Page 18 of The Best Ex of My Life

‘Yep.’

‘Goodnight, Lizzie.’

‘Goodnight.’

I watch him walk away from me for a few seconds and am about to turn to walk home myself but remember the hello gift sitting on the floor under the table in the restaurant.

‘Sorry,’ I say as I approach the waitress who has been serving Jordan and ignoring me all night. ‘I’ve forgotten something. Do you mind?’ I’m about to walk past her back to the table, but she holds up the bag for me.

‘Looking for this?’

‘Yes. Thank you so much.’

She gives me a cold incline of her head and before shutting the door, I’m sure I hear her say ‘lucky cow’ underneath her breath.

It should offend me, but as I swing my gift bag in my hand on the short walk back to my flat, I find I couldn’t agree more with her.

Chapter 8

I’m expecting Sunday morning to be a continuation of the afternoon before, my phone pinging non-stop with post-date messages from Teddy and Elliot, but as I lie in bed as noon approaches, not a ping disturbs the air.

In the end, I’m the one who opens up the group chat.

LIZZIE: Well?

It’s Karina who starts to type immediately, and I wonder where Teddy is.

They wouldn’t have, would they?

A sudden flash of me waking up in my bed next to Elliot early the morning after we had sex crosses my mind. We weren’t even on a date and look how that ended. It’s possible they ended up sleeping together, although Teddy isn’t one for going home with someone she’s just met. Elliot, on the other hand, certainly has form in that department, but I find it very hard to draw the line from them meeting up for crazy golf to ripping each other’s clothes off.

Before Karina has finished typing her message, Teddy appears on the chat and begins to type too. Both messages appear on my screen at the same time.

KARINA: Ten minutes away from meeting Matthew. Feel sick.

TEDDY: Last night was really good fun in the end. Thanks, Lizzie. Good choice.

I combine my response to both messages together to dilute the question buzzing around in my mind.

LIZZIE: You’ll have a lovely time, K. Bottomless brunch is a perfect first date – nice food, good atmosphere and the option to keep it as casual as you like (or end it whenever you’ve had enough). Now go and have fun! Did your date end on a high last night, Ted?

TEDDY: It went very nicely, thanks. We promised to meet up again. How about you and Jordan? Did it go well?

Before I can think of my reply, or how to push her for more info, Teddy texts again, saving me the bother.

TEDDY: Actually, don’t answer now. Meet for a walk and tell me all about it?

An hour later, we’re walking by the river Mersey, takeaway coffee cups in our hands, our faces dipping down into our coats between sips to shield us from the brunt of the cold November wind.

‘We should have stayed in the café,’ Teddy says after a particularly strong gust hits us, and she links my arm to keep steady.

‘No, this is good for us. At least the wind will help to get rid of my muzzy head before I go round to Mum’s for tea later.’

‘Lasagne?’

‘You guessed it.’

‘Yum. So, come on, how was it?’ Teddy asks. ‘I’ve been desperate to hear all the details. Did you like him?’