Page 14 of The Best Friend
I do as she suggests and sit next to her. She’s now seated opposite my husband, and I’m opposite Mike.
Thankfully, no one wants a starter so we browse the menu for main courses. The prices are insane. The cheapest thing on there is vegetarian pasta for twenty-five pounds. I’d prefer fish, but the prices are eye-watering. Mike opts for a steak at over fifty quid, and Darcy’s having lobster paella. Jared goes for the chicken and I try to ignore the cost and have the salmon, hoping I don’t choke on it. We definitely won’t be having dessert. And we’ll have to eat beans on toast for the rest of the month.
‘It’s really good of you to let Joe crash Tyler’s party,’ I say. ‘It sounds like it’s going to be an amazing day.’
‘Yeah,’ Jared says. ‘Never mind about the kids –I’mexcited to go.’
We all laugh as the waitress pours champagne.
Mike raises his glass. ‘To new friends.’
‘New friends,’ we chorus, clinking our glasses.
Despite my horror at the expense of the place, the evening is wonderful. The food is superb and the conversation flows so easily, it’s like I almost belong in this glamorous place with these beautiful people. Maybe what Jared said about us living this lifestyle might actually become a reality. I’m not sure I even want that. I’m happy with what we have, I really am. This evening, this place and all its glitter, it’s not real. It’s not what truly matters. I know that, but I wonder if my husband does.
The main courses are over and everyone else is clamouring for dessert, so – drunk on margaritas and champagne – I give in and order a passion fruit pavlova which melts on the tongue and tastes like manna from the gods. Mike and Jared are deep in conversation and I’m complimenting Darcy on her design blog. ‘Honestly, it’s beautifully laid out and the articles are brilliant. Informative and really witty.’
‘I should hang out with you more often,’ she says.
‘No, honestly. You could definitely have a career as a writer,’ I say.
‘You think?’
‘I know.’
‘Thank you!’ She gives my arm a squeeze. ‘God, I’m defeated,’ she says laying down her spoon, only having touched about a third of her sorbet. ‘So how about Jared? Looks like big things ahead for him – new agency and everything. Exciting for the both of you.’
‘Nerve-wracking, more like,’ I confide.
‘How so?’
‘He has a great job already. Chucking it all in to set up on his own is quite a gamble.’ Saying the words out loud, I feel a lump of emotion in my throat. I really am quite drunk and probably shouldn’t be talking about this to Darcy.
‘Going for your dream is always a gamble,’ she says. ‘Jared has a spark. He’ll do it, I can tell.’
‘I hope you’re right.’
‘I’m always right,’ she deadpans.
There’s a pause, and then we break out into uncontrollable laughter. Jared and Mike look up from their conversation, grinning and shaking their heads at our behaviour. I’m not even sure what’s so funny, but I can’t seem to stop.
‘You’ll never believe the time,’ Mike says. ‘It’s twelve thirty already.’
‘Shut. Up,’ Darcy says. ‘How the hell can it be twelve thirty? It only feels like ten o’clock.’
‘Shall we get the bill?’ Mike asks. ‘Don’t want to be a party pooper but I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow.’
‘We’ll get the bill,’ Jared says, without looking at me.
I stop laughing. Has my husband just offered to pay for everyone’s dinner? We can barely afford our own.
‘No, no,’ Mike says. ‘That’s okay, we’ll split it.’
Thank goodness for that.
‘No, I insist,’ Jared says, before I can take Mike up on his offer to go halves. ‘Our son is gate crashing Tyler’s birthday party,’ my husband says. ‘The least we can do is buy dinner.’
Joe’s original party was going to be a cheap and cheerful affair. I absolutely dread to think what tonight’s meal will cost – the steak, lobster, cocktails, champagne. But I can’t find a way to get out of it without embarrassing my husband. In fact, it’s already a done deal. Darcy and Mike are already thanking Jared.
