We pull up at the Farley Hotel restaurant and I can’t stop looking at Janie and Gerwyn as we take a seat at the table together. They’re chatting happily about her new job, and she’s looking at him like he’s incredible. I could give her a high five when she turns the conversation to G.A.T.A. and what he’s been doing.
Ant nods at me when they get in depth about his latest campaigning effort, and summons the waitress for some champagne.
“Two bottles, please. Let’s get this celebration well and truly underway.”
Gerwyn toasts to our engagement a few times as the glasses go down, but Ant doesn’t want to hear much about it. All he does is turn their attention back to Wedding Bliss and G.A.T.A. with a smirk on his face as they carry on talking through the starters.
I keep looking at Gerwyn as he talks to Janie, he keeps looking back at me with a smile. He seems nervous somehow.
Ant pours me another glass of champagne and meets my eyes with a stare. I know what he’s thinking. He gets up to use the bathroom, leaning down to my ear for one little whisper as he passes.
“Get her to make a move, fresh off the G.A.T.A. conversation. Now or fucking never.”
I look over at the two of them talking. Ant is right. The campaigning talk is in full flow, and Gerwyn has been smiling an awful lot.
When Ant is back at the table I make sure I flash Janie a glance as I get up.
“Back in a minute, just going to the bathroom myself.”
“I’ll come with you,” she says, following the girly chat code.
“Well?” I ask her as soon as we’re through the bathroom door.
Her smile lights up the room. “He’s gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. Jeez, Cass, I hope I stand a chance with him.”
“Do it,” I say. “Try to take it further.”
She looks nervous. “Think it’ll work? Really? I don’t want to make an ass of myself.”
“I hope so. You’re amazing. I’m sure he knows it, like everyone else does.”
“Thanks,” she says, and gives me a lovely hug.
I’m sure I’m as nervous as she is when we sit down for our main courses. I know what’s going to happen when we’re done with our food. Gerwyn grabs his cigarettes before dessert and excuses himself to go outside.
I look at Janie. Go on. And she does it. She gets up and says can I have one along with you? And yes. He nods.
“Sure, absolutely.”
I take Ant’s hands across the table when they are out of sight, and his eyes are so severe in their intensity.
“He’d better fucking take this opportunity. He’ll be a prick if he doesn’t.”
I feel like I’m waiting on a court verdict as they arrive back at the table, and hell, how my heart drops when I see how awkward they are.
Oh no.
NO.
Janie’s cheeks are on fire as she sits back down at the table, and her fingers are shaky as she picks up the dessert menu. Jesus, it looks like she could cry with embarrassment.
Gerwyn looks awkward as hell as he picks up his menu along with her, and the tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
“I need the bathroom again,” I announce, and Janie is up like a shot to join me.
She covers her face in her hands as we reach the sinks, and I feel so sorry for her it hurts.
“What happened?”
“Urgh, jeez. I tried to kiss him. Not like a gentle peck kind of thing, either. I wrapped my arms around his neck and full on went for it.”
“Yeah? And?”
“He pulled away, with a sorry.”
My mind spins, I feel so bad for Gerwyn as well as her.
“Ok, well, that’s just attempt one. Maybe he’s nervous? It’s been a long time since Jo, and he might be feeling awkward about letting his heart go like that. It’s hard to tell what someone is really feeling sometimes, isn’t it? He’s been talking to you loads, really keen. I’ve seen the way he’s been looking at you.”
She laughs at that. She actually laughs.
“No, Cass. You haven’t. I’ve seen the way he’s been looking at you. I was a dumbass for even trying it, because it’s been clear from the second we walked in this place and sat down at the table.”
I whizz back through the evening in my head. Yeah, he’s been looking at me, but that’s because I’ve been looking at him. I try to say that to her but she shakes her head.
“Cass, you’re not seeing it. I knew the moment I made the move on him, because it’s obvious. There’s one woman he wants in this place and it’s definitely not me. It’s you.”
I feel like I’ve been hit in the stomach by a hammer.
“Yeah, we’re good friends…” I hear myself saying.