Three Amazing Things About You(17)

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. ‘I’m just trying to imagine you being sporty.’

‘No, but seriously.’ Joe was looking genuinely taken aback. ‘You must do something.’

Tasha shrugged. ‘I do plenty. Just not necessarily . . . those kinds of things.’ Was this going to put him off her?

‘Do you swim?’

‘I can swim. I prefer to sunbathe. I’ll jump into the water to cool down, but I wouldn’t do fifty lengths of the pool.’

‘Did you know about this?’ Joe switched his attention to Rory.

‘Yes, she told me.’

‘And?’

Rory shrugged. ‘It’s fine.’

‘So let me get this straight. You’re an adrenalin junkie.’ Joe tapped his friend on the forearm. ‘A non-stop action man. And you’re completely crazy about this girl here, but she’s inaction girl.’ He tilted his head apologetically in Tasha’s direction. ‘No offence, I’m sure you’re a lovely person, but you’re not remotely sporty and you don’t do any of the stuff Rory likes doing.’ The look on his face was frankly dubious as he sat back and took a gulp of his pint.

‘Hey,’ Carmel said heatedly, leaping to Tasha’s defence. ‘Why are you making it sound like it’s all her fault? Is your precious friend interested in literary festivals and art galleries and Ancient Egypt? No, I’m guessing he probably isn’t, but that doesn’t make him a lesser person, or a better one. They’re just different. Opposites attract, OK? And these two opposites are attracted to each other.’ Her gaze narrowed. ‘So we’re just going to have to make the best of it.’

Oh dear, imminent warfare.

‘Where did that come from?’ Joe was instantly on the defensive. ‘You were the one who started it,’ he pointed out, ‘making fun of her marathon TV watching.’

‘Tasha’s my oldest friend.’ Carmel gave him a withering, don’t-you-understand? look. ‘I’m allowed to make fun of her. You don’t get to do that until you’ve known her a lot longer than this, OK?’

For a few seconds they glared at each other. Finally Joe said, ‘When, then?’

‘Another year,’ said Carmel. ‘At least.’

He shook his head. ‘No way. I can’t wait that long. At the rate these two have been carrying on, they could be married with kids by then.’

Tasha held her breath. Imagine . . .

‘Just be nice to my friend, that’s all I’m saying.’ Carmel still had the proprietorial light of combat about her. ‘Or you’ll have me to answer to.’

‘Right.’ Joe raised his hands in defeat. ‘I’m sorry, OK? God, you’re terrifying.’ But there was a twinkle in his eye as he said it. Returning his attention to Tasha, he added, ‘Bin Girl, I apologise, OK? Most sincerely.’

‘And don’t call her Bin Girl any more either.’

‘Actually,’ said Tasha, ‘I’m starting to quite like it.’

Joe said solemnly, ‘You’ll always be Bin Girl to me.’

‘So how would we say this is going, then?’ Rory enquired.

‘They want us to get on well together,’ Joe told Carmel. ‘It means a lot to them.’

‘You’re right.’ Carmel nodded. ‘We should probably be nice to each other, for their sakes.’

‘Give us a kiss then,’ said Joe.

He’d been joking, but Carmel reached across the table, grabbed his face between her hands and fastened her lips on his.