Are you really planning to spend your Saturday going through junk in the garage? The whole day? Emily arched her eyebrow skeptically as she prodded a bite of cheesecake with her fork, glancing at the tall, slightly gingery bloke across from her.
James leaned back in his chair, warming his hands on a mug of now lukewarm cappuccino.
Emily… It’s not junk, it’s the treasure trove of my childhood, I’ll have you know. Somewhere in there is my legendary collection of Love Hearts wrappers. Can you imagine the riches?
Oh my God. You actually kept sweet wrappers. Since when?
Emily snorted, her shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter. This café, with its battered damson sofas and eternally misted-up windows, had long since become their little sanctuary. The waitress, Charlotte, didnt even bother asking what they wanted anymore shed just place a cappuccino in front of him, a latte for her, and the dessert of the day for sharing, as shed done for years. Fifteen years of friendship had made their rituals almost second nature.
Alright, Ill admit it, James gave her a mock salute with his mug the garage can wait. The so-called treasures too. Toms hosting a barbecue on Sunday, by the way.
I know. He spent three hours yesterday scrolling through barbecue sets online. Three hours. I thought Id die of boredom.
Their laughter mingled with the hum of the coffee machine and the gentle chatter of the other patrons at nearby tables…
There were never any awkward silences or things left unsaid between them they knew one another as well as the backs of their own hands. Emily remembered how James, a lanky Year 8 boy with perpetually untied laces, was the only one to come up and speak to her on her first day in the new class. James remembered how she was the only person who hadnt laughed at the thick-rimmed glasses he wore.
Tom had welcomed this friendship from day one, with a quiet confidence that comes only from someone secure in themselves and those they care about. On their regular Friday game nights, Tom laughed louder than anyone when James lost to his wife yet again during Scrabble, and he always brewed more tea while those two bickered over the rules of Charades.
He only wins because he cheats, Emily declared once, throwing her cards at her husband.
Its called strategy, dearest, Tom replied with a straight face as he gathered up the scattered cards.
James couldnt help but smile fondly watching them. He genuinely liked Tom solid, dependable, with such a dry sense of humour that it was sometimes hard to tell if he was joking. Around Tom, Emily grew softer and undeniably happier, and James was truly glad for her as only a real friend could be.
Everything changed when Sophie suddenly turned up in their world…
Toms sister appeared at their doorstep a month ago, eyes red-rimmed and set on starting fresh. Divorce had drained her dry, leaving nothing but bitterness and a yawning hollow where stability used to be.
That first night, when James popped by for the traditional board game, Sophie glanced up from her phone and regarded him with curiosity. Something clicked in her head, a dusty old mechanism springing into life. Here was a man who was calm, kind-eyed, with the sort of gentle smile that made you want to smile back.
This is James, my best mate from school, Emily introduced. And this is Sophie, Toms sister.
Lovely to meet you, James reached out to shake her hand.
Sophies handshake lingered a touch past what was considered polite.
Likewise.
From then on, Sophies random appearances became anything but. Shed turn up at their favourite café precisely when Emily and James were there. Shed breeze in with a plate of shortbread just as James popped by. Shed claim a chair beside him during game nights, sitting close enough that their shoulders touched.
Could you pass me that card? Sophie would lean right across him, her hair accidentally brushing his neck. Oh, oops, sorry.
James, ever the gentleman, shifted away diplomatically, mumbling something polite. Emily would exchange glances with Tom, but Tom just shrugged his sister had always been a bit on the intense side.
The flirting became more and more blatant. Sophies gaze lingered on James, she showered him with compliments, found any excuse to touch him. She laughed at his jokes so loudly it made Emilys ears ring.
You have such lovely hands, such long, elegant fingers very distinguished, Sophie pronounced one evening, taking Jamess hand over the box of game pieces. Are you a musician?
Um Im a software engineer.
Still, beautiful hands.
Awkwardly, James withdrew his hand, burying himself in his cards as a faint blush crept up his ears.
