Pictures of Lily

Fine.’
    ‘Have you two moved in together yet?’ He lives in Mount Barker now, in a small house of his own.
    ‘Hell, no. I’d never get her to move out,’ he jokes.
    I laugh. ‘Some people would say that’s the point of being in a relationship.’
    ‘I’m not ready for that yet.’
    ‘Fair enough.’
    I hear a key turn in the front door lock and Richard appears a moment later. Josh gets up to shake his hand.
    ‘Alright, Richard, how’s it going?’
    ‘Yeah, good thanks, mate.’
    ‘How were the happy couple?’ Josh asks.
    ‘I had to wear sunnies to shield my eyes from their glow.’
    ‘Really?’ I grin. ‘Good time, then?’
    ‘The best.’
    ‘What was the resort like?’
    ‘I didn’t stick around long enough to ask. Didn’t want to outstay my welcome. I did tell them about us though.’
    ‘Richard!’ I exclaim. ‘It’s supposed to still be all about them.’
    ‘Sorry.’ He holds up his hands to shield himself as though I’m going to rain down blows on him. ‘I couldn’t help it.’
    ‘What’s this?’ Josh interjects, looking confused.
    I turn to him and compose myself. ‘We’re getting married.’
    ‘Are you?’ He looks taken aback. ‘Wow. Congratulations.’
    ‘Thanks.’ I can feel my face heating up.
    Josh addresses Richard. ‘I hope you know what you’re letting yourself in for.’
    ‘Hey!’ I exclaim, mock indignantly, but Richard wraps his arm around my neck and pulls me in, saying, ‘I’ve got the ball and chain ready.’
    I whack him on his chest and free myself. ‘What do you want to drink?’ I ask my – I was going to say boyfriend, but it’s fiancé now, isn’t it? I cannot cope with this.
    Richard glances down at the half-full glasses on the coffee table. ‘Fanta would be cool.’ He and Josh sit on the sofa.
    Fiancé. Fiancé ! It sounds so . . .
    Old?
    Yes, Ben, it sounds old. I know what you mean, now.
    ‘So what are the plans for tonight?’ Josh interrupts my internal conversation.
    ‘We’re meeting some friends of mine from work.’ I turn to Richard. ‘Are Molly and Sam coming?’
    ‘No, they’ve got Molly’s parents round,’ Richard replies. ‘The invite is still open for tomorrow’s Easter barbecue though. I said I’d let them know because I wasn’t sure what you two had planned.’
    I glance at Josh and I’m unable to read his expression. ‘Cool, thanks.’ I don’t know if he’d rather go sightseeing, but I’ll check with him later.
    Nicola and Mel are already at the bar when we arrive later that night. Even from the doorway I can see that Nicola is practically vibrating with excitement. We’re meeting at one of the trendy bars at the International Passenger Terminal near Circular Quay. It doesn’t sound glam, but it is. The girls have got there early enough to bag us a table with a view of the Opera House.
    ‘Good work!’ I beam as we approach. ‘Nicola, Mel, this is Josh. Josh, Nicola, Mel.’
    Both leap to their feet to shake his hand. Even in the low light I can see that Nicola has gone red.
    ‘You remember Richard,’ I add.
    ‘Hi,’ Richard says, leaning in to kiss them each on the cheek. ‘I’ll go to the bar. What are you two drinking?’
    ‘We’re on the cocktails,’ Mel says, snatching the menu from the centre of the glossy orange table. The guys wait with remarkable patience as we fuss and coo over the different concoctions, then Josh sets off to the bar with my boyfriend.
    Yes, boyfriend . I’m not using that other word, it sounds too ridiculous.
    ‘Holy shit!’ Nicola breathes as soon as their backs have turned. I look at her and grin at the wide-eyed astonishment on her face. ‘He’s even better-looking in real life!’
    ‘I told you,’ I warn her. ‘He has a girlfriend, remember.’
    ‘Yeah, whatever.’ She waves me away. ‘And you honestly expect me to believe you never shagged him?’
    ‘I never shagged him,’ I say firmly, rolling my eyes at Mel.
    ‘What a wasted opportunity,’ she says wistfully. ‘Not even when your parents were out?’
    ‘Not even when our parents were out. So what did you two get up to yesterday?’ I turn the subject to Bank Holiday proceedings and am soon bombarded with details of Mel’s conquest on Thursday night with a banker from the city.
    ‘He stuck around for breakfast?’ I ask. ‘That sounds promising.’
    ‘Yep,’ Mel replies gleefully. ‘We went for pancakes.’
    ‘Woohoo! Are you seeing him again?’
    ‘He’s going to