“And you stayed in touch all these years?”
“Yeah. Took three years to get all three awards. And it introduced me to a different future. Did you do it?” I asked as I took a seat on one of the low stools.
She shook her head. “I knew people who did, but I was indoorsy rather than outdoorsy. Is that what you enjoyed? The hiking? You climb a lot of mountains, right?”
“That’s part of it,” I replied. “But because kids from all over the area, from all different schools and backgrounds all did the award togeth
er, I met people who wanted more out of a life than just staying out of jail or to be a drug dealer,” I said as I transferred the last pint glass from the tray to the table. I’d been the only kid from my school to do the Duke of Edinburgh award, and I hadn’t told a soul in my class. I learned early not to hand my enemies ammunition. “The kids from other areas had different stories to tell, completely different lives. And I realized my fate wasn’t fixed—I didn’t have to stay on the estate where I grew up.” I took a breath in, still sensing the gratitude I had for stumbling onto the Duke of Edinburgh award. If I hadn’t seen that poster tacked up on the notice board by the assembly hall and surreptitiously gone and taken a photograph when I’d been excused to use the loo during a geography lesson, I might have had a very different life. “There was a girl that we did the silver medal with who ended up sailing across the Atlantic—her and her mate. Amazing. They were the youngest all-girl crew to ever do it. Seeing those aspirations in other people sows seeds. The beginning of my ambition was born spending time with the others on the course, understanding what was out there in the world for me, sharing our hopes and dreams for the future. I discovered my grit and determination. By the end of those three years, I’d built the foundations of the man I’d become and made the five best friends it was possible to make.”
“Beck, that’s amazing.”
Stella’s eyes were sparkling, and she seemed genuinely enthralled by my story. But it was amazing. For all of us. Those hours climbing up and down mountains in the rain, snow, and unbearable heat, volunteering with disadvantaged kids, raising money for the homeless—they had been the time of my life.
“Speaking of—here’s Dexter,” I said, glancing at the door.
Dexter arrived at the table and his gaze slid from me to Stella and back again, his eyebrows receding farther into his hairline with every second that passed.
“Hey, mate,” I said. “You’ve heard about Stella.” I gestured next to me.
“Oh, right. You two are going to the wedding together.” He kissed Stella on each cheek before taking a seat next to her.
“That’s the plan,” I said before Stella could start on how impossible it would be.
“And you’re friends now?” he asked.
“We’re getting there,” I replied. “As I’m going as Stella’s plus one, we thought it would be good to spend some time together.”
“He’s pretending to be my boyfriend, so I need to know everything about him. I’m hoping as his friends, you’ll be able to fill me in on all the stuff he doesn’t want to tell me.”
Dexter shot her a grin that said he’d just won the lottery. “I’m pretty sure we can manage that.”
“Manage what?” Joshua asked as he approached the table, setting his wallet down before noticing Stella. I swore one of these days he was going to walk right into the road because he was thinking up some complicated algorithm or something.
“Joshua, Stella. Stella, Joshua.” I should have ensured we arrived late, that way we only had to do introductions once.
“We have to rake up every awful thing we know about Beck to tell Stella,” Dexter said.
“This isn’t a Vegas residency—we’re here for one night only,” Joshua replied.
I really should have briefed them before bringing Stella. They were joking, but I wasn’t sure what would send Stella running in the opposite direction of the wedding. The last thing I needed was for these guys to destroy my last chance to meet Henry.
By the time Andrew arrived, Stella already knew I was shit at football. I didn’t bother to add that it was because I hated the game. By the time we’d all sunk our first pints, Stella was almost through her glass of wine and the flush in her cheeks and her near-constant smile suited her. Apparently laughing at my expense relaxed her.
“His legs were so thin, he could have slid down a plughole,” Dexter said.
“Fuck off,” I said. “I was just lean, that’s all.”
“Spindly more like,” Tristan said. “My mum used to pack chocolate bars into my rucksack to give you. She thought you were malnourished.”
“That’s a lie. You never gave me any chocolate.”
“Of course not. I kept it for myself.” Tristan shrugged as if I were stupid.
“You all did all the levels together?” Stella asked.
“Yeah. We all did bronze, silver, and gold, so it took a while,” Tristan said. “Years. I couldn’t shake these guys even if I wanted to.”
“One of the best things I’ve ever done in my life, even if it did mean I hung out with this lot of losers,” Dexter said. “Getting all three medals is one of the achievements in my life I’m most proud of.”