Chapter 5 #4
‘Bill! Dan! Jean Pierre!’ she called out, waving enthusiastically. ‘This is my best friend Nancy. She’s driven down from London to check out my new life.’
Nancy stepped forward with that effortless confidence Eliza had always envied, extending her hand with a warm smile. ‘Lovely to meet you all. Eliza’s given me the lowdown!’
‘Well, hello, Nancy,’ responded Bill good-naturedly, ‘any friend of Eliza’s is a friend of ours. Especially when they’re buying the drinks,’ he chuckled, all the other boys laughing along with him.
‘Let’s do it, then,’ chirped back Nancy, always willing to stand her ground. ‘Shots all round?’
The old boys looked at each other with a certain trepidation, and Eliza wondered when they had last veered off the cider.
‘Shots it is, then!’ said Nancy when no one responded.
Lining up the tequilas around the bar, the girls slammed theirs in seconds, and when Bill finally spoke up and said he thought he and the boys might be better sticking to cider at their age, the girls quickly downed another two, leaving one sitting all alone.
Before Eliza had spotted him, Luke swooped in, picked up the shot and downed it. ‘Looked like it was going begging, and I wouldn’t want you girls to peak too early.’ He winked, gave his dad a quick slap on the shoulder, and wandered off in the other direction.
Holy shit, he’s even sexier than I remembered.
Turning to grab Nancy and pulling her close, she whispered in her ear, ‘Nancy, did you see that? Did you see that fucking sex god just walk by, grab that shot, and down it? That’s him, that’s Luke! Oh my God, I think I might have just died and gone to heaven.’
Giggling hysterically, both from excitement and too much alcohol, Nancy pulled back. ‘No need to shout! My God, only you would end up in the arse end of fuck knows where, with the hottest single man alive flirting with you.’
‘Now what? Shall I act cool, or shall we sidle over? I feel like I’m too old for this.’
‘You’ve never acted cool in your entire life, so why start now?’ Nancy moved closer to the bar and ordered two gin and tonics, before turning back to Eliza. ‘Right, who is he talking to? Can you see? Don’t stare but try and grab a quick look!’
‘No, Nancy, you look. It’s too unsubtle if I do it.’
‘Okay,’ said Nancy, clambering onto the nearest bar stool to catch a glimpse.
‘Nancy, for fuck’s sake, that is not subtle. Get down!’
Nancy, who by now was very much in the spirit of things, whisper-shouted over the buzzing crowd, ‘Are you sure he’s single? I mean, he looks very engrossed in conversation with a hottie who looks very taken with him.’
‘Well, of course, she’s going to look taken with him, look at the state of him. What does she look like?’ Eliza hissed back, trying to glance at Luke and his conversation partner subtly over her shoulder.
‘Blonde, tall, gorgeous.’
Eliza couldn’t bear it a moment longer and spun around, nearly knocking the drinks straight out of Jean Pierre’s hand.
‘Easy, tiger,’ he said with a grin. ‘You are dancing so soon, or are you trying to spy on someone?’
Eliza giggled. ‘Me? Spy? Please, I’m way too excited to hear you do karaoke to be interested in spying on any of the other locals.’
‘Ah, spy away, darling, I would!’ He laughed as he walked away, distributing glasses of cider to the boys.
Through the gap, Eliza caught sight of who Luke was talking to, and felt a wave of relief.
It was only Bella. Hot? Yes. Available? No.
Having said that, her hand did seem to be lingering on his forearm for rather a long time, as she told what appeared to be a very amusing story, involving her flicking her hair and thrusting her bosom around.
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ shouted Dan from on top of the bar.
‘Could I have your attention, please? It’s been another truly wonderful Farmington Ploughing Extravaganza.
So, a big thank you to everyone who came together today to make it all possible.
And of course, a big thank you to all the farmers who have gathered here today to display their ploughing prowess and given us such colourful fields.
Our new judge Eliza was particularly impressed by the array of primary-coloured tractors, and we now know her favourite colour is yellow.
’ Everyone burst out laughing, and as Eliza looked up she caught Luke’s eyes burning straight into her.
Bloody hell, she thought, Dan was really on a mission to stitch her up.
Dan’s voice boomed, ‘Anyway, we all know the price of diesel is making it hard for lots of you to get out there and enjoy this pastime, so that makes your effort even more appreciated. But for now, the next round is on Ben, our worthy winner, and then the karaoke starts! Jean Pierre, make sure you let everyone have a turn with the microphone . . .’
