The Friends We Keep(24)

“That would be great.” Maggie’s smile was so wide, it was almost painful.

“Any idea where you’ll be living?”

“Westbourne Grove. I’ve got a job in corporate PR. I’ve just got to find roommates.”

“Nice.” He whistled. “That sounds cushy. Maybe you’ll buy me dinner sometime? Can I get you all another drink?”

“That sounds lovely,” said Maggie, who was gazing at Evil Ben with pure adoration as Evvie nudged her.

“We’ve probably got to get going,” said Evvie, ignoring Maggie’s quick glare at her. “We’ve got dinner to get ready and a house to finish packing up.”

“We can stay for another drink,” Maggie said.

“We really can’t.” Evvie downed her drink as Topher frowned. “Nice to talk to you both, and I hope you enjoy your time here. Come on.” She stood over Maggie, who sighed reluctantly before following Evvie and Topher out, turning to give a final wave to Evil Ben.

“Why did you do that?” hissed Maggie as soon as they were outside. “Things were just getting good.”

“Because he was drunk, Maggie.” Evvie sighed. “Which means something probably would have happened between the two of you, just like last time, and he would once again ignore you tomorrow. All of which is largely irrelevant because this is our farewell dinner. This isn’t about other people, not even people we’ve had crushes on before. We’re going to prepare a beautiful dinner, and we’re going to spend time together. The last thing I’m going to do is let you get off with a drunk Evil Ben just because you think it’s the last time you’ll ever see him.”

“It’s not the last time she’ll ever see him,” said Topher, holding up a piece of paper in his fingers. “I’ve got his number for Maggie. For the record, I agree with Evvie. I know you’re bummed, but let’s go back and enjoy this final dinner together.”

“I can’t just phone him when I’m in London,” said Maggie, pouting like a child. “That was probably my last opportunity.”

“Of course you can phone him. He wanted you to have his number, remember? There’ll be a get-together for some West Country people and you’ll call him and say you suddenly remembered he was there, and maybe he’d like to meet up beforehand, and then you’ll fall into bed and live happily ever after.”

“I wish,” said Maggie, although it brought a smile to her face. “Evvie, he is nice, isn’t he? Didn’t you see another side of him today? He even apologized to you.”

“Kinda, sorta. But not really. I mean, I definitely see what you see when he smiles. He looks less like a robot and more like a human being, and he is kind of cute, but honestly? I still think he’s a bit of an ass. I could tell they’d been drinking as soon as they joined us. I get the whole drinking thing when you’re a student, but he’s graduated. I felt like he hadn’t grown up.”

“That’s not fair. Of course he’s going to drink when he’s back at his old stomping ground,” said Maggie. “I suppose that means you won’t be bridesmaid at our wedding?”

Evvie started laughing. “Oh, I’m sure I’ll have managed to get over it by then. Let’s go to Tesco and get whatever we need for tonight.”

“Will you actually eat tonight?” Maggie asked pointedly, aware that Evvie’s extreme slimness was mostly because she barely ate these days.

“Yes,” said Evvie, and it was true. She had already decided that she owed herself one last blowout meal with her best friends. She didn’t want to take two bites and push the rest of the food around on her plate like she always did. She wanted to relish the food, enjoy the dessert, and get back on track tomorrow. So she wouldn’t take the third pill today, which meant she would finally have an appetite again. “Just watch me,” she said, and grinned.

“Okay. You’re right. Nothing was going to happen tonight anyway. I’m sorry I was sulking. I’ve got food to cook and a table to set. And my friends are much more important than any man could ever hope to be.” She extended her arms then, linking with Topher and Evvie, and they walked down the street, three wide, singing old Joni Mitchell songs very loudly until they reached Tesco.



* * *



? ? ?

That night, wine was drunk, tequila shots were knocked back, beef Wellington was consumed, and the pavlova demolished. They all got a little bit tipsy and, finally, after an evening of stories and reminiscing, a little bit weepy.

“I really love you guys,” said Topher, his eyes misting up. “I can’t believe I’m going back to the States so soon and I’m not going to be seeing you every day.”

“I can’t bear it,” said Maggie. “Can we all plan to spend Christmas together, or maybe go on holiday together at the end of this summer?”

“Topher and I will be in New York,” said Evvie, who was going to be the last to leave town, and still wasn’t prepared to be there by herself, if only for a week. “God only knows whether we’ll get vacation time. Maybe you could come and stay with us?”

“I’m not staying in your model house. Being intimidated by all the gorgeous women? No thanks.” Maggie snorted. “I’ll stay with Topher.”