Three Amazing Things About You by Jill Mansell Read Free Book Online Page B

thing I ever did.’
    ‘You’re still missing a cracking party. And she’s there with you now?’
    ‘She is.’
    ‘Let me speak to her.’
    Rory handed over the phone.
    ‘Hi, Joe,’ said Tasha. ‘It’s me, Bin Girl.’
    He laughed. ‘Hey, Bin Girl. What the hell have you done to my boy?’
    ‘I have no idea. It’s been quite a night.’
    ‘And you’re not a bloke?’
    ‘Definitely not a bloke.’
    ‘Any other guilty secrets you might want to share with me? It’s OK, I won’t breathe a word.’
    ‘Do you promise?’
    ‘Absolutely.’
    ‘OK. I do have a secret,’ said Tasha.
    ‘Six kids? Scary husband? Serious drug habit?’
    ‘Nope.’
    ‘Go ahead then. Tell me,’ said Joe.
    ‘I think I’ve found the man I’ve been waiting for.’ As she said the words, Tasha’s gaze met Rory’s and a smile spread across his face.
    ‘Ah Jesus, you’re a pair of hopeless cases, both as bad as each other.’ With mock disgust, Joe said, ‘I’m going to leave you to it and head back to the party. Happy new year, Bin Girl.’
    Tasha grinned. ‘Thanks, Joe. You too.’

Chapter 9
    ‘This is scary,’ said Tasha. ‘I can’t believe how nervous I am.’
    ‘I know.’ Rory held her hand under the table. ‘Me too. It’s never bothered me before.’ He took another drink. ‘Basically because it didn’t matter.’
    The door to the pub swung open and Tasha’s fingers tightened around his. ‘OK, here we go. Here’s Carmel now.’
    It was like a cross between a fait accompli and a really important job interview. Falling in love with Rory had been the easy bit; now they had to meet each other’s best friends and hope that went well too. Everyone knew there was nothing worse than your oldest friends not getting on with your new partner. Occasionally they couldn’t stand them. And sometimes the best friends downright hated each other too.
    It had seemed like a good idea at the time to get the whole thing over with in one go. It was now eight o’clock in the evening on Wednesday the third of January, and Rory had arranged for Joe to meet them here at the Frog and Shovel in Hampstead. Tasha had done the same with Carmel. Talk about kill or cure; it was either going to go brilliantly or turn into the night of a thousand knives.
    Tasha rose to her feet and waved, and Carmel made her way over towards them. Then the door opened again and Rory said, ‘Well that’s a first; Joe’s turned up on time too.’
    Carmel was tall and narrow-hipped, with a curtain of Scandinavian white-blond hair falling down her back; she wore black flicky eyeliner, pale pinky-beige lipstick and an impractical cream coat over jeans and a black sweater. They’d been best friends since school and had met all of each other’s boyfriends over the years, with varying degrees of success.
    Tasha mentally crossed her fingers that this evening’s meet-up would go well. She couldn’t think, offhand, of any reason why Carmel might not like Rory, but you never knew; before now, Carmel had taken against one boyfriend purely because she didn’t like the way he stroked his chin. But that had been Colin, who’d turned out to be a complete dick anyway. And to be fair, Tasha remembered, she’d once had a similarly strong aversion to one of Carmel’s boyfriends because he’d worn Cornish-pasty-style shoes.
    Honestly, between the two of them and their peccadilloes, was it any wonder she was nervous?
    The four of them sat down, everyone was introduced – ‘Hello, Bin Girl!’ – drinks were ordered and the serious business of getting to know each other began.
    ‘So you must be incredibly sporty.’ Kicking off proceedings, Joe turned to Tasha. ‘What are you into? Snowboarding? Paragliding? Marathon running?’
    Carmel spluttered with laughter. ‘You’re asking Tasha? Marathon lying down, more like. Marathon TV watching with a packet of crisps—’
    ‘OK,’ Tasha hastily cut in, ‘that’s enough.’
    ‘Ha ha.’ Carmel’s eyes danced.