It was after her third offer to grab just a friendly coffee and a chat that James finally relented. He liked Sophie she was intense, vibrant, bursting with life. Maybe, he thought, if they gave it a try, things would settle and shed stop looking at him like a starving puppy every time they met. Maybe everything would go back to normal.
The first few weeks of their relationship werent half bad. Sophie was beaming, James felt more at ease, and their family evenings became just that again family evenings.
But soon Sophie noticed what she’d rather not have seen.
She started to spot the way James would brighten up as soon as Emily arrived, how his face warmed and opened. How their banter flowed so easily, how they finished each others thoughts, how there was this special connection between them she didnt share.
Jealousy took root in Sophies chest, a poisonous bloom.
Why are you always with her? Sophie demanded, arms crossed across her chest, blocking James at the door.
Because shes my friend. Fifteen years, Sophie. Its…
But Im your girlfriend! Me! Not her!
Arguments sprung up again and again. Sophie wept, accused, demanded. James explained, pleaded, tried to reassure her.
You think about her more than you do about me!
Sophie, dont be ridiculous. Were just friends.
Friends dont look at each other the way you two do!
Jamess phone buzzed incessantly whenever he met up with Emily.
Where are you? When are you coming home? Why didnt you answer? Youre with her again, arent you?
He learned to silence his phone, but then Sophie started showing up in person at the cafe, in the park, outside Emilys house, flushed and with angry tears in her eyes.
Sophie, come on, James would sigh, rubbing his temples in exhaustion. This isnt normal.
Whats not normal is you spending more time with another blokes wife than your own girlfriend!
Emily was tired, too. Every meet-up with her childhood mate felt like a test. When would Sophie show up? What would she say or accuse them of today?
Maybe I should see you less… Emily started one day, but James cut her off:
Absolutely not. I wont have you changing your life over her tantrums. None of us will.
But Sophie had already made up her mind. If honesty didnt work, maybe something else would.
Tom was sitting in the kitchen when Sophie swept in.
Tom… I need to tell you something. I didnt want to, but… you deserve to know the truth…
She doled out her lies carefully, with just the right choke in her voice. Secret meetings. Overly meaningful looks. James holding Emilys hand when they thought nobody was watching.
Tom listened in silence, not interrupting, expression unreadable.
When Emily and James walked into the flat an hour later, the tension in the sitting room was thick as porridge. Tom lounged back in his chair, looking for all the world like the audience at a good play.
Have a seat, he gestured to the sofa. My sisters regaled me with a rather juicy story about your secret affair.
Emily paused, taken aback. James jaw clenched.
What the…
She reckons shes caught you two out.
Sophie tucked in her chin, avoiding everyones gaze.
James turned towards her sharply, making Sophie flinch back.
Thats enough, Sophie. Ive put up with far too much of this.
His face was white with anger. The calm, patient James had vanished; in his place stood someone genuinely fed up.
Were done. Right now.
You cant…
This time, Sophies tears were real.
Its her! Sophie jabbed a finger at Emily. You always pick her. You always have!
Emily gave her a moment to let all that venom spill.
You know, Sophie, she said quietly if you hadnt tried to control every minute of his life, if you hadnt kicked up such a fuss over nothing, none of this wouldve happened. You ended things all by yourself.
Sophie snatched her bag from the sofa and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
And then Tom laughed loud and genuine, head tipped back against the armchair.
Good grief, finally.
He got up and pulled Emily into a hug, wrapping his arms round her shoulders.
You didnt believe her, did you? Emily asked, her face buried in his shirt.
Not for a second. Ive watched you two for years. You fight like brother and sister over the last biscuit.
James let out a long breath, the tension finally leaving him.
Sorry for dragging you both into this mess.
Dont worry about it. Sophies old enough to deal with her own choices. Now, come on, lets eat. The lasagnes getting cold, and Im not reheating it because of someone elses drama.
Emily laughed softly with relief. Her little family was still whole. Her friendship with James survived. And Tom had proved, once again, that his trust was unshakeable.
They headed into the kitchen, where the golden cheesy crust on the lasagne glimmered in the warm lamplight, and the world clicked back into its familiar shape again.
