Maggie
Everyone loved him.
All my friends thought he was handsome and charming and that I was so lucky. When we announced our engagement, they couldn’t have been happier for me.
‘Congratulations!’
‘Amazing news. We’re so pleased for you both!’
‘What a beautiful ring!’
We’d arranged to have dinner at our local Italian and invited just a few close friends.
As Theo disappears to the loo, they crowd around me, hugging and kissing.
Mike and Pat, my old neighbours; Jenny and Samir, two amazing local artists; and George, who made a special trip up from London to be here tonight.
‘What about his friends?’
‘Huh?’
As George clinks his champagne glass against mine in celebration, I laugh giddily, not understanding.
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Well, these are all your friends.’
‘They’re our friends now. Mi casa, su casa.’
Buzzing with happiness and alcohol, I can’t take the grin off my face, but George frowns.
‘I just think it’s odd that he doesn’t have any friends.’
‘Odd, why? He’s lived in LA for the last twenty-plus years. All his friends are in America. He’s starting again over here. And anyway, what does it matter?’ I break off, irritation threatening to ruin my good mood. ‘Don’t tell me you’re jealous,’ I tease.
Actually, when I said everyone loved Theo, I should have said almost everyone.
George doesn’t, but then George can be very territorial when it comes to my boyfriends.
He hasn’t liked many of them and no one is ever good enough.
He hated my ex-husband with a passion – thankfully it was brief – and barely tolerated my last relationship with a sculptor, who I was with for several years, before it fell apart because of his drinking.
In many ways George is like the protective older brother I lost. In others, he’s the bitchy best friend.
Tonight he’s being the possessive lover.
‘He’s got a fabulous arse, I’ll give him that,’ he admits, almost reluctantly.
I laugh. I know that’s as close as I’m going to get to his blessing.
‘Definitely fit.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Just feels a bit weird, that’s all.’
‘Not everyone has as many friends as you, George,’ I point out. ‘You’re like the pied piper. Everywhere you go you attract people.’
‘Classic insecurity,’ he grins. ‘Can’t stand my own company. Tortured soul.’
He affects one of his brooding looks and I roll my eyes.
‘I surround myself with people so I don’t have to be alone with my own self-loathing.’
‘Don’t say that!’
‘I’m only joking. Sort of.’ He raises a perfect eyebrow. ‘Total FOMO.’
‘FOMO?’
‘Fear Of Missing Out.’ He breaks off. ‘God, is that even a thing any more? Nothing ages you more than a dated acronym.’
He looks so stricken, I throw my arms around him. I love George, even if he is the most melodramatic man I’ve ever met.
‘Well, he says he doesn’t need any friends, he just wants to be with me. It’s romantic.’
‘You mean claustrophobic.’
‘George, please be happy for me,’ I plead.
Breaking apart, I grab him by the shoulders and stare at him with my most deadly serious stare.
The one I used to use when we were both students and drunk on cider and George would try and persuade me that doing tequila shots at 2 a.m. whilst listening to the Counting Crows’ ‘Mr Jones’ on a loop was a good idea. Which of course, it never was.
‘I am, of course I am!’
Raising his glass, he drains it in one. A classic party trick. Back in the day, George would drink everyone under the table, but now he’s slightly more measured. Saying that, everyone is a bit drunk and woozy, after all the wine we’ve had to drink and now the champagne.
‘So, are you talking about me?’
Theo reappears from the bathroom as I’m refilling George’s glass.
‘Oh, didn’t see you there!’ I jump as he comes up behind me, sliding his arms around my waist. ‘We just were talking about our happy news.’
‘Wonderful, isn’t it?’ Not letting me go, he looks over my shoulder at George. ‘Don’t you agree?’ It’s almost as if he’s challenging him to disagree.
‘Amazing. I’m so happy for you both. Maggie deserves the best. You’re a lucky man.’
‘And don’t I know it.’
Theo nuzzles his face into my neck and I laugh as his stubble tickles. I’m being silly. George is making me paranoid. Theo isn’t challenging anyone. There’s no weird vibe between them. It’s totally fine.
‘So, George, will you be the one giving Mags away?’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that, I don’t think I could ever give Maggie away. You’d have to steal her from me.’
‘Is that so?’
OK. Maybe I was wrong. There’s definitely a vibe.
‘Hey, I am here, you know.’ Freeing myself from Theo’s arms, I put myself between them. ‘You’re talking about me as if I’m not here!’
Laughing, I try making light of the matter.
‘And what’s all this giving away business? It’s a bit old-fashioned. I’ll walk myself down the aisle, Meghan Markle style.’
‘Show what a strong, independent woman you are,’ smiles Theo, approvingly.