Dan bounced off the bar to rapturous applause, while Nancy grabbed Eliza by the arm squealing, ‘I love this place, Liza. This pub, the people, how awesome is this? Maybe I should persuade Pete to move down here. It’s so fun, and not too many middle-aged women talking about their children, either.
Maybe I want to marry a farmer, too; is it too late? ’
Laughing, Eliza said, ‘Right, it’s time for you to be my wingman.
Are you ready? We’re going in! The person Luke is talking to is Bella, Phil’s wife – you remember my blown tyre saviour – anyway, I met her briefly, and I think we might be friends, but I haven’t really decided yet.
She seems a bit moany, in fact she will a hundred per cent put you off the countryside, so maybe don’t talk to her.
I like the idea of you moving here, but I’m only staying for three months, don’t forget.
Anyway, let’s focus. I’m going to get myself some rebound sex.
’ And with that she grabbed Nancy’s hand, buoyed by too much alcohol and overexcitement, and they headed over to where Luke and Bella were standing at the other end of the bar.
‘Bella, hi, how are you? I wanted to introduce you to my best friend Nancy who’s come down for the night. And Nancy, this is Luke.’
Luke put his hand out to shake Nancy’s, his muscles rippling even as he reached forward. ‘Nancy, great to meet you. It’s not always this crazy down in The Bush. It’s like a trial by fire for Eliza, but it sure is a good way to meet everyone.’
‘If this is your scene that is,’ interjected Bella with an eye roll.
‘I just love that it’s called The Bush,’ giggled Nancy. ‘That makes it the best pub ever to me. And I hear you won best vintage tractor, Luke? Who knew that was even a thing?’
He smiled. ‘Yup, every year. Helps keep my ego in check. They never let me win the main prize, so it’s just something to keep my father happy. Just me and my yellow tractor, Duke.’
‘SHUT UP!’ shouted Nancy. ‘Eliza’s yellow Citroen is called Daisy; it’s like a match made in heaven!’
Eliza kicked Nancy in the shins, completely mortified. Luke grinned. ‘Well, there you have it, Daisy and Duke. I wonder if they’re as reliable as each other.’
Eliza felt her cheeks burning, wondering whether he was actually talking about Daisy and Duke, or about her and him. Maybe he actually fancied her, but that seemed way too easy.
‘Well, as Phil has already had to rescue Eliza and her car once from the side of the road, I’m not convinced hers is all that reliable!’ butted in Bella.
Why was Bella being so shitty? Eliza wondered. The other day she had seemed so charming, if a bit moany. But today, she seemed angry and a little terrifying. Something had obviously pissed her off.
Thankfully, Jean Pierre took the stage amid a sudden round of applause, cutting off any more conversation. The music swelled and he burst into a rendition of ‘Mamma Mia’, which took on a whole new feel with his strong French accent seeping through.
As he began the chorus, Nancy shouted over the cheers, ‘No one should have to sing this alone, I’m going in!’ and clambered through the crowd to the stage.
‘Oh shit,’ murmured Eliza, as she watched her really quite drunk and overexcited friend lunge for the other mic, just in case anyone else might try to usurp her.
She then gave Jean Pierre a nudge, and jumped up next to him, bursting into song.
There was pretty much nothing Nancy couldn’t do, and her gorgeous singing voice was just another thing she was absolutely brilliant at.
She really was that person – pretty, kind, funny and she could sing like an angel.
If you didn’t love her, you would hate her.
Jean Pierre, who at first had seemed more than a little put out that he might lose his big moment, suddenly realised that she made him sound even better and threw himself into the song once more.
‘Well, she’s a firecracker,’ said Luke. Bella had wandered off to find the loo, and the two of them were suddenly on their own. Eliza felt nervous, and for once in her life, was at a slight loss for words.
‘Yup! Also the best friend in the whole entire world. She has a young baby at home, so I think the excitement of a night away is getting to her.’ She giggled.
‘Are you up next? You two must have a double act you’re just longing to perform,’ he said, stepping closer, with his sexy voice wrapping deliciously around her.
She struggled for composure. ‘I can assure you, you don’t want to hear me sing. But while there are many things in this life Nancy is simply better at, there are a few where I unequivocally hold the title.’
‘Oh, really,’ said Luke, his voice sounding even sexier, if that were possible, ‘and what might those be?’
Starting to find her confidence, Eliza smiled. ‘Well now, that would be telling, and I don’t want to let all my secrets out on the first night. I need to retain an air of mystery, don’t you think?’