see much of the city or were you working?’ His hand slid on my knee, warm and solid as he engaged Bel in easy conversation.
We were onto our second round of drinks when the door opened and a group of about six people came into the pub. I was vaguely aware of them because it was a biggish group, but they drifted our way to bag the big table next to ours when suddenly someone said, ‘Sam!’
He looked up and he beamed in quick recognition. ‘Mike!’
‘Hey, buddy, how’re you doing?’ Mike clapped him on the back as they exchanged a man hug.
I watched curiously with a shimmer of nerves. This was Sam’s best friend.
The rest of the group came into focus and my heart stalled a little. Victoria. There she was smiling at Sam, looking demure and saintly in a white cotton dress, flanked by two friends who were already looking daggers at me.
Great. Of all the pubs in all of town, she and the gang had to come in here. I slipped Bel a quick agonised look but didn’t say anything. Sam was suddenly surrounded by the group as two more guys hugged him, and then the two girls kissed him on the cheek, exclaiming how long it had been. All the while Victoria hung back a little, looking demure, lost and sweet, but clearly drinking in the sight of Sam. Her friends slipped her careful, worried sidelong glances and she gave them brave little smiles. One of them edged closer to her and put an arm round her.
Bel frowned and said in an undertone. ‘Do you know them?’
Victoria was watching me, so I pushed away my irritation. ‘No, but … don’t look and don’t make a fuss, because she’s watching us like a hawk: the girl in the white dress is Sam’s ex.’
‘What! Skankgate?’ Bel’s face darkened and she stiffened in her seat, as if about to turn around.
‘Shh, don’t.’
‘But…’
‘Just ignore her.’
Sam turned and held out his hand. ‘Jess.’ I took his hand and he tugged me to my feet. I pasted a friendly smile on my face wanting to make a good impression.
‘Jess, this is Mike.’
‘Hi,’ I said, smiling up at the dark-haired handsome man. God, he and Sam were a right pair of heartthrobs; they must have done serious damage in their schooldays.
‘And this is Paige, Mike’s girlfriend,’ said Sam, a touch too eager, introducing me to the girl at Mike’s side. Paige did not look at all happy to see me, and her mouth moved wordlessly for a second or two as if she were trying to decide how to handle this unwelcome introduction. Luckily, she was put out of her misery by the timely and surprising arrival of Victoria, who stepped into the circle to join us, linking her arm through Paige’s. I thought the move was a bit controlling, as if she were some kind of enforcer who needed to remind Paige where her loyalties lay.
‘Hello, Jasmine, isn’t it?’ Victoria took command with a smooth smile of utter condescension, like royalty greeting the pleb.
I forced a laugh, ‘No, that’s the princess in Aladdin. I’m afraid I’m just plain old Jess.’
There was a tiny flicker of something in Paige’s eyes, which gave me hope.
Victoria blinked, assessing her options. I’d surprised her and it took a second or two for her to regroup. She was, I realised, a master tactician but the skirmish wasn’t going her way. I got the distinct impression she’d planned her attack and I’d thrown that into disarray.
‘No … you don’t look like a Disney princess,’ she agreed.
Paige’s mouth twitched but she quickly hid her amusement as Victoria’s eyes narrowed. I’d got her measure all right. Sam’s ex didn’t like to lose face. She wanted to win at all costs, and I was in danger of escalating her problem with me when I really didn’t need to. We were never going to be friends, but I didn’t need to make an enemy of her.
‘Sam hasn’t told us very much about you.’ She gave my casual skirt an indifferent glance. ‘What do you do?’
I shrugged. ‘Admin.’ There was no way I was dancing to her tune. I liked being patronised as much as the next person.
‘Yes, but who for? What do you do?’ Victoria pressed again. Jeepers, she was like a dog with a bone.
‘It’s really very dull.’ I lifted my shoulders to emphasise my point while hiding my irritation. Nosy cow. ‘I work in an office, answering the phone, making appointments