From the outside, I can see that. But what impresses me most is that Delaney hasn’t lied – thatishow we met. Sure, Marcus and Cherie will assume it happened some time ago, but there’s at least akernelof truth there.
I smile, playing my part, then turn the question back on them. ‘Now, you’re the ones celebrating thirty-five years – how about you tell us howyoumet.’
It’s the perfect question, because Cherie gets all dreamy-eyed.
‘We met in college.’ She throws Marcus a pointed look. ‘And junior year, my girlfriend tells me about this handsome guy she met in her commerce class, who’s asked her out for coffee… And I put two and two together, see, and I realise it’s the same guy who’s been really flirty withme– and now he’s asking out mygirlfriend? And I’m like, no sir, you do not pit girlfriends against each other – that isnotcool. So, I marched right up to Marcus, and I let himhaveit. And you need to understand, the women who raised me – my mom, my aunts, my grandmothers – nobody messes with them, so when I say I came in hot… I was thesun.’
I throw my head back and laugh, glancing over to share the moment with Delaney, who’s also laughing. Marcus has obviously heard Cherie tell this story a hundred times or more – andlovesit.
‘So, there’s me, in the middle of the quad, giving him a piece of my mind and – to his credit’ – she raises her eyebrows at Marcus, who gives his wife a knowing smile – ‘he just took it. He tookallof it. And when I finished my tirade and was totally out of steam, he leaned in real close and he said, “I only asked Renee to have coffee with me to find out more about you.” Well! Didn’t he tellmewhat’s what? I was speechless.’
‘First and last time in thirty-five years,’ Marcus interjects.
‘Oh, you,’ she says, swatting him playfully. ‘Anyway, we started dating that weekend and we haven’t stopped dating since.’
Her words drive a shockwave through me. They haven’t stoppeddatingsince – they fell madly in love all those years ago and they’restillmadly in love.
The conversation carries on without me while I examine my own relationship, one I’m essentially hiding from, and have been for some time.
And I can’t for the life of me recallonemoment with Pippa that felt like being thunderstruck. We hooked up in my childhood bedroom, then sort of fell into being a couple. It was easy to do with our families already so entwined – almost a foregone conclusion.
And twelve years later, here we are – engaged, but living separate lives.
A queasiness not unlike seasickness washes over me when Delaney’s question from earlier charges into my head:do you even want to get married?
‘Nick?You ready?’
I break free of my reflections to find all three of them looking at me, Delaney half out of her chair.
‘Ah, yes,’ I say, standing.
Cherie pops up and pulls me into a hug. ‘So nice to meet you,’ she says with a pat on my shoulder.
‘You too.’
She and Delaney exchange hushed words, glance in my direction, then hug.
‘Great to meet you,’ says Marcus, also standing, his hand extended. I shake it.
‘You too – and thanks for the drink.’
‘Any time.’
We say our goodbyes, Cherie waving us off like we’re close friends, and step out into the evening. We’re only a short way down the path when Delaney stops abruptly and grabs my arm.
‘Shit, we left without paying the cheque.’
‘No, we didn’t.’
‘Nick, Itoldyou – we were going Dutch.’
‘Sorry, I meant that True North took care of it.’
‘Oh, okay then.’
She strides off and I catch up, falling into step with her.
‘I liked Cherie and Marcus,’ she says. ‘Nice couple.’