The Happy Hour

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jess walked into the Gipsy Moth with the sun hanging low and golden in the sky outside, and wondered if her happiness was visible; whether she was lifting her feet up higher, adding a sashay to her hips as she walked.

She went through the dark pub and out to the covered veranda, where her friends had pulled several tables together. Enzo and Spade were next to each other, Enzo folding a paper napkin into smaller and smaller triangles; Susie had her hair in a high ponytail, and a small, fluffy, whale-shaped bag on the table next to her. Kirsty, wearing a thin crimson jumper, was sipping a huge glass of white wine, and Roger and Olga were laughing over full, frothy pints. Lola was there – of course – and Felicity sat on Spade’s other side, wearing a rose-coloured top that was looser than her usual prim outfits, and made her look softer.

‘Jess!’ Lola’s wave was exaggerated, as if she was a hundred feet away rather than three. ‘What do you want to drink?’

‘I’ll get it,’ Jess said. ‘You’re all settled. Anyone need a top-up?’

‘A pint of lager, ta.’ Spade raised his nearly empty glass, then glanced at Felicity. ‘Or a... vodka and lime, maybe?’

Enzo frowned at him.

‘I’ll get you a Stella.’ Jess grinned as she went back inside. She had also felt the urge to be a more polished person in Felicity’s presence, but that was before Felicity had shared the darkest parts of herself with her and Ash.

They’d had three more Sundays since that first morning, when Ash had stood in the rain to gather his emotions about something he still wouldn’t talk to Jess about. In literal terms, they had made very little progress, and Jess couldn’t see much of a canyon opening up in the mountains of things. In emotional terms, however, it felt as if they had performed miracles. Or, more accurately, Ash had.

His patience was infinite, and his kindness with Felicity and her cats – even though Artemis was an aggressive bruiser of a tabby, as territorial about the items in the front room as Felicity – was what made the whole thing work. His gentle humour kept Felicity and her going, even when the going got tough, and it recharged Jess’s batteries. It was as if, during the week, her energy slowly drained, and then she saw his face and his dark, messy hair, and he pulled her into a hug, brushed a kiss over her lips, and she was fully topped up again.

‘What would you like, love?’ The burly man behind the bar was Lola’s boss, Milo, who was kind and fair, and the only reason Lola put up with the busy, chaotic shifts.

‘Vodka tonic please,’ she said, glancing at her phone. ‘And a pint of Stella.’

Ash had sent her a photo. It was the view from the window of his flat, which looked out over the rooftop of the shorter building opposite, where someone had stuck a couple of loungers and a few potted plants. Beyond it, between two London skyscrapers, there was a thin slice of sky, a burning orange glow, as if the sun was trying to squeeze through the narrow gap like Indiana Jones.

Not too bad, he’d typed. Bet it’s better where you are. Ax

She replied while Milo filled her glass with tonic from a tiny bottle.

We’re at the pub. The sunset over the river is pretty, but I’d have to go outside to take a photo and I can’t be arsed. x

Milo put her drinks on the counter, she paid for them and thanked him, then snapped a picture of her glass.

Have this instead. xx

It looks like a GT? Not filling me with awe, tbh.

I’m cheersing you, Ash. Cheers! ??

Oh right. Cheers!

He added a photo of a mug of what looked like too-milky tea.

I’ll message you later.

Can’t wait. Have a good night. xx

She felt an ache that he wasn’t with them. She could easily imagine herself snuggling up to him while everyone chatted around them. Because, while they’d been busy at Felicity’s house, they had also found the time, the quiet corners, for kisses that felt even more delicious because they were stolen.

All Jess’s plans for where she’d take Ash – the parts of Greenwich she wanted him to see – had fallen by the wayside in light of Felicity’s needs, and while she didn’t want to stop helping, she missed having him to herself.

She took the drinks back to her friends and found Felicity holding court, a large canvas bag in the middle of the table.

‘What are these?’ Susie asked, as Felicity took items out of it. ‘Photo frames?’

‘This is mother-of-pearl.’ Olga lifted one up and ran a finger down the edge.

‘I don’t need them any more.’ Felicity’s tone was slightly defensive.

Jess felt a surge of pride as she slipped in next to Lola. Even a fortnight ago, she couldn’t have envisaged Felicity doing this –voluntarily giving away any possessions –but, having learnt from Ash, she didn’t make a big deal of it. ‘How’s TikTok fame?’ she asked her friend. ‘Judging by my online sales, your popularity is skyrocketing.’

She basically had two jobs now: working at No Vase Like Home and fulfilling orders on Etsy. On a couple of occasions, she’d had both Lola and Malik helping her pack up prints, taking over the living room, which had led to Terence pitching in too as they worked to clear the backlog. Added to that, she’d already had to restock the framed prints in No Vase Like Home, while Lola, Spade and Braden continued to delight people in the public spaces of Greenwich, and on social media. It meant Jess had been able to donate money to Enzo for rent and, with Wendy matching her contribution, he had also been able to pay for Sofia to spend a couple of days making more jewellery. It wasn’t enough to keep them going for ever, but it was a start.

‘Over half a million views on our last video,’ Lola said proudly.

‘Which featured the Better Babies stall,’ Susie added. ‘I even made up a little dance.’

‘I saw it,’ Jess said, laughing. ‘You looked great, Susie. I just hadn’t checked the numbers in a while.’

‘Next stop record company, baby.’ Spade raised his glass.

‘You’ve achieved so much.’ Felicity handed the last photo frame to Kirsty and took her empty bag off the table. Jess noticed Spade tap the back of her hand, as if in approval.

