‘So, did you say a fond farewell to lover boy?’ Shelley pretended to smooch a cushion as she watched me repack my backpack in my small lounge.
‘Hmm, more of a see-you-in-a-few-weeks-oh-colleague,’ I replied, thinking how tense the past two weeks of work had been. I’d purposely tried to avoid any conversations about India, knowing I’d overstepped some invisible line between us. ‘I don’t get it. OK so yeah, I did spring this whole travelling to India idea on him, thanks to you.’ I shot Shelley a look. ‘But he was the one who said he thought I should go. That it was for the best we had a break from each other.’ My stomach skipped remembering the look in his eyes as he’d told me that, disappointment etched on his tired features.
‘Well, he’s probably feeling slightly jealous.’ Shelley shrugged.
I looked up at her. ‘What do you mean?’
‘He loves to travel; you knew that from the moment you met him.’ I thought back to the collection of postcards sent from exotic destinations all around the world when I first stepped foot in Trisha’s travel agency. I’d nosily read these postcards written by a guy called Stevie, Trisha’s godson, without knowing Stevie was Ben Stevens. ‘He’s probably just sulking that he can’t go to India with you,’ she offered.
‘Maybe,’ I said slowly. It was true he probably did feel like his wings had been clipped since taking on the business. There were times when I’d spot him looking through our brochures and gazing at pictures of idyllic beaches and remote jungles, but whenever I asked him about it he would snap his head up, plaster on a smile and tell me he didn’t regret a thing about starting the business. I just wished that he’d added ‘with you’ on the end of that sentence.
‘Right, I reckon we finish up here and head to the pub,’ Shelley said jumping to her feet.
‘I dunno, I’ve still not checked I’ve got everything I need.’ I nodded at my half-filled bag.
‘Pfft, we’re going for two weeks. All you need is a couple of pairs of knickers, a toothbrush and your passport.’ Our passports had been returned just this morning, complete with Indian tourist visas; I could have cried with happiness when Kelli signed for them. ‘Come on, Miss Spontaneous, let’s go and have a drink – get us in the mood for tomorrow’s journey!’
Walking into the dim light of my local pub, hearing the jingly tones of the fruit machine and breathing in stale cigarette air masked by bleach, I remembered why I hardly ever came here. But it was cheap, close to home and the locals were friendly enough. With Shelley putting our order in at the bar, I sat down on one of the grubby seats and got my phone out. Trisha had been thrilled to be back working in the shop whilst I was away, and Ben had seemed pretty happy too. It solved the problem of finding a temp and meant I knew everything would be looked after in Trisha’s very capable hands. I know I was only going to be away for two weeks, but a lot could change in that time. I was just scrolling through my emails, making sure I’d forwarded everything I needed over to the pair of them, when someone called my name.
‘Georgia?’ I looked up to see Mike, Marie’s boyfriend, grinning down at me.
‘Oh hi! How are you?’ I said, smiling at his paint-splattered overalls. ‘You just finished work?’
‘Yep, nothing gets past you, does it!’ He smiled as Shelley walked over holding two pints of cider. ‘Oh hiya, Shelley, how are you?’
‘Ah, it’s Mike right?’ Shelley asked, carefully placing the pints on the rickety table. Mike nodded. ‘It’s great to see you again; God, the last time was at Georgia’s launch party, wasn’t it?’
‘Time flies hey?’ Mike laughed.
‘You can say that again; so how’s little Cole doing?’
‘Great, thanks. He’s slowly learning the joys of using a potty.’ Mike grimaced and sat down sloshing some of his pint on the floor as we moved our chairs around the table. ‘Anyway, what are you both up to? Georgia, you never come in here!’
‘Well we’re off to India tomorrow so thought we’d get in the mood and have a quick drink,’ Shelley said proudly. I still hadn’t told anyone; it wasn’t like when I jetted off backpacking round Thailand last year. This trip was purely business. Get in, find Nihal, sort out the problem and get out again.
Mike’s eyes widened. ‘Whoa, Marie never told me that. How exciting!’
‘Yeah, it was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing,’ I said, not adding the fact that we’d been pissed on expensive, super-strength rum at the time. ‘Is she about?’ I craned my neck around the empty pub to try and track down my best friend.
‘She’s just dropping Cole at her mum’s; we’re having a night off from scooping up poo and wiping wet patches from the floor, thank God.’ Mike laughed and glanced at his watch. ‘She should be here any sec –’
Right on cue, Marie walked in – her green eyes darted around the gloom of the pub until they found us. ‘Oh my God, Georgia!’ A huge grin broke on her face as she ran over and squeezed me tight. ‘You never come out; what are you doing here? I haven’t heard from you in ages.’
I winced. ‘I’m so sorry I’ve just been …’
‘Busy, yeah, yeah, I know. Well the odd text back would be nice,’ she said before shaking her head. ‘Anyway, how are things?’
‘Marie!’ Shelley’s voice boomed making Marie jump. ‘How you doing, chick?’
Marie almost stumbled back in surprise. ‘Shelley, what are you doing here? I thought you were going round Europe?’
‘Yeah, I was. Managed to Interrail round a few places but then Manchester sort of stole my heart.’
‘Yeah, Manchester and Jimmy,’ I teased.
‘Ben’s best mate? The beefcake?’ Marie asked.
‘Yep, that’s the one.’ I laughed.
‘So what are you up to? Having a girly night in the pub together?’ The question was light enough but I could sense Marie bristling slightly.
‘Yeah kinda. We decided to sod the packing and come and get a few drinks in us in preparation for tomorrow.’ Shelley grinned.
‘Packing? Tomorrow?’ Marie repeated.
‘Did Georgia not tell you? We’re off to India!’ Shelley wrapped her arm around my shoulder and squeezed me.
‘India?’ Marie echoed. I nodded. ‘Ah, great,’ she said in a tone that sounded very un-great. ‘No, erm, she didn’t say.’
Shelley didn’t pick up on the faux-friendly tones and continued to babble on. ‘Yeah, flying into Delhi and then maybe have a little trip around, take in the sights, head over to Bollywood before catching some sun on a beach in Goa. Lord knows this Aussie bird needs a good dose of vitamin D.’ She laughed, rubbing her freckled forearms.
Mike stood up to give Marie a peck on the cheek and a small glass of wine, which she almost necked in one.
‘You … you’re going to Bollywood?’ Marie faced me.
‘Pretty cool, huh?’ Mike chipped in.
Marie turned to him. ‘So you knew about this?’
‘Only just heard before you got here, babe,’ Mike said, putting his hands up defensively and making a speedy exit back to the bar, mumbling something about buying a bag of pork scratchings.
‘Right, great, well I hope you have a fantastic time,’ Marie said through gritted teeth. Shelley must have picked up on the tension between us and hurried off to the fruit machines.
‘I’m sorry for not calling you before now. I’ve been meaning to call you for ages,’ I said quietly.
‘Mmmm.’ Marie gulped her drink and avoided eye contact. ‘Well