Her face screws up in confusion and then clears. ‘Nick?’ She sounds like she wants to laugh. ‘You think Nick is textingme? Why would he be texting me?’ She snorts and waves at the phone in my hand. ‘Have another look.’
I turn the phone up the right way and read the screen slowly. ‘Nikar…? Er, um, what?’ I look back at her, any anger draining away, replaced by embarrassment.
She looks embarrassed, too. ‘It’s Sven’s alter ego,’ she explains in a whisper. ‘Nikar the magician. We tried a few scenarios, and this was the character we both fancied the most.’
Bibi and Alex squeak and she turns on them. ‘What? You better not be laughing! I’ve heard some of your sexy talk through the wall, you haven’t got a leg to stand on!’
Alex shuts up but Bibi still has the audacity to look amused.
‘You want to watch it,Bibi!’ Louise warns. ‘Or I’ll call your mum and find out your real name once and for all. I bet it’s worse than Nikar the magician.’
The smirk disappears.
‘Oh god,’ I stutter. ‘Sorry, Lou… that was completely out of line. I thought it said… well, I don’t know! You kept going on about him when we saw him at Alistair’s drinks that time. You were staring over and saying how hot he was. Drooling over his sexy beard and everything… It seemed like you were flirting with him all the time and invited him along to the hospital…’
She giggles. ‘Yeah, no duh! I was trying to get you to admit you still fancied him. I thought you would agree with me about how hot he was, and we could go chase after him foryou. I was trying to get you to see there were other options outside of these seven exes.’ She tuts and then adds as an afterthought, ‘Plus, his beardisexcellent.’
‘What about the flowers you were so weird about the other day?’ The memory flashes through me. ‘That you claimed were from your agent!’
She frowns. ‘Oh, they really were from Sven, but you were being so intense about this love mission, I felt bad shoving his romantic gestures in your face.’
I open my mouth to deny this, but close it again. She’s right, I got way too intense. I let my head fall into my hands. ‘Sorry,’ I mutter. ‘I guess I care more about Nick than I realized.’
‘So wecancall him an ex?’ Alex crows.
I shrug, trying not to smile. Louise looks at me sternly. ‘So, for the official record, I haven’t been texting Nick, butyou know whoshouldbe? Who should’ve texted Nick a long time ago?’
This time I do smile. Widely. Because yes, I know. And I think I’m ready now.
NOT SECRET ANYMORE EX 8: NICK WILDEAKA The Ex That Wasn’t An Ex But Is Now Officially Classed As An ExPART THREE
Alex Shelley’s house
Esther’s phone
2.32am
Nick Wilde (school)
Hey Nick, sorry about the message out of the blue.
I wanted to say how great it was seeing you recently and how much more I’ve reallywanted to say to you. I think about you a lot, and our couple of evenings together all those years ago. I never forgot about it or about you.
I’ve had a weird few months, to be honest, but today I got to see two of my best friends fall in love, which was the best thing in the universe and it’s made me want to be braver than I am. I know this all feels a little strange and over the top, but if I don’t ask, I think I’ll regret it and always wonder. So – deep breath! – would you like to go out on a real date with me next week? Jackie Weaver is obviously invited too.
Esther x
2.33am
Oh fuck yes.
2.35am
EPILOGUE
ONE MONTH LATER
‘I can’t believe it’s really happening.’ Lou dabs her eyes. ‘I really never thought this day would come.’ She laughs shakily and I hug her, trying not to crease her dress.
