‘Why would I mind? I love her!’
‘Awesome. Can you go open the door? I’m working my way on these bottles of prosecco,’ she said while popping one.
‘Absolutely,’ I said while making my way to the entrance.
I opened the door, but it wasn’t Emma.
‘Duncan.’
‘Hey.’
I had missed his gentle eyes and crazy hair. He was wearing a white shirt. Denim jacket was no more in February. Enter the puffer with the shearling collar. Just as cute.
‘Come in,’ I said.
‘One second.’
I closed the door behind me and went outside the flat.
‘Are you okay?’ I asked.
‘I’ve had a lot to think about.’
‘You did?’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I don’t care how difficult it has been, or how difficult it’s going to be. Meeting you was the greatest thing that has happened to me in a long time.’
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Duncan made my heart race. Every single time.
‘What happened on New Year’s—’
‘Won’t ever happen again,’ I interrupted. ‘The drug part, not the alcohol. The alcohol will most likely always be there. Unless it becomes a huge problem.’
‘I’m Scottish.’
‘Fair point,’ I smiled. ‘Honestly, I am in such a better place now. Mentally. Not much else, though. I don’t have a job and my flatmate is deserting me.’
‘I don’t think the people who are celebrating you over there will ever allow you to be homeless.’
‘You never know, they are a bunch of rich arseholes,’ I giggled.
‘So, if you wanted to go on a date…with me—’
‘Yes!’ I blurted. ‘I do.’
‘Okay,’ he smiled.
He came towards me and grabbed my waist. I put my hand behind his neck and put my fingers through his hair. We had a long, sweet, passionate kiss. My legs were weak, but I couldn’t ask for a more perfect one.
I couldn’t stop smiling.
Then the door opened suddenly behind me.
‘I was wondering what was taking you so long!’ said Abigail.
‘We were just coming in,’ I said.
I reached for Duncan’s hand and dragged him inside.
Happy birthday to me.
CHAPTER 27
£4589.05
Weeks went by and everything was ready for the bride-to-be. I was sitting at the airport on my iPad trying to finish an article on sustainable materials in the fashion industry for a company that hired me to do some freelance content writing. It didn’t pay much, but I genuinely enjoyed putting my brain into action. I was also not required to work full-time, so I had extra time to spend with Sara and her wedding shenanigans. I was there for all the phases. The time she got blackout drunk and decided she’d buy drinks for everyone because she had finally found the perfect cake, the time she couldn’t stop crying because she was going to be called Mrs a few weeks later, the time she came for a sleepover at mine because she couldn’t bear Alfie’s snoring, but mostly, I was there to help her with her dad. He was still put under rigorous rest. It wasn’t an easy heart attack. I’d sometimes spend some time with her mum just to keep her company, as she was doing everything for him. I’d cook with her quite often. I’d teach her how to veganise things, cooking without oil and many other little adjustments that were necessary to keep Sara’s dad as healthy as he could be.
The house was still not sold. Andrew didn’t really mind. He liked being at home when he’d come back to London. Which he did, multiple times. I got to spend more time with Squall while I’d send hundreds of query letters to literary agents for my children’s book. I hadn’t had much luck with that, although those things would usually take forever.
‘I got you a croissant!’ said Duncan, coming from Carluccio’s and sitting next to me.
‘Thank you,’ I said.
‘I cannot wait to get to Greece. I’ve actually never been,’ he said. ‘Have you?’
‘No. I’m really looking forward to it. And we get to be in a hotel room and do all the naughty stuff.’
‘Don’t be gross,’ he said.
Being with Duncan was a surprise every day. I thought his happy, positive energy would dim the more we’d go on, but he was a constant firecracker. I had never had that much fun with a boyfriend before. Well, he wasn’t my ‘boyfriend’ yet. I didn’t want to ruin the honeymoon phase with worthless, outdated labels.
‘How’s the research going?’ I asked.
‘Well, I can safely say Santorini isn’t lacking places where we can get Sara a fun hen do.’
‘That’s good. Although we’ll have to try not to go overboard. She will be getting married the day after.’
‘Everyone loves a hungover bride. You should have seen my sister when she got married. I don’t think she even recognised the groom. Thought for a second she’d marry his dad.’
‘Speaking of Scottish weddings…’
‘What?’
‘Did you bring your kilt?’
‘You need to stop with the sex stuff. Or I’ll be horny for the whole flight!’
I gave him a kiss. Slightly teased him with my tongue and then bit his lip.
‘Fair enough,’ I said.
My article was done and ready to be sent to my editor. It was only going to be fun from then onwards. My little girl would be saying ‘I do’ in less than seventy-two hours.
The hotel was a massive white structure with everything in it. They gave us access to the whole resort, which meant massages and private beach would be ours to be abused. Duncan and I were upgraded to a suite as I was the best man. The suite was right next door to Sara’s. We’d even share a terrace. We had champagne and chocolates on the bed, towels made to look like swans and a whole booze trolley for us to get disgustingly drunk on. We were the last ones to fly, as Duncan was covering for Sara at work and he wasn’t given permission by the arsehole-in-chief until that was done.
‘We have a Jacuzzi in the bathroom!’ he screamed. ‘I’m going to jump in it.’
‘Save me some room.’
Then we heard a knock on the door.
‘Did you order food already?’ Duncan asked.
‘No, but I could definitely do with a snack,’ I said while opening the door.
‘You’re here!’ Sara squealed. ‘You brought the dress, right?’
‘Of course, I did, silly bitch. I didn’t want to die.’
She was tanned already. She had only gotten to the island two days before us and was already on her way to looking like a California raisin.
‘Dude. Did you fall asleep for forty-eight hours at the beach?’
‘Do you think I’ve tanned? I don’t really see it.’
‘You’re very close to being mistaken for a different ethnicity.’
‘Good. That was exactly my plan,’ she said while entering. ‘I’m glad they gave you this room. The shower is amazing.’
‘Did you have sexy fun with it?’
‘Ew, no,’ she said. Then sat on the bed. ‘So, what’s the plan for after our rehearsal dinner?’