The Night That Changed Everything Read Free Page A

luck on Monday.’
    That’s that then, I think as I turn on my heel and start making my way out. Who knows, I might even run into Ben again at some point. He’s friends with Jamie, after all. Even though he’s lived in London a year already and tonight’s the first time I’ve met him. And maybe by the time I see him next he’ll have a girlfriend in tow. Someone like him won’t stay single for long.
    I’m passing the pool table when I make up my mind, in a moment of madness that I can only blame on drinking whisky on an empty stomach, to turn back around, march up to the bar and grab one of the red napkins.
    â€˜Erica, do you have a pen I could borrow? Thanks.’
    I scribble my number on it, wondering if Ben is watching me now but not daring to look because I know I’ll bottle it if he is. It goes against every instinct I usually have, but I’m scared this will be my only chance to let him know that . . . I felt it too.
    â€˜Give that to Ben,’ I say, returning to Jamie, who takes it with a smirk. ‘And shut your face!’
    â€˜I didn’t say a word.’ He holds up his hands with a laugh after he’s tucked it into his shirt pocket.
    â€˜Good, because if this goes tits up and he doesn’t call, I’m going to need you to unfriend him so I never have to face seeing him again.’
    I have a feeling, though, as I walk out the door and pull on my jacket, that it won’t go tits up.
    It feels like something has just begun.

Eleven Months Later

Chapter One
BEN
    Tuesday, 23 September
    â€˜I’m so proud of you,’ I say, as Rebecca lays knives and forks on the dining table.
    â€˜I still can’t believe it,’ she says. ‘My first building to design.’
    Her company is overseeing the rebuilding of a cinema in Hackney, thanks in no small part to her pitch eleven months ago. She found out yesterday they’re making her the lead architect, so I’ve come round to her and Danielle’s place to cook a celebratory meal.
    â€˜It was never in doubt,’ I say.
    How could they not give it to her? It was one of the most attractive things about her that night we met – her passion for what she did.
    I kind of hoped it would rub off on me.
    I still
am
hoping it’ll rub off on me.
    The intercom buzzes, but Danielle is in the shower and Rebecca is still setting the table, so I answer it myself, planting a kiss on Rebecca’s temple as I go. I glance back from the door and see her smiling.
    â€˜All right, Nicholls,’ Jamie says to me, once he’s conquered the two flights of stairs.
    â€˜All right, Hawley,’ I say, stepping aside to let him in.
    Jamie’s eyes are immediately drawn to the bathroom.
    â€˜Jeez, what’s that
noise
?’
    The three of us stop and listen as Danielle adds an unscheduled key change to a Black Eyed Peas song. Rebecca and Jamie share a knowing look.
    â€˜Remember at uni when we ended up in that karaoke bar?’ Rebecca says, shuddering at the very idea.
    â€˜You mean 2 Unlimited-gate?’ Jamie puts down his gift bag and addresses me. ‘She thought people were singing along but they weren’t, they were saying,
No, no, no, no
.’
    Danielle pads out of the bathroom in her dressing gown, a white towel Mr Whippied on her head.
    â€˜Rebecca was just saying how much she’s going to miss your singing when you move out,’ Jamie calls over.
    Danielle’s cousin has bought a place in Blackheath and offered her a room for bugger-all rent. Which I’m secretly pleased about.
    â€˜She’ll get over it,’ Danielle says. ‘Just like I got over not being able to steal your facemasks after living with you at uni.’
    She vanishes into her bedroom with a smirk while Jamie turns his attention to my shopping bags.
    â€˜What’re we having?’ he says.
    â€˜Cambodian beef curry.’
    I learnt the recipe from a hostel owner in