‘It all kind of went a bit tits up after the wedding, though, didn’t it?’ quips George.
Poor George. He’s such a royalist. He was so excited when Prince Harry married Meghan and so upset when it wasn’t the royal fairytale ending everyone hoped for and they moved to America.
No one loved Princess Diana more than George, he couldn’t get out of bed for days when she died, and he’s been in quite a state about her two boys, the princes, falling out.
‘Meaning?’
That said, it was probably a bad joke to make, under the circumstances, and I see Theo’s face cloud. Sensing the tension between them, I feel a twist of anxiety. I so want him and George to love each other. They’re the most important men in my life.
‘Just joking, mate.’
Mate. George never calls anyone mate.
‘We’re mates, are we?’ Theo looks at him so coolly, it makes my inside freeze.
‘Let’s get the bill, shall we?’ I interrupt, trying to be all cheery and provide a distraction. ‘It’s getting late.’
‘So have you two set a date yet?’
Another friend, Samir, a photographer who exhibits in my gallery, appears by my side tipsy and grinning.
‘No, not yet. We’re still looking for a house and work has been crazy,’ replies Theo, motioning to the waiter to try to get his attention.
‘Theo’s been away such a lot, filming,’ I add, glad of the change of subject.
‘Ooh, sounds glamorous.’
‘That’s what I always say,’ I laugh, ‘but he assures me it’s hard work being with all those famous actors in exotic locations.’ I roll my eyes and I’m relieved to see Theo laugh, his good mood restored.
‘It can be pretty demanding.’
‘Aren’t they all going to be replaced with AI?’ pipes up Pat, my neighbour.
‘Well, it’s funny you say that.’
‘Tell them about your new business idea,’ I interrupt excitedly.
‘Darling, please,’ he quickly shushes me, but I’m a bit drunk and in proud fiancée mode.
‘It’s amazing! Everyone should invest in it!’
‘Ooh, what’s that, got any insider tips?’
My friends gather round, ready to be let into a secret, but Theo just laughs.
‘You can be put away for that, you know. No, it’s still early stages, but I’m working with a Hollywood source on some new AI technology. I think it’s going to revolutionize movies.’
‘Wow, sounds amazing.’
‘You’re going to get married and rich, Mags!’
‘I hope so! We’ve sunk all our savings into it!’
‘Not all, darling,’ Theo swiftly corrects me. ‘We have other investors. And we’re not sinking anything, we’re investing in the future. Our future.’
He breaks off as the waiter returns with the bill and Theo goes to get it.
He’s so generous like that, always buying me gifts and flowers and treating me to lovely restaurants.
I watch him telling everyone not to be silly and to put their cards away, please, it’s his treat, he’s just pleased everyone could come to celebrate with us and I feel a swell of happiness.
A disbelief that this is really happening to me.
That love and happiness really does come for everyone in the end, you just have to be patient and wait – your turn will come.
‘Oh damn, I can’t believe it.’
I notice he’s patting the back pocket of his jeans and now doing the same with his jacket, which he’s slung over the back of the chair.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘I’ve only gone and brought the wrong wallet.’ Furious with himself, he flicks it open to reveal a bunch of dollar bills. ‘This is my old one, the one I used in LA.’
I’d bought him a new one as a gift for his birthday a few weeks ago. A lovely leather one I’d had monogrammed with his initials.
‘Oh, it’s my fault,’ I quickly reassure, squeezing his arm. ‘Buying you a new one and getting you all mixed up. That always happens to me when I swap handbags. Don’t worry, I’ll get this.’
I quickly pull out my credit card and hand it to the waiter. Out of the corner of my eye I notice George giving me a look. I ignore him.
‘Thanks, darling, I’ll pay you back.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, it’s my engagement dinner too.’
‘These feminists, they won’t let you pay for anything these days.’
Theo slips his arm around my waist affectionately and there’s laughter from my friends.
‘Don’t you have Apple Pay?’
I hear George’s voice and notice he’s not laughing.
‘Nah, don’t trust it.’
‘Really? But it uses AI technology to enhance security.’
‘So?’
‘Well, I would have thought you of all people would be into that. What with your new business?’
There’s a split-second pause.
‘Oh right, yeah . . . well, it’s a totally different use of AI technology,’ explains Theo. ‘To be honest, I leave that side of things to my tech guys; they’re the experts.’
‘I see. Wow, fascinating,’ nods George.
‘Yeah, it really is,’ agrees Theo.
George catches my eye and I smile, pleased to see both men getting on so well and agreeing on something, finally. And as the waiter returns with the card reader and hands me my receipt, I feel a swell of happiness. Maybe they’ll be besties after all.