A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans Page B

and wondered how things had come so far, got so out of control, so ridiculous. She looked at Jo, methodically folding up her cardigan, neatly stowing it in her bag, and felt helpless. She felt a million miles away from her best friend, from those she thought she knew.
    As if by magic, Dan appeared around the corner. He had been to get some cigarettes. He jumped when he saw Laura standing outside, and she nearly screamed.
    “What the—what are you doing out here?” Dan said testily.
    “Having a breather,” Laura said, suddenly furious at him, especially at his tone. “Listening to your girlfriend talking about her thirtieth birthday in September, how she wants all of us to fly out to Valencia and watch while you propose to her in front of all of us—oh, Dan, Dan …”
    She started sobbing, great heaving sobs that shook her, and Dan pushed her away from the window and against the shop next door. He put his arms around her, holding her so tightly she thought she might not be able to breathe.
    “Now, listen,” Dan said, putting a thumb up to her cheek to wipe away a tear. “I have been such a shit to you. And to her, but this is about you. I promise you, that is not going to happen. I promise you I’m going to talk to her in the next couple of weeks. This has to end. I can’t be with her anymore, I just can’t stand it. And I want to be with you.”
    He held her tighter and kissed her. She could feel him growing hard against her leg.
    “I want to be with you, do you understand me?”
    “Yes,” Laura whispered. “So…it’s over with her, then?”
    “Yes,” Dan said solemnly. “Shit. I’m going to have to do something about it now, aren’t I?”
    “Yes, you are,” Laura said, hiccupping.
    “Good. Now”—Dan bent down and kissed her again—“I’m so sorry I’ve been so useless. It’s not fair to her, or me, and especially you. We will be together, I promise.”
    “You really promise?” Laura said, wanting a final reassurance.
    Dan gripped her wrists and pressed himself against her. “Shit, Laura, I don’t know what else I can say.” He looked around, shaking his head. “I want you to believe it, I really do, but until I’ve talked to her, I can’t…if only there was some way.”
    Laura said slowly, “How about that holiday? In July? The Florida road trip we talked about. Ending up in Miami. Two weeks, just us.”
    She looked into his eyes and could see the glimmer of uncertainty, of something else—what was it?—there. He looked back at her, trying to bridge that final gap between them. Laura started to turn away, feeling powerful for the first time, and Dan grabbed her again and said, “No, fuck it. Book it. I’m just scared. But I’m being weak and crap. Book it.”
    “Seriously?” Laura said, trying to stay calm, though a big smile broke out across her face.
    Dan laughed. “Seriously.” He kissed her again. “I mean it.”
    He walked back into the pub without looking behind him once, and Laura hung back for a few seconds. This was their usual routine. If someone she knew appeared, she’d just get out her phone and pretend to be texting. She turned toward the door, but as she was pushing it open, someone caught her elbow. She spun round, half with shock, and saw Jo behind her, standing on the pavement. Her face was pinched, her eyes huge.
    “Laura…?” she said. “Laura?”
    “What?” Laura said, completely calm. Nearly six months of this had made her a professional. She was certain Jo hadn’t seen anything. She held up her phone. “I was just texting someone, reception’s terrible in there.” She gestured inside.
    “What’s going on?” Jo said, not reacting.
    “Nothing, what do you mean?” said Laura, slightly on edge.
    “You’re screwing Dan, aren’t you?”
    “What?” Laura said. “ What? I wish. Come on, let’s get back inside.”
    “I saw you,” said Jo, advancing slowly toward her. “I saw him kiss you, I saw you both just now. Laura, Laura !”