sound?’
‘I can’t,’ said Russell. ‘I’ve got a work thing on that I can’t miss.’
‘OK, well I’ve got a double Pilates lesson on Wednesday but I’m not sure I can be bothered so how about then?’
‘Wednesday’s pretty busy too.’
‘OK, Thursday?’
‘It’s five-a-side Thursday night.’
‘That’s with the same lot that Luke used to play with? That’s sorted then, isn’t it? It’s only on from eight until nine. You could come round to mine straight afterwards, have a shower and I’ll make us something to eat, You’ll be doing me a huge favour as I could really do with the company.’
‘What do you mean, company?’ asked Russell. ‘Won’t Luke be there?’
‘Chance would be a fine thing,’ sighed Cassie. ‘He’s away all week in London on some course or other so, yes, you will be keeping me company. You’d better sharpen up your conversational skills pronto!’
Russell mulled over his sister-in-law-to-be’s proposition and felt sick. He wanted to say no. He needed to say no. But knowing that there would now be no way of getting out of it without him coming across as a nutter he found himself saying: ‘That sounds great. See you Thursday night,’ while simultaneously hoping that somehow in between now and then he might get run over by a car.
Three days later at ten minutes after nine Russell found himself standing on Luke and Cassie’s doorstep ringing the bell.
‘At last!’ said Cassie as she opened the door. ‘For a minute there I thought you’d bailed on me.’
She was wearing a red and white checked shirt over a green vest top, skinny jeans and flip-flops. Her jet-black hair was piled on top of her head in a haphazard fashion. This was the off-duty Cassie and strictly for people with whom she felt comfortable. It was by far and away Russell’s favourite version of her and she could not have looked any more adorable, which meant his attempts to get over her were doomed to defeat. ‘Come here and give me one of those hugs of yours,’ she said.
He put his arms round her, conscious of the slenderness of her frame and the warmth of her breath on the nape of his neck. This was bliss. A perfect moment in an otherwise nightmare day that had seen him arrive late for work, drip coronation chicken dressing down the front of his suit and lose his bank card. Suddenly none of it mattered any more. He closed his eyes, instinctively dug his nose a little deeper into her hair and inhaled. Is this what life was like for Luke? Was he forever walking round on a cloud of happiness?
‘Right then,’ said Cassie, patting Russell on the back and pulling away. The embrace was clearly over. ‘Are you hungry?’
He shrugged. ‘I suppose I could eat something.’
‘Good. I’ll knock us up some pasta, you go and take a shower and I’ll see you in a bit.’
Half an hour later, showered and dressed, Russell returned downstairs to the smell of pasta primavera, which they ate sitting on the sofa, an old Alton Ellis album playing in the background. As they worked their way through two bottles of super-chilled Pinot Grigio the conversation flowed so seamlessly that it was impossible to tell where one topic ended and another began. Amongst the million and one subjects covered were wedding plans and the perils of becoming one of the Bachelors; Russell’s mum and dad’s fortieth and how amazing it was to have first-hand evidence that love can last forty years; and then finally, somewhere around midnight, having worked their way though a tub of Ben and Jerry’s the conversation turned to Russell himself, and specifically the question of his love life.
‘So come on then, Russ, what’s going on with you? It’s ages since you’ve brought a young lady along to the Bachelor Sunday dinner.’
‘And that’s not likely to change any time soon.’
‘How come? A good-looking boy like you should have the girls queuing for miles! What about that Angie who came with you a few times?
‘I can’t,’ said Russell. ‘I’ve got a work thing on that I can’t miss.’
‘OK, well I’ve got a double Pilates lesson on Wednesday but I’m not sure I can be bothered so how about then?’
‘Wednesday’s pretty busy too.’
‘OK, Thursday?’
‘It’s five-a-side Thursday night.’
‘That’s with the same lot that Luke used to play with? That’s sorted then, isn’t it? It’s only on from eight until nine. You could come round to mine straight afterwards, have a shower and I’ll make us something to eat, You’ll be doing me a huge favour as I could really do with the company.’
‘What do you mean, company?’ asked Russell. ‘Won’t Luke be there?’
‘Chance would be a fine thing,’ sighed Cassie. ‘He’s away all week in London on some course or other so, yes, you will be keeping me company. You’d better sharpen up your conversational skills pronto!’
Russell mulled over his sister-in-law-to-be’s proposition and felt sick. He wanted to say no. He needed to say no. But knowing that there would now be no way of getting out of it without him coming across as a nutter he found himself saying: ‘That sounds great. See you Thursday night,’ while simultaneously hoping that somehow in between now and then he might get run over by a car.
Three days later at ten minutes after nine Russell found himself standing on Luke and Cassie’s doorstep ringing the bell.
‘At last!’ said Cassie as she opened the door. ‘For a minute there I thought you’d bailed on me.’
She was wearing a red and white checked shirt over a green vest top, skinny jeans and flip-flops. Her jet-black hair was piled on top of her head in a haphazard fashion. This was the off-duty Cassie and strictly for people with whom she felt comfortable. It was by far and away Russell’s favourite version of her and she could not have looked any more adorable, which meant his attempts to get over her were doomed to defeat. ‘Come here and give me one of those hugs of yours,’ she said.
He put his arms round her, conscious of the slenderness of her frame and the warmth of her breath on the nape of his neck. This was bliss. A perfect moment in an otherwise nightmare day that had seen him arrive late for work, drip coronation chicken dressing down the front of his suit and lose his bank card. Suddenly none of it mattered any more. He closed his eyes, instinctively dug his nose a little deeper into her hair and inhaled. Is this what life was like for Luke? Was he forever walking round on a cloud of happiness?
‘Right then,’ said Cassie, patting Russell on the back and pulling away. The embrace was clearly over. ‘Are you hungry?’
He shrugged. ‘I suppose I could eat something.’
‘Good. I’ll knock us up some pasta, you go and take a shower and I’ll see you in a bit.’
Half an hour later, showered and dressed, Russell returned downstairs to the smell of pasta primavera, which they ate sitting on the sofa, an old Alton Ellis album playing in the background. As they worked their way through two bottles of super-chilled Pinot Grigio the conversation flowed so seamlessly that it was impossible to tell where one topic ended and another began. Amongst the million and one subjects covered were wedding plans and the perils of becoming one of the Bachelors; Russell’s mum and dad’s fortieth and how amazing it was to have first-hand evidence that love can last forty years; and then finally, somewhere around midnight, having worked their way though a tub of Ben and Jerry’s the conversation turned to Russell himself, and specifically the question of his love life.
‘So come on then, Russ, what’s going on with you? It’s ages since you’ve brought a young lady along to the Bachelor Sunday dinner.’
‘And that’s not likely to change any time soon.’
‘How come? A good-looking boy like you should have the girls queuing for miles! What about that Angie who came with you a few times?
Similar Books
