whirled around, more and more people joining the back of the chain until everyone in the rink was part of it, all of us skating together. ‘Isn’t it brilliant?’
Sumi’s birthday party was officially a success.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
‘Another round?’
John stood up, nodding at the assenting murmurs that passed around the table. Roller skating was thirsty work and, according to all the empty plates that covered our table, hungry work on top of that.
While my roller rink plan had turned out to be a resounding success, my plan to eat at the American diner next door was less of a winner. We had literally walked in, taken one look at the place and walked back out. It wasn’t my fault, Sumi assured me as we jumped on the tube back to Good Luck Bar. How could I have known the supposed retro restaurant hadn’t seen so much as a Dettol wipe since the turn of the century? It had a very fancy Instagram that didn’t once mention the rats running around outside by the bins.
And so, we were tucked away in an upstairs room at Good Luck Bar I hadn’t known existed until tonight and, credit where credit’s due, it was utterly gorgeous. Exposed concrete walls, huge windows and soft pink velvet chairs to match the booths downstairs. Even with my broken bottom, they were so comfy, if I could have got one in my handbag, I would have. Hanging overhead at either end of the room were two beautiful chandeliers and, at the very, very back, I saw two huge double doors that led to a cluttered, closed-off roof terrace beyond.
‘This is the best birthday ever,’ Sumi cried, waving her still very full glass high above her head and splashing the contents in her hair. ‘I love you, John.’
‘Don’t let your grandmother hear that,’ Adrian accessorized his warning with a hiccup. ‘It’s not fair to get her hopes up at her age.’
‘He’s so good though,’ she slurred as our host let himself behind the bar and began mixing drinks. ‘I’m so grateful for you, John. It’s so hard to make new friends when you get older. Ones that aren’t shit, I mean. And you’re not shit at all. We’re all so grateful for you.’
He looked up from the bar, just long enough to show off an awkward, faux-embarrassed grin. I rolled my eyes and emptied my glass at the same time.
‘Everyone go around the table and tell me what they’re grateful for,’ Sumi demanded, banging her hand on the table. ‘Ade, you go first.’
‘Remember that time we got so drunk on her birthday that we woke up in France?’ I whispered to Lucy.
‘Paris is beautiful this time of year,’ she nodded with a nostalgic sigh.
‘All right, what am I grateful for?’ Adrian said, missing his glass when he reached out for it. ‘I’m grateful for a roof over my head and food in my belly and my wonderful friends. Also tits.’
‘Tits!’ Sumi clapped her approval. ‘I’m grateful for Adrian’s beautiful honesty. Lucy, what about you?’
‘I’m grateful for my new best friend,’ she said, gazing down at her stomach. ‘Whom I can’t wait to meet.’
‘What are you going to do if it turns out to be a serial killer?’ Adrian asked while Sumi booed Lucy’s answer. ‘Or even worse, what if it’s ugly?’
‘How is ugly worse than a serial killer?’ John asked. He returned to the table with a pitcher of fresh margaritas, holding it aloft to rapturous applause.
‘Serial killers charismatic are at least.’ Adrian held out his glass for a top-up. ‘If the baby is ugly, there’s nothing we can do. Until it’s old enough for surgery.’
‘He is joking, isn’t he?’ Jemima asked me.
‘It’s easier to assume he is,’ I replied. ‘I know he’s not ideal but we just don’t have the energy to interview for a replacement and you’ve got to have a boy in your group so someone can answer the sports questions at the pub quiz.’
‘I will love my baby even if it’s an ugly serial killer,’ Lucy announced before knitting her eyebrows together. ‘Which it won’t be.’
‘And what about you, Ros?’ John reached his arm across my face to fill my glass. ‘What are you grateful for?’
Sumi leaned forward to stare at me with unfocused eyes, her face and her hair falling into the remains of her Barnsley chop as she did so.
‘I’m grateful for a lot of things,’ I replied, pursing my lips as John took the empty seat to my left that I was still saving