“Bastard,” muttered Mandy and grinned as Rebecca snorted. Fuck, how stupid were these men who kept leaving Rebecca? This was the third one in about seven years now after Phil the prick had practically left her at the altar ten years ago. Didn’t they realise what they were giving up? Having got so used to being in unrequited love with Rebecca all these years, Mandy found it surprisingly easy to comfort her friend through these endings, but it always stunned her how these men could walk away from someone so…wonderful.

Rebecca shook her head, her curls bouncing around her shoulders. Although streaked with grey now, they still did stupidly crazy things to Mandy’s libido. She clasped her fingers around her latte to ensure she didn’t do anything so silly as to reach out and run her hands through the richness of Rebecca’s hair. God knew she’d been tempted to do just that more times than she could count over the years.

As Rebecca blew her nose and then wiped at her tears with a fresh tissue, Mandy waited, sensing there was nothing else she really needed to say about James at this point. “Bastard” pretty much summed it up. She watched Rebecca pull herself together while she sipped her coffee.

“So, that’s me,” said Rebecca quietly after a few minutes. “What’s new with you—feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.”

Mandy nodded. “Yeah, it’s been a few weeks, I think. Nothing much to tell—I’m still looking for premises for the new venture but coming up blank so far. It’s definitely one of those situations where I’ll know it when I see it, you know?”

Rebecca nodded, and smiled. “God, I miss our planning sessions for that place.” She laughed. “And if anyone had told me that a few years ago, I’d have died!”

Mandy chuckled. “Well, we can always have another session if you like—you know, go over all the details and make sure we haven’t missed anything.”

Rebecca smiled. “Do you know what, that might just cheer me up—when can I come over?”

* * *

“No, I still say you need a fourth person. Your girls are going to want a break now and then, even if it’s just to go to the toilet.”

Rebecca’s voice was firm but slightly slurred after the three—very large—glasses of red wine.

Mandy grinned. “All right, all right—point taken. Okay, I’ll factor in a fourth member of staff. I guess she could also help me out at the front desk or when I need a break too.”