’t even want to think about them having sex.
I shut my eyes, and when I reopened them, Melanie had her concerned face on again. “You know, you’re welcome to come and eat with us if you’re eating on your own.” She looked like she wanted to take a jar of pity and smother it all over me.
I glanced at Nicola, whose face didn’t alter, but I could spy alarm in her eyes — it was a look I was used to seeing when it came to her. Did Melanie know the signs yet? I doubted it.
I shook my head. “That’s kind, but I’m just popping in on the way to meeting someone, so I won’t be long.” It was gone 9pm, so I was clearly lying. I smiled up at Melanie. Could she tell I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than have dinner with them?
If she did, she said nothing. Instead, they walked back to their table with a promise to meet for drinks soon, Nicola Sheen avoiding my gaze.
I couldn’t wait.
I took a slug of wine, refilled my glass to the top and hoped my food arrived soon. I was desperate to turn my head and get a good look at Nicola, but I knew I couldn’t.
Nicola Bloody Sheen. Engaged to Melanie Bloody Taylor.
Holly was not going to believe this, and truth be told, neither did I.
I hadn’t planned on getting drunk tonight, but now there seemed no other option. I downed my wine in a few gulps and ordered another large glass of red from the waiter. I didn’t care how I looked anymore or what else could happen tonight — the roof of my world was already sagging to the point of near collapse. I’d been deserted on a date, fallen asleep with my trousers down and had just bumped into my first love, who was engaged to my friend. Isn’t it ironic?
I made a mental note to call Alanis Morissette and see what she thought.
Saturday December 3rd
Holly had to stop walking, she was laughing so much. “You didn’t?”
I nodded. “I did. I woke myself up dribbling.” I smirked. “And it’s not funny, by the way.”
Holly’s laughter begged to differ. “It’s kinda funny, you have to admit. You go on a date and fall asleep in the toilet? That is the stuff of legend.” She snorted. “I did tell you to slow down with these dates, but I thought you could take three in a week. Clearly I was wrong.”
We were walking around our local park, and it was another beautifully sunny day. To our right, barren trees lined the path ahead. To our left, a group of carol singers were belting out ‘Jingle Bells’ with gusto. I dropped a pound coin into their collecting bucket as we passed and it hit the bottom with a thud.
“You were. Perhaps I’m developing narcolepsy like in that film. Whatever it is, this is going to seriously dent my lesbian kerb appeal.” I kicked a stone and it hit a nearby tree.
Holly chuckled, her grey woollen bobble-hat waggling as she walked. “It’s not ideal.”
I pouted at her and sighed. “We’re into December now and the girlfriend quest isn’t improving, is it? Ruby was a dud, Anna couldn’t leave me quick enough, then on the third... well, you know the rest.”
