‘V!’ Lily cried as she jumped out of her chair, rushed across the restaurant and gathered her best friend in her arms, squeezing her for dear life. ‘I didn’t think you were coming until later?’

‘We managed to get away from London sooner than we’d planned. It’s sooo good to see you, Lils!’

Lily gave Victoria an extra squeeze, thanking all the deities for making this happen. Until the moment that she’d seen Victoria walk through the door – looking amazing in what she could only presume to be another one of her stunning dresses – she hadn’t realized just how much she’d been hanging onto this moment. She inhaled the soft floral perfume Victoria had been wearing since they were teens.

‘Do I get one of those, or is it just for V?’ Oliver asked, laughing.

‘Of course,’ Lily said, finally letting Victoria go and turning to the man who had won her best friend’s heart and hand in marriage. ‘Hi, Oliver,’ she said with a smile, reaching up to give him an equally strong hug. ‘I can’t believe you guys are here.’

She couldn’t wipe the smile from her face if she tried. ‘I’ve missed you so much,’ she said, looking into Victoria’s warm brown eyes where a gaze of happiness tinged with understanding answered back.

‘I’m sorry that I couldn’t get here sooner, Lils.’

‘It’s fine, V. Truly,’ she said, shaking her head, knowing that her friend had wanted to be here sooner, had desperately wanted to be there for Blake’s funeral. But Lily hadn’t lied. It was fine. Because Henry had been there, had somehow filled some of that loneliness she’d felt before they’d reached their agreement.

Taking a step back, she eyed Victoria’s dress. It slashed across the neck in a vintage-inspired cut, nipping in at the waist and making the most of Victoria’s petite assets. ‘Niiice,’ she couldn’t help but remark as Victoria did a half dip, half curtsy.

‘Why thank you. One of my latest creations,’ she said with a shoulder shrug that did nothing to dim the light of pride in her eyes, until it morphed into confusion the moment Victoria caught sight of the man sitting at the table behind her.

Henry.

By the time she’d turned, Henry had risen from his chair. It was only by the contrast in how he’d been just moments before that she could tell he was slightly uncomfortable. The cocky arrogance displayed jokingly only minutes ago was gone and something restrained had taken over. Something almost nervous.