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London, and sort out my life.’ He laughed, unconvincingly.
    ‘I guess I’ll see you when you’re in London then.’
    ‘You bet you will.’
    *
    As I drove back to my flat and my life in London, I couldn’t shed the unsettled feeling that had taken root within me. I tried to concentrate on the fact that I would soon be seeing Joe. I felt sorry for George, I really did, but I was also looking forward to my own future. A future that up until now I never thought would include him.
    Friendships changed, that was a fact of life. I can’t say how I would define my friendship with George had he not left me for New York. I don’t know if we would have been as close as we were, or if we’d have grown apart. But from the age of twelve, he was the single most important person in my life, that much I do know, and there was no way I was turning my back on him. The question of whether I still liked him was one which I couldn’t answer. Our first meeting after five years was too weird for me to talk about; our second consisted of him scaring me and crying a lot. I wasn’t certain that I knew George any more.
     

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    It was was the first day of the new year and I was going to meet Joe’s parents for the first time. We were a bit hungover, having been out with Lisa and Max the night before but we’d promised that we’d go to lunch, so we dragged ourselves out of bed, and cursing our stupidity, got ready to leave. Joe was far more nervous than I was, apart from feeling ill I was looking forward to meeting his parents. After all I was meeting the people who brought up the man I loved. I already adored them.
    George’s parents had taught me from an early age that grown-ups are not all scary, alien beings. They’re just people. I quite liked talking to people’s parents, I found them interesting, I have never understood anyone being intimidated by grown-ups, I think they are far more afraid of us.
    ‘They don’t live in a big house,’ Joe said.
    ‘Sweetheart, for someone who is supposed to love me you don’t think much of me if you think that matters.’ I tried not to be angry, but Joe’s impression of me being posh was a little unfair to say the least and the implication that I was a snob (although of course I was a bit), annoyed me.
    ‘It’s not that. I know you’re not going to judge them, but I just want you to know what to expect.’
    ‘I don’t care if they live in a hovel, I still love them because they gave me you.’ We kissed.
    I love to kiss, but especially I love kissing Joe. He has the best lips I’ve ever been near. I sometimes think our relationship is teenage, in the way we seem to ‘kiss each other’s faces off’. (I heard that expression on television once, I have no idea if it was appropriate but it was said by a teenager.) My mobile rang and interrupted the delicious kiss. I shrugged and answered it without recognising the number.
    ‘Holly, it’s George.’ I hadn’t heard from him since the day in the park. I had thought about calling his parents to check that he was all right, but something held me back.
    ‘Are you OK?’ I asked, as Joe helped me into my coat.
    ‘I’m better,’ he said.
    ‘That’s wonderful.’ Something about the tone in his voice set me on edge. It didn’t sound right.
    ‘I need to see you.’
    ‘Sure, when?’
    ‘Now.’
    ‘Impossible, I’m off to Joe’s parents’ for lunch.’ I mouthed the word ‘George’ at Joe. I had told Joe about George’s rejection, and he already knew about our friendship.
    ‘After lunch then,’ George said.
    ‘Look, to be honest George I’m going to be back late tonight, we’re spending the afternoon there.’ I didn’t want him to spoil my day with Joe.
    ‘It’s in your interest,’ he said. That took me aback. I know that things hadn’t been quite right between us since the kiss, but he was sounding like a second-hand car dealer.
    ‘I really can’t.’
    ‘OK, well tomorrow after work. I’ll