Jill Steeples - It's Now Or Never

‘Thank you darling, I love you so so much,’ Angie said, grabbing me for a hug, as the bride and groom went round the room saying their goodbyes.

‘Oh, and I love you too! Have a fabulous honeymoon. Take lots of piccies. I need to see what paradise looks like.’

‘I will, I will and I’ll call you just as soon as I get back.’

In a shower of confetti, we waved Tom and Angie off as they climbed into the back of a waiting taxi ready to speed them off to the airport, and I was left with a funny feeling of regret, relief and happiness all rolled into one.

‘Are you two coming back to ours for a cup of tea?’ Even Diane, Angie’s mum, was getting in on the act now, talking to Alex and me as though we were a proper couple.

‘That sounds like a lovely idea, thank you, we’d love to,’ said Alex, putting an arm around my shoulder, answering as if we actually were one. Not that I minded in the least, it was just what I needed at the moment, a lovely cup of tea.

Chapter Five

After three cups of tea, two shortbread biscuits, a slice of fruit cake, and a long and interesting chat with Gladys and Betty about Taylor Swift, her extensive back catalogue, her fashion high-fives and faux pas, plus the ins and outs of her love life which I knew nothing about but the sisters seemed to know everything about, I decided I really ought to go and do something to make myself useful. I rounded up some dirty plates and took them into the kitchen.

Alex was sitting on a kitchen stool, idly looking at his phone. He’d lost his jacket now and had rolled the sleeves of his shirt up, his tie loose around his neck. He looked relaxed and totally at ease, putting away his phone in his pocket when he saw me.

‘So what time do you think the dancing starts?’ he asked.

I laughed. His sense of mischievousness and fun shone in his eyes in a way that played havoc with my sensibilities. It had been a day of excess; the never ending glasses of champagne and wine had made me lightheaded, the delicious and abundant food had filled my tummy to the point where I thought I would never need to eat another thing again and the whole emotion of the occasion had made me thoughtful and fanciful. I glanced at my watch, it was definitely time to be going home.

‘Ha, didn’t you hear, the band have rung and cancelled. Looks like there’ll be no dancing after all.’

‘That’s outrageous,’ said Alex, shaking his head mockingly. ‘What kind of wedding reception is this? Should I go and ask Gladys if she would do me the honour?’ He smiled, looking up at me under long eyelashes, the faintest of dark shadows beneath his eyes, lending him a vulnerability I hadn’t noticed earlier.

‘Look, I’m probably going to make a move. I could do with a livener, if I’m being honest. Do you fancy going back into town, finding a bar? What do you reckon?’

It was only a casual invitation, but I felt my heart flitter-flutter at the suggestion. At the same time Angie’s cautionary words rang in my ears. This guy was a player, someone to be avoided at all costs, but despite knowing that and my head telling me I should really say my goodbyes and get the hell out of here, there was something about Alex that I found intriguing and compelling and, if I was being honest with myself, totally and utterly attractive. Totally and utterly not my type, but what did that matter. We were just two people who had hooked up together at a wedding and were enjoying each other’s company. I wanted the excitement of the day to carry on into the night. I was fed up being a sensible Sarah. Mum would be urging me to be bolder, have more fun. It was almost as if I could feel her on my shoulder egging me on. The spontaneity that was missing in my life was now knocking at my door, beckoning me outside to play and that was a much more appealing proposition than the thought of going back to my empty flat with only the television for company. Besides, it was only a drink, it wasn’t as if he was asking to marry me.

***

We ended up in a wine bar down by the river and despite my earlier protestations that I couldn’t eat or drink another thing, as soon as I sat down and Alex suggested sharing a bottle of Prosecco, it was as if there was nothing more in the world I desired at that moment.

For a moment I felt a twinge of self-consciousness wondering what was I doing there and what we would possibly find to talk about, but I needn’t have worried, Alex’s confidence and easy charm put me completely at ease. I plastered on a big smile as he handed me a filled glass and I took a sip, the bubbles having an instant restorative effect.

‘To Tom and Angie,’ said Alex raising his glass to mine. ‘Wishing them all the best for a long and happy marriage.’

‘To Tom and Angie!’

Alex’s earlier comment came back to taunt me. I’d always had doubts about Tom as marriage material, or even boyfriend material come to that, but then I didn’t know him nearly as well as Angie or Alex did. Was it really possible Alex knew something I didn’t? Had he been trying to tell me that earlier? I couldn’t bear the thought that there was something amiss, something I didn’t know about. Or more worryingly, something Angie didn’t know about.

‘So, you never said,’ I asked, trying for absolutely dead-casual, really not bothered one way or the other, ‘what chances do you give the happy couple for a long and happy marriage then?’

He gave me a rueful smile.

‘I didn’t think we were allowed to think along those lines. Look I’m sorry if I upset you earlier, it was just an off the cuff comment. I didn’t mean anything by it.’

‘You do think it will work out for them though, don’t you? I’ve never seen Angie looking so happy.’

‘Yeah, well I hope so,’ said Alex, carefully avoiding my question and my gaze. ‘Tom is a great guy. I guess they have as much chance as any other couple out there.’

‘Hmmm.’ I wasn’t sure if Alex’s lukewarm response was due to his reservations about Angie and Tom as a couple or if he was anti-marriage in general. I suspected the latter. ‘Can you see yourself getting married one day?’ I asked.

He tilted his head to one side, pondering on my question before pursing his lips.

‘Possibly.’ He tilted his head the other way, narrowing his eyes.

‘Maybe.’ He looked me directly in the eye.

‘Definitely,’ he said, laughing.

‘Well that’s conclusive,’ I said, laughing too.

‘I don’t know if I ever will,’ I said, uncertain why I felt the need to tell Alex this riveting piece of information, and not realising I even felt that way until the words were out there.

‘That’s rubbish. I barely know you, but you strike me as the marrying kind. Here, let me have a look at your hand.’ He took hold of my hand and turned it over, stroking his thumb across my palm. He pushed my fingers back and then gently traced the lines on my hand in a movement that was so light it was almost imperceptible, but still managed to send shivers down my spine at the same time. I looked up into his eyes and our gaze locked for the briefest moment, before I had to look away.

‘Aha, just as I thought, I can see it all here, there’s a very exciting future ahead for you.’

‘Is that right?’ I knew he was teasing me, but I was more than willing to play along with the game. ‘So tell me then, what can you see?’

‘Definitely a marriage. Within two years, I’d say. A big white wedding, I think.’

‘Really, well I suppose I ought to get a move on and meet this mystery man then. Two years isn’t that long to meet someone and then decide I’m going to marry him.’

‘And your marriage will be blessed with children.’

‘It will? Really? This is getting more interesting by the minute. How many?’