The Night That Changed Everything by Laura Tait and Jimmy Rice Page B

ludicrous like that.
    Is that ludicrous?
    Yes, of course it is.
    â€˜No big deal,’ I add, squeezing Ben’s hand under the table and watching Danielle to see her reaction. I can’t fool my best mate – she’ll know it’s a massive deal.
    â€˜Of course it’s a big deal,’ says Jamie, patting Ben’s shoulder then mine. ‘You can have those drinks on the house.’
    â€˜You were going to charge us for these?’ asks Ben.
    â€˜Thank goodness for that,’ Danielle says to no one in particular. ‘When she texted saying the house hunt was horrendous, I was worried I’d be stuck with her for ever.’ Then to me: ‘Nice one, Becs. So will you stay in the flat?’
    â€˜We haven’t really discussed it,’ I admit, looking at Ben.
    â€˜Yeah,’ he agrees. ‘This is pretty much breaking news you walked into. Might make sense until I can save a bit more towards a deposit.’
    â€˜Will Russ and Tom mind?’ I ask.
    â€˜Nah, it was just the two of them there before I moved in – they were doing me a favour, to be honest. I can move in as soon as Danielle can get out.’
    â€˜No need to sound so excited about it,’ says Danielle, giving Ben a shove. ‘But I can move any time. Next weekend if you want?’
    â€˜That’d be perfect,’ I say, then seeing Danielle pout, add: ‘I mean, that’ll be really sad.’
    â€˜I want tears!’
    â€˜I’ll be crying on the inside,’ I promise.
    â€˜Let’s do that, then,’ says Ben, clapping his hands together. ‘That’s just before our anniversary.’
    â€˜He’s taking me away on a surprise,’ I tell the others, before turning to Ben, who’s still grinning. I grin back.
    â€˜Do you have seven hundred pounds to give Danielle for her deposit?’ I ask.
    â€˜Yeah.’ He lowers his voice. ‘We’ll also need a new dining table.’
    â€˜Definitely.’ I chuckle. ‘And a new sofa, come to think of it – that’s Danielle’s too.’
    â€˜And a new bed.’ He turns to the others, looking smug. ‘The springs have gone on Rebecca’s old one.’
    â€˜Yep, it never really recovered from my student days,’ I say, trying not to smile.
    Jamie pats Ben’s back sympathetically. ‘And on that note, I’ll get back to work.’
    There’s a gaggle of giggling girls waiting for him at the bar. He’s still chatting to one of them when Ben and I finish our drinks and Ben gets up to replenish them. ‘Same again?’
    â€˜Please,’ I reply.
    â€˜While you’re there,’ Danielle yells at Ben’s retreating back, ‘tell Jamie to stop flirting with Tidy Tania and make my bloody Mojito.’
    She moves up into the space Ben has just vacated to sit next to me.
    â€˜Has Tidy Tania still got a boyfriend?’ I wonder aloud.
    â€˜Yep.’
    â€˜That’s a shame.’
    â€˜It is, but anyway . . . I can’t believe you’re moving in with a boy.’ Her tone is disapproving but her smile tells me she’s teasing.
    â€˜We lived with Jamie for years,’ I remind her.
    â€˜You know what I mean. A
boy
boy.’ I do know what she means. ‘Are you scared?’
    â€˜Nah, I’m excited. It’s Ben. It’ll be easy.’
    â€˜How do you know Ben’s The One?’
    It’s not a question I was expecting, and I nearly shrug and say
I don’t know
, or quip that I’m still deciding whether he is or not. But something about Danielle’s tone and the sad way she keeps glancing at her mobile on the table makes me reconsider. She’s opening up. We don’t do it often – not because we don’t trust each other, just because we don’t feel the need to. But if she’s showing me her vulnerable side, I’ll show her mine.
    â€˜And don’t be a prick and say,
You just