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.”“Just give the cat some cranberry juice and get to the point,” Nikki said.“You’ll never guess who the vet was.Jeff!” Taking in our blank faces, she explained further.“You know, from that band Andy used to play with.The singer who looked like Doogie Howser’s friend.”She paused while she took in our now interested expressions.“And get this.On his wall was a framed photo of him with the band.When I asked about it, he told me all about how he helped AJ Dangerfield get his start in music.Taught him everything he knows apparently.”If Jeff had taught Andy anything, it was how not to be a lead singer.Dawn triumphantly pulled a folded piece of paper from her purse and passed it to me.It had a signature scrawled on it.“He gave you his autograph?” I couldn’t believe the gall of the man.“He certainly did.Without me even asking for it!” Dawn burst into laughter.“Knowing him, he probably added a signing fee to your bill,” Nikki scoffed.“Oh, how I wish I could tell Andy about Jeff boasting about him.”He would find it hysterical.My fingers itched to text him.I looked around at my friends, the girls I’d grown up telling everything to.Well, almost everything.Should I tell them about Andy getting back in touch? I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.Because it wasn’t a big deal.This story about Jeff gave me the perfect opportunity to mention it but then Nikki would probably hyperventilate and Dawn would break out her disapproving wrinkles again.Nah, I’d leave it, maybe bring it up casually later in the week.I excused myself to the bathroom and on my return, Nikki was in a giggling fit, reading out a text message from Curtis and her reply on my behalf:Hope you arrived safely.Can’t wait to see you again.Bought some crotchless knickers, can’t wait to see you either big boy.Just as I was wondering what Curtis was doing up so late, my phone pinged again.Color? It was then I noticed the message wasn’t from my husband but from someone codenamed XX in my address book.Nikki took in my ashen face as I manically typed: Sorry.Drunk Nikki on loose.Thought she was messaging my hubby.Apologies for inappropriate comment.Nikki wrestled the phone off me.“If that wasn’t Curtis, who was it?” She took a sharp intake of breath as a reply came in: and here i was getting excited ;) “Don’t tell me you’re having an affair?”“No, I’m not, thank you very much,” I replied indignantly, zipping my phone away in my handbag.“But I’ll only tell you what’s going on if you don’t freak out.You have to pinkie promise.Especially you, Dawn.”The three of us hooked our little fingers together in a ritual we’d been doing since we were six.“That message – it was from Andy.”“Oh … my … god! The Shrimp is back!” Nikki threw her arms into the air in jubilation.“He got in touch after the Neil Lucas thing and he …”“He what?” Nikki prompted.“He wants to meet up again.”‘What, tonight?” Nikki spun around on her stool, as if Andy might be hiding behind the potted palm.“No, of course not.He’s at home in LA.But maybe one day.”“But you haven’t seen him since …”“I know.”Dawn chewed thoughtfully on a mint leaf.“Are you going to meet him?”“I guess so.Why, do you think I shouldn’t?”“I would so totally do him.” Nikki spoke so loudly, the group of men at the next table looked over, perhaps hoping she was talking about one of them.Nikki took in our gobsmacked expressions and corrected herself.“I mean if I was you.Not me as me because that would be totally off.But you’ve got to admit the Shrimp these days … phwoar.”“That may be so,” I said, hoping my face wasn’t bright red at remembering those shirtless photos.“But Andy and I are never going there again.For, in case you’ve forgotten, I have a husband.” I waved my wedding ring in her face.“And he’s married too.” To a vicious, spiteful woman who probably tore out the eyeballs of any woman who as much as looked his way.“Dawn, help me out here.Inject some of your moral outrage into this conversation.”Dawn toyed with her drink for a moment then looked me straight in the eyes.“If you want to go for it, go for it.I mean how do you know for sure Curtis has never cheated.It’s highly likely he has.Most men do.”“Hold it right there [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]