Racing For Love

Chapter Thirty Five

"What are you doing here? I saw you at the airport like 3 hours ago?" I say as I frantically rub my eyes, trying to make it look like I've not been bawling my eyes out.

"We've come to cheer you up! I know you were putting on a brave face earlier, and your puffy cheeks tell me I was right." James says pushing past me and into the kitchen where he puts a bag down and starts taking out ingredients - I can see tequila, and already know this isn't going to end well.

"We?" I ask, as I look across to James' car to see Max, his husband, and Kate climbing out. "Ah. You brought reinforcements. And I look horrific. Fantastic."

"You'd better come - James is making himself at home already" I say to them as they come in - Kate taking one look at me and pulling me into a huge hug.

"Don't worry - I know it's been a bit of a week. Now, James' spicy margaritas are infamous and as your boss, I'm sure I should be persuading you to be sensible, but as your friend - I'm telling you that you need a couple of drinks, a bitch with friends and maybe some dancing around to shitty music later to cheer you up!" Kate releases me from her embrace, but keeps hold of my hand, dragging me into the kitchen where James has already found the blender and is measuring out ingredients. I have never been more thankful for these people - friends who know what I needed better than myself.

James blitzes ice, whilst Max chops limes and finds some cocktail glasses. They work in unison, a perfect partnership with each knowing what the other will need next - I find their relationship comforting and familiar, reminding me of my parents. I am lost in my own thoughts as tears spill down my cheeks once more. "Hey, Annie. Are you ok? Do you want us to go?" Kate asks, wrapping her arm around me once more.

"No, please stay. It's fine, I was just watching those two and thinking I'd love that." I reply, wiping my face with the edge of my t-shirt.

"Annie! You're a baby - you've got years to find someone, and let me tell you something - Lorenzo is not it, I promise!" Kate states, to murmurs of agreement from James and Max. "Now, where are those drinks - we need to get this girl drunk and ready to forget that knob!"

James and Max oblige and we cheers our glasses, the spicy, sour liquid sliding down my throat with ease. Before I know it, we're into the second pitcher and we're laughing about Lorenzo and his insane good looks but dreadful everything else. Max presses me for more information and I give them some details of our exploits in London...well, before the gala at least, and I watch Kate blush at my revelations. Maybe this isn't the kind of thing I should be sharing with my boss, but I'm too many margaritas down to stop the words tumbling out of my mouth.

Max makes another pitcher of margaritas whilst I put some music onto the TV and start dancing with James. "I love you, James! Thanks for being such an awesome friend" I say, as I pull him into a hug.

"I know you're drunk, but I'll take it, and hey, right back at you! I'm sure the success of this new social direction has been because of you this year, Annie. We're lucky to have you on the team. Now, no more soppy stuff, shut up and dance!"

James swings me around across to Max, who tops up my glass along with his own. We stand together swaying as Kate and James jump up and down to a song and shouting along with the lyrics. "Max, thank you for everything, I love you! Are these getting stronger?" I add, feeling beyond woozy now, but having such a great time.

"Annie - you're a special girl and you totally deserve the best. I'm sorry if my encouragement drove you towards Lorenzo, I thought maybe you'd be the one to change him."

"Are you crazy -I managed it all by myself, I didn't need any encouragement! And maybe it is possible to change him, i'm just not the one - that's what Isa Federici is for!"