Welcome to Your Life by Bethany Rutter

Author:Bethany Rutter [Rutter, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2022-02-16T17:00:00+00:00

14

I go home – charge my phone, shower, change, put on some cute-but-cosy clothes – and then I’m straight back out the door. Thank God, I have been saved from a plan-less evening by Nicole. I’m looking forward to having someone to tell about the extremely pleasing Henry situation. Nicole tells me to come at 8:30 and sends me her address, which Google Maps informs me is in Stratford, not too far from the huge Westfield shopping centre.

U nearby? Nicole asks as I step off the Overground.

Just getting off the train

Okay I want to get us some crisps so meet me in Sains in the East Village

I need to buy wine so that’s okay

Mate I have so much wine in my fridge don’t bother just meet me there

I do as I’m told and stroll the aisles of Sainsbury’s in search of Nicole. The mood is high-spirited, everyone picking up drinks for their parties and nights out. I find her exactly where I thought I would – in the crisp aisle.

‘I love these cheesy ball things,’ she says, holding up a garish yellow bag. ‘And onion rings. And those fake Frazzles that they do.’

‘So what I’m learning is you like a maize-based snack,’ I say.

‘Yeah, fuck a potato,’ she says, drawing me into a hug. ‘How are you, babe?!’

‘I’m … amazing! Actually amazing! I feel like a whole new person!’

‘Isn’t it remarkable what sex can do for the spirits?’ she says, twirling around ceremoniously.

‘I guess! But it’s more than that!’ I say, relieving her of one of the bags of crisps.

‘Don’t tell me you’re in love after one date.’ She eyes me with suspicion.

‘No! Not love, I’m not fully insane,’ I say, feeling like it would probably be disloyal to share Henry’s little slip-up on the subject. ‘But … I really like him. Like, really like him. And I have such a good feeling about it!’

‘You literally met at a wedding! A cuter meet-cute there never was.’

We make our way to the self-scan checkouts. ‘Give it here.’

‘You sure? I can get them.’

‘I think I can stretch to three bags of maize-based snacks,’ she says, swiping the cheese balls through the scanner.

‘But then I didn’t bring anything!’

‘Mate, all I care about is that you’re here, I don’t feel pressured into going out, I get to hang out with you and hear all about your date with this new dreamboat and we can toast to your success.’

‘Okay, if you insist …’ I say, guiltily.

‘Plus you’re doing me a favour by forcing me to share the wine I nicked from the fridge at my parents’ house.’

‘For the greater good,’ I say as we step out into the cold night.

‘For the greater good,’ Nicole repeats. ‘That’s where I live, right there,’ she points up at a balcony maybe five or six floors up in an apartment block ahead of us.

‘Oh, fancy!’ I say. ‘A balcony!’

‘We can spy on the fireworks from there if you want,’ she says, which makes me think of Henry. I wonder if he’s going to the party with his ex, or if he’s alone.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.