‘Good to meet ya, Amy,’ said Brian, grinning.
‘Yeah, put your tongue away, Romeo,’ said Suzie, slapping his arm. ‘Remember who you proposed to.’
Brian threw a possessive arm around her. ‘Yeah, like I’d ever forget that. So what you dancing in now, Amy?’
‘A new production about tango. In the West End in London. Rehearsals start in the new year,’ said Amy, stretching the truth a little.
‘London, huh? Maybe I’ll take Suze along if you ever make it to Broadway.’
‘Contemporary dance, honey,’ smiled Suzie. ‘Not your thing.’
‘Hey, I like modern dance,’ protested Brian. ‘Half-naked girls in hose.’
‘You like Hooters,’ said Suzie, pushing him back into the crowd. ‘That’s what you like. Now go get us two drinks so we can catch up, huh?’
Brian winked and disappeared into the throng.
‘He’s cute,’ said Amy.
‘He’s a firefighter over in Brooklyn. Looks very cute in his uniform. Even cuter without it.’
‘Same old Suze, huh?’
‘I know what I like, is all. Besides, we don’t all have your legs.’
Amy raised her eyebrows. She had always been jealous of Suzie’s curves and easy sex appeal. ‘I think you made out okay.’
‘So your mom told my mom that you got a rich boyfriend?’ She clinked her beer against Amy’s. ‘I’m so happy for you, Ames. It all worked out for you, didn’t it?’ she said wistfully.
‘You remember all those times when we were ten and you tried to persuade me to come to dance class? What was that teacher called? Miss Jo-Jo?’
Amy nodded.
‘There’s times I wish I’d kept it up like you, or at least held out for a job I loved, instead of dealing with sick pooches over at the Blue Cross.’
‘You always loved animals, Suze.’
‘Yeah, but the sort in tight pants.’
They giggled.
‘Well, it looks like you did okay too,’ said Amy.
‘Yeah, Brian’s a keeper. What about you? Mom said your boyfriend’s some British millionaire.’
She opened her mouth to tell Suzie that it was all over – she was desperate to tell someone – but Suzie was motioning towards the back of the bar.
‘Shame, ’cos your old high-school hottie is over there.’
‘Chris Carvey?’ Amy said, feeling suddenly nervous.
‘Go and say hi. In fact let’s both go and say hi. He always did brighten my day,’ Suzie said with a wink.’
‘Suze, no. It’s fine. I’m only staying for one drink.’
But she had already been marched out towards a covered backyard area. Since her last visit, someone with green thumbs had turned what had been the delivery yard into a beer garden, with trees and big shrubs in pots, and little seating areas. It was cold outside, but even Amy had to admit that the fairy lights added a bit of Christmas magic. She stopped in her tracks as a man turned to face her.
‘Chris,’ she said.