Pictures of Lily

pavement towards the others. Mel is trying to flag down a taxi while Nicola is gazing up at Josh through her heavily mascaraed lashes. He’s grinning down at her with his hands in his pockets. The sight does nothing to quell my nausea, but I’ve had just about enough. If he wants to screw her, so be it. I don’t know Tina, but I’ll be disappointed in Josh if he lets her down.
    A six-seater taxi pulls up and we all climb in. Richard and I get in the very back and sit apart from each other, staring out of the window at the city lights flashing past. Nicola has squeezed herself between Mel and Josh. The last place I feel like going right now is a club. I know Richard feels the same. I glance across at my boyfriend and have a sudden impulse to take his hand. But I don’t.
    We wind our way through the streets and pull up outside the venue in Kings Cross. Josh helps Nicola out of the taxi. I give Mel a rueful look as we walk up the steps to greet the bouncers.
    ‘This is turning out to be couples central,’ she murmurs. ‘I’m starting to wish my horny banker could have come along.’
    ‘Does your horny banker do clubs?’ I ask.
    ‘No, probably not,’ she admits.
    ‘Then let’s go and dance our asses off while we can,’ I say, full of determination. I drag her through the crowds towards the dance-floor as the beat of the drums reverberates through our bodies. It’s not long before a couple of drunken idiots start gyrating against us. I grab Mel and move away so we can dance without interruption.
    I hate clubs. Full of pricks.
    Get out of my head, Ben.
    A short while later, Nicola joins us. Soon afterwards, Josh does too.
    ‘Where’s Richard?’ I shout into Josh’s ear.
    ‘At the bar. Didn’t want to dance!’ he shouts back.
    No, he hates dancing. Out of the blue I’m wracked with guilt. I’ve been horrible to him! I excuse myself and go to find him. He’s nursing a rum and coke and is people-watching. I sidle up to him and he looks down at me, a blank expression on his face.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ I say seriously. He nods and looks away. ‘Please look at me.’
    He tears his eyes away from a group of clubbers outrageously dressed in neon colours and meets my gaze.
    ‘I really am.’
    ‘It’s okay,’ he says quietly, his face softening. He pushes a strand of hair away from my face. ‘You know, your dad and Lorraine have been married to each other for almost twenty years and their marriage works.’ I nod. ‘It’s nothing to be scared of, Lily.’
    I nod again as he leans behind himself to place his drink down on a ledge. He turns back and puts his hands on my waist, pulling me between his legs.
    ‘I love you,’ he tells me, stroking my cheek with his thumb.
    ‘I love you, too.’ I offer him a weak smile and he dips his face to touch his lips to mine. Our kiss turns into a full-on snog.
    ‘Right, that’s it. I’m off.’
    We break away to see a disgruntled Mel standing there. ‘I’ve had enough of feeling left out with you randy lot!’
    I laugh and give her a hug, but we all decide to call it a night soon after that.

Chapter 18
     
    ‘So did she manage to get her talons into you?’ I ask Josh the next morning. Well, closer to afternoon, really. Some things never change.
    ‘Who? Nicola?’
    ‘Yes.’ I give him a look.
    ‘Fuck off,’ he snorts as he chews on a mouthful of Easter egg. ‘I wouldn’t do that to Tina.’
    ‘You looked pretty cosy there in the back of the taxi,’ I say ominously. ‘Are you sure she didn’t slip you her tongue on the way out?’
    ‘She didn’t even slip me her phone number,’ he says.
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Really.’
    ‘Well, I am surprised. I’m sure she’ll ask me for yours when we get back to work on Tuesday.’
    ‘You’d better not give it to her.’ He winks at me. ‘Tina knows I’m a flirt, but she wouldn’t take kindly to a girl actually calling me.’
    I smile at him, full of relief. ‘So what do you want to do today?’
    ‘Suggestions?’
    ‘We could go for an Easter barbecue at Richard’s friends’ house. Or we could go sightseeing, body boarding, check out a museum or aquarium or the zoo or something like that?’
    ‘Would Richard be offended if we didn’t go for lunch?’
    ‘Of course not. You’ve hardly got any time here – he’ll know you want to make the most of it.’
    ‘I wouldn’t mind going for a walk around the Rocks, play tourist for a day.’
    ‘We can do that.’
    In the end, Richard decides to drop