Missing You Again

Denial is a River in Egypt

Sean's drinks party wasn't as bad as I'd imagined. Who can complain about lazing on a warm rooftop with a group of intelligent and amusing people as the sun sets over the ocean in a stunning display of nature's beauty?

Not me that's who. Although I may have had harsh words with Sean for assuming that I'd attend without bothering to inform me. He'd just smiled and pointed at the roof terrace of my house next door, so close that if you were some kind of parkour daredevil you could jump, and said, "But darling I never invite the neighbours to my parties. They just arrive."

The evening had proven to be an interesting way for Zacky and me to dip our toes into the murky waters of sharing the truth of our long standing friendship. Or most of the truth at any rate because I sure as hell wasn't planning on telling people that I'd traced every single one of his tattoos with my tongue. TMI.

Zacky had met me at my house and we'd made our way next door together. He looked delectably relaxed in a grey button down shirt rolled up to his elbows and a pair of khaki shorts. His nervousness was betrayed by the way he hid his eyes behind a pair of sunglasses and dug his hands into the pockets of his shorts. I wasn't much better but only my white knuckled grip on the bottle of champagne I carried betrayed me. As we climbed the stairs to the roof I was tempted to turn and run. As if sensing my imminent attempt at flight Zacky pressed his palm to the small of my back. The warmth and weight of his hand through the flowing fabric of my kaftan style dress made me squeak in surprise. It seemed Zacky's new found intention to tell the world to shove their opinions on whom he was friends with was slightly stronger than my resolve to be more open about my life. Fortunately the forward momentum of his hand on my back won out and we stepped out of the stairwell and into the pavilion like sitting area that opened on to the roof terrace.

Cathy and Jeff were already settled onto the comfortable looking white canvas upholstery of a rattan based sofa sipping what looked to be Mojitos when Zacky and I made our entrance. The stomach squirming embarrassment of Jeff's wide-eyed look of surprise when he took in who I'd arrived with made me look toward Cathy for support. She'd given him a sharp nudge in the mid-section which had drawn a protest from him but at least it took his attention away from Zacky and me. However no amount of wifely nudging could stop the way Jeff's jaw dropped open when Sean flung himself at Zacky with all the enthusiasm of someone greeting a long lost brother. Seriously, if he was a dog he'd have been humping his leg. Cathy literally had to tap Jeff's mouth closed with the back of her hand.

Jeff's restraint was impressive when Zacky introduced us, all he said was, "I didn't realise that you and Zacky were friends." Poor guy the curiosity must have been killing him. If I'd been him I'd have been desperate to fire out questions with the speed and intensity of an Uzi. Cathy was a useless mess of giggles behind her hand and Zacky's smile had a hint of clench-teethed determination about it. Fortunately Sean and Wes were always at their best at parties and provided enough social and alcoholic lubrication to ensure things ran smoothly. It helped that Sean had also invited a couple of the contacts he'd made when he'd been negotiating for the new office.

In fact the worst thing about the evening was the clench of stress in my gut every time I saw Zacky begin a conversation with either Cathy or Jeff. I hadn't managed to corner one of them and ask for a recommendation of a doctor for me to see. I was worried that Zacky would mention something and catch me in my lie. My new truthful life was off to a cracking start.

By the end of the evening I was left with a couple of things to ponder. The first was the way that Sean seemed absolutely determined to promote a romantic relationship between Zacky and me and the second was how the hell I was going to organise a housewarming party in a week. Somehow I'd been bullied into agreeing that a party at my house the following Saturday was an idea worth pursuing. Sean had immediately created a private Facebook event and started firing off invites. The party was Facebook official which meant I had no way of backing out.