Last Time We Met by Emily Houghton

Author:Emily Houghton [Houghton, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473581265
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2022-05-10T00:00:00+00:00

Only then did she finally begin to cry.

Now

Eleanor

The week leading up to her dad’s anniversary passed by, as it always did, at an alarming rate. One minute it was Monday evening and Eleanor was researching traditional 1950s pageant gowns for Heidi, the next it was Friday night and she was being handed a large glass of wine by Sal in the pub.

‘How are you doing?’ her friend asked. ‘This weekend is a bit of a tough one, isn’t it?’

‘You can say that again.’ She took a sip of wine and swallowed her sadness down along with it. ‘I’m doing all right though. And besides, my mum’s invited Fin to the lunch so at least that will be something to distract her.’

‘Distractions are good …’ Sal murmured, a note of scepticism creeping into her voice.

‘Why are you looking at me like that?’

‘I’m not looking at you like anything.’

‘Yes, you are.’

Sal shrugged innocently. ‘You just seem to be spending a lot of time with someone you were adamant on avoiding a few weeks ago.’

‘Not really,’ Eleanor replied defensively. ‘My mum invited him to this, not me.’

‘And then there’s that weird old-people thing you’re doing.’

‘The photoshoot is a one-off favour.’

‘All right, fine. If you say so.’ Sal held her hands up. ‘Also, I still don’t understand why anyone would choose to hang out with old people. Are you sure there’s not something else in it for you?’ She winked.

‘I’m sure.’ Eleanor let out a little laugh. ‘You know you will be an old person too one day?’

Sal looked at her aghast. ‘Not if I can help it!’

‘Hmm,’ Eleanor mused. ‘Whatever you say.’

‘Also, speaking of getting old, I still can’t believe I have my mum’s seventieth coming up. I’m so pissed it’s on the same day as Laura’s wedding. I really wanted to go.’

Sal’s words hit Eleanor like a punch in the stomach.

No.

Oh sweet Jesus, no.

‘Eleanor, what’s wrong?’ She felt Sal’s hand reach for her. ‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’

‘Laura’s wedding,’ Eleanor managed weakly.

‘Yes?’

‘Oliver.’ The name sent nausea through her body.

‘What about him?’ Sal’s confused face came sharply into focus.

‘I haven’t told Laura about Oliver. She thinks he’s coming to the wedding with me. This is a disaster. I can’t turn up and sit next to an empty place. It will be too late to cancel; the wedding is in like two weeks’ time or something ridiculous!’ Eleanor garbled, the panic pushing all of her thoughts out of her mouth uncensored.

‘It’s actually next weekend, but that’s by the by,’ Sal corrected. ‘Eleanor, don’t worry. We will sort it.’ The calming, steady voice of her friend soothed her slightly. ‘I will sort it.’

Eleanor gulped her wine and watched as Sal pulled out her phone and began typing furiously. ‘I’m emailing her now and explaining everything, just sit and keep drinking. Actually no, maybe order some food.’ She eyed her warily. ‘We don’t want you getting drunk and disorderly.’

Eleanor’s mind was racing. How could she have forgotten? How stupid could she have been?

‘Done!’ Sal announced.

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