Read Online Midsummer Magic by Julia Williams - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Julia Williams
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said Harry, feeling somewhat embarrassed by his friend. He was beginning to wonder if he’d made a big mistake bringing Ant with him this weekend. He’d forgotten in the two years that Ant had been away, just how loud, how forward, how full of hot air, how
thrusting
, his best friend could be. They’d been mates a long, long time, and Harry had always felt slightly overshadowed by his funnier, more confident, better-looking friend. And today, as Ant grew more expansive, Harry felt himself shrivel a bit, partly from embarrassment (Ant
would
insist on talking to Freddie Puck), partly from an old and familiar feeling that in Ant’s presence no one was interested in what he had to say. Luckily Freddie seemed to have an ego to match Ant’s and was revelling in the attention.
‘I’ll just get the drinks to the girls, shall I?’ Harry muttered as Ant went into an interminable discussion about how he’d watched
Illusions
week after week, and tried to work out how they did the tricks. Freddie just smiled enigmatically as Ant came up with ever more outlandish theories about how they were done.
Sensing they didn’t really need him, Harry took the tray of drinks over to the girls.
‘Sorry about that,’ he said, sliding gratefully into his seat. ‘Ant would insist on holding court with Freddie Puck. Honestly, he’s incorrigible.’
‘That’s one word for him,’ Diana said pointedly.
‘Look, Di,’ Harry felt even more embarrassed, ‘I’m sorry. I had no idea that you and Ant knew each other. I’d never have brought him if I’d known.’
‘It’s okay,’ said Diana, with a grateful smile. It almost made her look vulnerable, and he noticed with slight surprise how pretty she was. ‘Past history. Done and dealt with a long time ago. Now let’s get onto something far more interesting. Like you two getting hitched.’
Harry tried to smile with enthusiasm. He wasn’t sure
sssss
he wanted to talk about the wedding either. For reasons he felt uncomfortable dwelling on , the thought of the wedding was making him feel more and more uneasy. But he’d do anything to avoid a row, so he smiled again and said, ‘Yes, it’s going to be great, isn’t it?’
‘I know,’ said Josie grabbing his hand. ‘We’re so excited, aren’t we, Harry?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry, with more enthusiasm than he felt. ‘We can’t wait.’
He felt mean then. He squeezed Josie’s hand and kissed her on the lips. Of course she was excited. They were getting married; they were going to spend the rest of their lives together. The thought of spending the rest of his life with Josie made him tingle all over. She was so gorgeous and she was his; he was very, very fortunate.
Diana was looking at her texts, and frowning.
‘Shit, first signal I’ve managed to get all day, and apparently I need to ring work. Will you excuse me for a moment? You two can keep wedding planning in peace.’
‘Wonderful,’ said Harry, trying very hard to feel it
was
wonderful.
The afternoon was turning out better than expected. Ant still hadn’t come to join them, as soon after Harry had sat down with Josie and Di, Freddie had been joined by none other than Auberon Fanshawe, the star turn in the
Illusions
show. While Freddie’s act had been all about the art of illusion and the power of the mind, Auberon Fanshawe had been everyone’s favourite TV magician. They’d made a formidable duo, and a formidable fortune in the process. Ant looked like all his Christmases had come at once, sitting between them; a small puppy trying to please two masters.
‘Look at that,’ Diana smirked, having sat back down after being unable to get a signal. ‘It makes a change to see Tony, I mean Ant, looking overawed. That is something positive to take from this weekend, at any rate.’
Josie laughed. ‘I know what you mean,’ she said, ‘Ant is always so much in control. Hilarious. Anyway, back to the wedding; let’s talk table plans …’
Josie was feeling a
thrusting
, his best friend could be. They’d been mates a long, long time, and Harry had always felt slightly overshadowed by his funnier, more confident, better-looking friend. And today, as Ant grew more expansive, Harry felt himself shrivel a bit, partly from embarrassment (Ant
would
insist on talking to Freddie Puck), partly from an old and familiar feeling that in Ant’s presence no one was interested in what he had to say. Luckily Freddie seemed to have an ego to match Ant’s and was revelling in the attention.
‘I’ll just get the drinks to the girls, shall I?’ Harry muttered as Ant went into an interminable discussion about how he’d watched
Illusions
week after week, and tried to work out how they did the tricks. Freddie just smiled enigmatically as Ant came up with ever more outlandish theories about how they were done.
Sensing they didn’t really need him, Harry took the tray of drinks over to the girls.
‘Sorry about that,’ he said, sliding gratefully into his seat. ‘Ant would insist on holding court with Freddie Puck. Honestly, he’s incorrigible.’
‘That’s one word for him,’ Diana said pointedly.
‘Look, Di,’ Harry felt even more embarrassed, ‘I’m sorry. I had no idea that you and Ant knew each other. I’d never have brought him if I’d known.’
‘It’s okay,’ said Diana, with a grateful smile. It almost made her look vulnerable, and he noticed with slight surprise how pretty she was. ‘Past history. Done and dealt with a long time ago. Now let’s get onto something far more interesting. Like you two getting hitched.’
Harry tried to smile with enthusiasm. He wasn’t sure
sssss
he wanted to talk about the wedding either. For reasons he felt uncomfortable dwelling on , the thought of the wedding was making him feel more and more uneasy. But he’d do anything to avoid a row, so he smiled again and said, ‘Yes, it’s going to be great, isn’t it?’
‘I know,’ said Josie grabbing his hand. ‘We’re so excited, aren’t we, Harry?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry, with more enthusiasm than he felt. ‘We can’t wait.’
He felt mean then. He squeezed Josie’s hand and kissed her on the lips. Of course she was excited. They were getting married; they were going to spend the rest of their lives together. The thought of spending the rest of his life with Josie made him tingle all over. She was so gorgeous and she was his; he was very, very fortunate.
Diana was looking at her texts, and frowning.
‘Shit, first signal I’ve managed to get all day, and apparently I need to ring work. Will you excuse me for a moment? You two can keep wedding planning in peace.’
‘Wonderful,’ said Harry, trying very hard to feel it
was
wonderful.
The afternoon was turning out better than expected. Ant still hadn’t come to join them, as soon after Harry had sat down with Josie and Di, Freddie had been joined by none other than Auberon Fanshawe, the star turn in the
Illusions
show. While Freddie’s act had been all about the art of illusion and the power of the mind, Auberon Fanshawe had been everyone’s favourite TV magician. They’d made a formidable duo, and a formidable fortune in the process. Ant looked like all his Christmases had come at once, sitting between them; a small puppy trying to please two masters.
‘Look at that,’ Diana smirked, having sat back down after being unable to get a signal. ‘It makes a change to see Tony, I mean Ant, looking overawed. That is something positive to take from this weekend, at any rate.’
Josie laughed. ‘I know what you mean,’ she said, ‘Ant is always so much in control. Hilarious. Anyway, back to the wedding; let’s talk table plans …’
Josie was feeling a
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