Stage Kisses on Halfpenny Lane by Clodagh Murphy

Author:Clodagh Murphy
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781915369086
Publisher: Balally Books

Later Mimi stood in a dark corner of the terrace, hidden in the shadows of the house, where she could watch unobserved. The sounds of the party flowed around her, music and laughter mingling together in the balmy night air. Aoife and Jonathan were wrapped around each other, swaying in a gentle rhythm under the twinkling fairy lights. Aoife was positively glowing with happiness.

‘Dance with me?’ The deep voice came from behind her.

She turned to see Rocco stepping out of the shadows, holding out a hand to her.

‘Come on. For old time’s sake.’

She smiled. ‘Okay.’ She took his hand and they stepped into the circle of light. He pulled her into his arms, and she buried her face against his shoulder, breathing in the delicious sandalwood and citrus notes of his cologne. It felt so right to have his arms wrapped around her, the rough bristle of his cheek against hers, and as they swayed slowly to the music, the years seemed to melt away. It was as if they’d never been apart.

‘Why didn’t you stop your mum from asking me to dinner?’ she asked him, lifting her head.

‘Why would I?’ He frowned.

‘Because … I’m sure you don’t want me there.’

‘Of course I do.’

‘But I’m your ex. Won’t it be awkward?’

‘With Mum?’ He laughed. ‘Have you forgotten what she’s like?’

Mimi smiled. She hadn’t forgotten. Bea was so easy-going and friendly, it was impossible to be uncomfortable around her.

‘Anyway, we’re friends now, aren’t we?’

‘Of course,’ she said staunchly.

‘And it’s not as if we split up because we were at war with each other. Or because one of us was cheating.’

‘No.’ They’d just wanted to live in different places, to have different career paths. It didn’t seem like a good enough reason anymore. ‘But it’s one thing being friends. It’s quite another having dinner with your family.’

‘Isn’t that what friends do?’

She narrowed her eyes at him. ‘Are you angling for an invitation to dinner at our house?’

He grinned. ‘You’ve already given me one, remember – as a guest of Marlowe’s.’

‘I think I said you should come round to visit him. I don’t remember mentioning anything about dinner.’

‘It was implied,’ he said with a smirk. ‘Anyway, I think we should do it for old times’ sake – in honour of Detta. God, I miss those evenings at her place.’

Detta had often invited Rocco to join them for dinner at her little cottage in the Liberties. They’d spent long, lazy Sundays gorging on her wonderful food and watching old movies, while she shared bits of gossip about the stars and gave them all advice on their future acting careers.

‘Are you friends with all your exes?’ she asked, regretting it as soon as the words were out of her mouth. She didn’t really want to hear about his other girlfriends.

He shrugged. ‘Not so much. Anyway, there aren’t as many as you seem to think. You’re the only significant one really.’

‘So I set the tone?’

‘Exactly.’

‘I suppose I’d better do a good job of it, then. Show Andrea how it’s done,’ she added with a little laugh.

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