We Met in December - Rosie Curtis Page 0,112
I can’t stop making. I found a kit in the craft shop round the corner, and it’s very therapeutic. Alex said earlier that he’s worried that if anyone stands still for too long they’ll be decorated with baubles and strung up with Christmas lights. I can’t help it. We’ve been together a year, and I’m so revoltingly happy that I even make myself slightly queasy sometimes. Nanna Beth’s doing really well. She’s completely Team Alex – in fact she loves him to bits, probably because she’s got her very own male nurse to harass. And even my mother – grudgingly, because she still secretly thinks James was a better bet – has conceded that Alex and I seem very happy together.
‘Yes. I definitely want to give up the room,’ I say. If someone takes it over and has as good an introduction to London as I’ve had, they’ll be lucky. I look around the kitchen, which is still as tumbledown and dilapidated as it always was. I’ve loved living at Albany Road, but it’s time to move on.
‘We could put up with a couple if it was you two, I reckon,’ she says, looking across at Rob. He nods. I look at Alex fleetingly. There’s something in the air. I’ve suspected for a while that maybe she and Rob are more than just friends, but they still haven’t gone public, and I’m not going to be the one to push her to admit to anything if she’s not ready – I mean, it took us long enough. But if they’re just good friends, they’re very good friends. And I love watching the way they wind each other up, and the way they spend hours in the kitchen cooking Sunday roasts. They’re like the parents of the house.
‘Well we’re going to have two rooms to fill, then,’ Becky says, looking at Rob.
‘Two?’ I frown.
‘Oh, Emma’s moving out in January – didn’t I tell you? She’s off to manage the entertainments section on a cruise ship.’
When we first came out and told everyone about our relationship, I’d been nervous about her reaction. She’d been a little bit frosty to start with, but it only lasted a few days. I tried to talk to her about it but she shook her head and told me that it hadn’t ever been anything more than a hook up with Alex, and that she hoped we’d be very happy together. And that – amazingly – was that. Things had been pretty much plain sailing after that.
‘A cruise ship?’ I look at Alex, who is sitting at the kitchen table where we first met in December last year. This time, though, he’s not making margaritas, but scrolling through his phone looking at online baby shops. He makes an impressed sort of face. I half wonder if she’ll end up working alongside my mum, if she ever manages to get her dream job.
‘If you and me and Gen club together,’ he says, thoughtfully, ‘we could get this for Lottie as a christening present.’
Becky peers down at the screen. ‘A rocking horse? Didn’t you say she was only six months old, Alex?’
‘Yeah, but Jess and Gen are joint godmothers. They should get something she can keep.’
‘You’re such a softy,’ says Becky, ruffling his hair. He ducks away, laughing.
‘I think it’s a lovely idea.’ I drop a hand on the back of his neck, feeling the heat of his skin underneath my fingertips. And then I want to leave the kitchen and head upstairs with him as soon as I can. I take my hand away, trying to focus on what we’re supposed to be doing.
‘Becky, did they get in touch about doing references for our new place?’ Alex asks.
‘Yeah, it’s all done. Can I see the pics again?’
I click on the link on my phone. I’ve saved a load of photos, but I won’t be uploading them anywhere until we’ve got the keys in our hands. It’s the tiniest flat you can imagine, one bedroom and a kitchen/sitting room in Queen’s Park, the closest we could get to Little Venice, which is always going to be special to us.
‘It looks so sweet,’ Becky coos, looking back at Alex.
‘How long do you have left ’til you qualify?’
‘Another year.’
I look at him then back at Becky. It’s going to be tight, but I don’t care. ‘But I’ve been promoted, so we’ll manage – just.’
‘I get the feeling you two would be okay whatever happened, anyway.’ Rob looks pleased with himself. He’s still revelling in his Cupid role, a year later.
Alex swivels round in his chair and looks up at me. ‘I think you’re right,’ he says to Rob, but I’m the one who gets the full benefit of those gorgeous chocolate-drop eyes. He gives me the ghost of a wink.
‘Took you long enough to work it out,’ Becky teases. ‘I thought you two would be perfect for each other the moment you met.’
‘We were,’ I say. Alex stands up, taking my hand, and as I finish my sentence we’re disappearing out of the room.
‘It just took us a while to figure it out.’
Acknowledgements
Like Alex, when I was a teenager I spent a lot of time wandering around London while my dad was working, so it’s been absolutely lovely to write a whole book about one of my favourite places in the world. Huge thanks to everyone in the hardworking Avon gang for being so welcoming, and making this book such a joy to write – particular thanks to my brilliant editor, Rachel Faulkner-Willcocks. Thanks also to Amanda Preston, brilliant agent, moral support and cheerleader. You deserve a medal.
To the Millionaires, Hooters, and the Book Camp gang – thank you all for keeping me (relatively) sane, making me laugh with publishing gossip, and for celebrating with me every time I think I’m finished a book, and then again when it’s finally done. You are all the best.
To my gorgeous children Verity, Rosie, Archie, Jude and Rory – I love you enormously, and I’m so proud of the kind, lovely, thoughtful people you are. Sorry we’ve had pasta for dinner eight million times this year, but on the plus side, at least it’s not risotto. Also please tidy your rooms. (If I put it down on paper, maybe you’ll listen.)
To my family – Ross, Zoe, Mae, Mum, Chris – and my dear friends – Jax, Elise and Rhiannon – who put up with my vagueness, disorganisation and promises to call back when I’ve finished one more chapter, I love you all.
To my dogs, Mabel, Martha and Tilly – love and ear rubs. (But do please stop eating the furniture/chasing the guinea pigs/barking when I’m trying to edit.)
Last of all and most importantly – to you, reading this. Thank you for picking up this story. I hope you enjoyed reading Alex and Jess’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it!