‘I am very grateful,’ Enzo said. ‘From the sale of Jess’s prints, the money she and Wendy have given me, Sofia has been able to help us a little. The stall is full of new pieces.’

‘You’re fucking magic, Jess,’ Spade said.

‘Absolutely!’ Felicity laughed. ‘An absolute fucking superstar.’

Jess almost spat her vodka tonic over the table. She was about to comment on Felicity’s swearing when she noticed the adoring look Spade was giving her, the little bubble of admiration they seemed to have sunk into, and kept quiet.

‘A proper superstar,’ Enzo agreed. ‘Thank you. But I do not want to take your charity for any longer than I have to. It’s your work, not mine.’

‘You know I’m happy doing this,’ Jess said. ‘Me and Wendy. It’s just until you’re firmly back on your feet. And you’re helping me out too, because I never would have brought my designs into the shop without this push.’

‘It’s very generous of you,’ Olga said.

‘So generous,’ Kirsty added. ‘I think we need another round to celebrate. Susie, come to the bar with me?’

‘Of course.’

‘I’m surprised Ash isn’t here,’ Felicity said. ‘Was he busy tonight?’

Jess opened her mouth to reply, then realised she couldn’t. How could she tell this group of lovely, sensible people that she hadn’t even considered asking him to come to the pub because he was a Sunday morning thing? Except that was no longer true, because he was in her thoughts and her dreams and lighting up her WhatsApps constantly. He was so far beyond Sunday mornings for her, even though those were the only times they’d seen each other.

‘Yes,’ Olga added. ‘It would be good to get his take on all this.’

Lola laughed. ‘You want to know what Jess’s part-time boyfriend thinks of her fundraising for Enzo?’

‘He’s not my—’

‘He’s a solid dude.’ Spade sounded indignant. ‘He’d be a good drinking buddy, I’m sure.’

‘He caught Braden when he stole that half-hunter from my stall,’ Roger added. ‘And look how far Braden’s come since then. Ash seems like an incredibly competent young man.’

‘I don’t know what I would have done without him,’ Felicity said quietly.

‘He gave me a new muffin idea the other day,’ Kirsty announced, as she and Susie returned to the table with trays full of drinks.

‘What was that?’ Olga asked.

‘Pistachio, vanilla and lime. He told me it was his favourite gelato combination, and I’m trialling the cream now. It’s going to be a bestseller, I can feel it.’

‘Wow.’ Lola sat back in her chair, her phone discarded. ‘Sounds like Ash is a pretty integral part of the market.’

There were nods and murmurs around the table.

‘One of the coolest ghouls we’ve ever had,’ Spade said. ‘You should invite him next time, Jess.’

She nodded, surreptitiously looking at everyone while she accepted a new drink from Kirsty. She had known that Ash could charm anyone, but she hadn’t realised quite how fond her fellow marketeers were of him; how he’d worked his way into their lives, probably without even trying.

She felt bad for keeping his visits tucked into their Sunday morning box, but there was also a possessive voice inside her that said he could share flavour ideas and catch criminals and offer opinions as much as he wanted, but she was the one he was kissing, the one she wanted him to think about – at least half as much as she thought about him, if possible.

When she glanced at Lola, her friend’s smile was soft and knowing, as if she realised just how hard Jess had fallen for her happy-hour man.

She finished her new drink in three large gulps, told everyone she needed to nip to the loo, and hurried away from the table, desperate for a moment to herself.

She sent him a message when she was safely back in her room, her head swimming slightly from the vodka.

Missed you tonight. But I didn’t invite you because it wasn’t Sunday. That’s stupid, isn’t it? xx

His reply appeared almost immediately.

I do exist outside Sundays, but I get it. It’s not how it’s worked between us. Good night?

It was fun, and everyone asked after you. You should have been there.

It’s fine, Jess. Really.

WhatsApp told her he was typing again, and Jess kicked off her shoes and sat cross-legged on her bed. Her fairy lights were scrolling through a pastel rainbow, red to yellow to blue to purple to pink. His message appeared.

But we could meet up one evening, just you and me. What do you think? I’d still come to Greenwich.

Jess’s fingers fumbled as she typed.

Really? I’d love that.

You would?

Of course! Sundays are Felicity’s now, anyway. Let’s go out one night. Just the two of us. ??

What about Friday? I finish at lunchtime this week, some training thing I’m not needed for.

I can get off at four! Must be serendipity.

She chewed the inside of her cheek. Was she being too eager? Her heart was pounding.

Let’s take the serendipity and run with it. ??

So we’re really doing it? ??

Jess thought of their kisses, of how he turned her on and made her feel safe, and how much she wanted to kiss him with abandon, when they didn’t have Felicity waiting for them or people watching them in alleyways. They had never, she realised, been truly alone. She typed again: not a question this time.

We’re really doing it.

I’ll come to the shop at 4 on Friday.

Friday. So weird.

I’ll bring coffee. Americano?

What else? We have to hold on to some of

our traditions.

Naturally. It already seems too far away.

I’ve added it to my calendar.

She hadn’t, but he sent back the ?? emoji, and she felt a giddy rush of excitement and anticipation. She didn’t know how she was supposed to get any sleep now – or at all, before Friday.

Sweet dreams, Jess. Ax

You too. ??? xx

She put her phone on charge and, with her elation overriding the flicker of unease that told her she was getting carried away, that she was letting him too far in, that the vodka had made her reckless, she went to clean her teeth in the tiny bathroom she shared with Terence.