Chapter 1
"No, Willington, you cannot experiment on your patients!" I say, giving Willington a sharp look.
He pouts. "But I've almost found a cure, I think, for those measles that our patient from last year got and we couldn't treat!"
I soften a bit. He really does care for the patients, but that still doesn't make his manner of doing things ethical.
"That doesn't make this ethical," I say in exasperation. "We don't experiment with patients, steal their food if they are asleep, or –"
"Or use the flowers from the baskets from well-wishers as gifts for dates," Willington echoes wearily.
I sigh and shake my head. "You can go," I say tiredly. "But DO NOT try your cure on MacKenny!"
Bloody hell. Being a hospital administrator at St. Mungo's is not an easy job. I push a hand through my red hair and sigh again. I sit down for the first time that day and hope for a moment that I can leave soon. I have to meet Sam, Will, and David for drinks in …. I check my watch.
Twenty minutes!
Bollocks.
I sign a few forms left on my desk and pray that I can get out of here in time. For once, I hope that I'm not tied up at the last minute with sorting out the nurses' love lives, or Willington's fuckups. I really can't handle any more.
I grab my bag and stuff my wallet and other crap strewn on my desk. I throw in an umbrella I find under my desk – God knows how that got there – and put on some lipgloss.
Just as I'm about to walk out there door, Jenna, one of the nurses, pops in my door and says, rolling her eyes, "Erm, Ms. Potter, there was a problem with Willington and his, erm, trials on someone called MacKenny. I believe that's the patient in Room 202. I can double check, if you like."
My lips press into a thin line and I look heavenwards, hoping for someone to save me.
I exhale loudly and say, finally, "Look, Jenna, I can't deal with this now. Maybe… tomorrow. Right now, I need to leave. Have a nice evening."
She gives me a pitying look and says, "You should relax. You need a break."
Merlin knows she's right.
As I amble into Martha's, my de facto meeting place for my friends and me, I feel the stress leaving me behind. At least for tonight, no more Willington, no more bloody emergencies with spells gone awry, no more mess.
Sam waves from a table tucked in the back, where she's seated with David Cooper, her boyfriend, and Will Wood, my best mate. I hurry over and deposit my stuff on an empty chair nearby.
"I can't deal with those idiots at the hospital anymore," I say, rolling my eyes.
Sam sips her champage and smiles sympathetically. "I know what you mean, Lil. Jameson gave me the worst files to take home. So now I've got a bloody case to do over the weekend."
"Relax," interjects David, putting a hand on her chair. "Darling, you'll be fine. I'm sure there's things we can find to make you unwind…"
He trails off suggestively and winks at her. She swats him and Will gives a laugh.
"How was your day?" I ask, ordering a gin and tonic from a passing waiter.
Will shrugs. "Alright, I s'pose. My Beaters were awful today but we're working on a new formation, so I gave them some slack. But if Marcus doesn't improve, I'm giving him the shaft."
"Why do all our jobs royally suck?" I ask to the group at large.
David smiles. "I actually like my job. It's fun to be director of Gringott's. All this money at my disposal."
Sam pokes him. "But it's not yours," she points out with a smirk.
"I've got you to make up for it," he retorts smoothly.
Sam smacks him. "Stop being so damn suggestive!" she reproaches. "We're in public. I don't want people thinking I'm with a pig like you." She shudders in mock horror.
I exchange amused glances with Will, who is looking rather dishy tonight in his Oxford button down and his dark hair adds to his whole smoldering thing he's got going.
My drink arrives and I thank the waiter, taking a large gulp. Merlin I needed this.
"By the way," adds David, glancing at me, "John told me that he'd like to meet up at seven on Thursday at that little Italian place on the corner round from St. Mungo's. Is that okay?"
I nod mutely, staring into my glass. I can feel Sam giving me a look.
I'm giving this whole blind date thing a try. Yes, I know, it's a huge mistake and I'll probably hate the bloke. Blind dates are terrible, awkward, and egregious. They should be banned from this planet.
Unfortunately, seeing as my current love interest has no interest in me, I'm in a bit of a pickle. My only out is to "get out and see the many, many fish in the sea," according to Sam and my mum.
My current love interest is snorting rather unattractively. "I'll bet he's fat and has severe acne with a speech impediment."
I glare at Will even though I secretly agree. I don't trust David to set me up with a good guy.
David gives Will a look. "No, he's a good mate of mine. We've been working together for several years."
Will shrugs, but grins evilly at me. I lean forward and nudge him, much to Sam's chagrin.
Perhaps I should do some explaining. It's a long story, but, see, I'm sort of in love with Will, who is best mate, roommate, and basically my family. I've known him for forever and everything was just lovely and brilliant through Hogwarts and even after, for the first three years. Sam and David were dating by then, and living together, so Will and I decided to move in together. That was about two years ago that we bought the flat we live in together now. When we did that, we just fell into a routine of living together. It was fabulous – we both dated other people and were happy being best mates. I only felt strictly platonic feelings for him.
Until That Night, as Sam calls it, which was about a year ago. I had arrived home after a busy day at work, picking up Will's socks which had somehow ended up on the floor, to find Will making dinner and had wine ready for us, something that was customary for us. And then, after a lovely dinner, we were cleaning up, and I had this moment where my mind – which I currently hate, by the way – decided to have the thought that I wanted this forever and that Will was whom I wanted to share the rest of my life with. I cleverly deduced that I was in love with him.
And therein lies my problem.
"William Ashford Wood," I say menacingly. "If you do ANYTHING to scare away my marital prospects, I'll castrate you."
"Yes, Mum," he says, rolling his eyes.
Clearly I am not threatening enough.
"And David, that sounds lovely," I say, trying to inject some enthusiasm into my voice. "Tell John I look forward to meeting him."
I gulp down the rest of my drink and order another. I'm going to need it just to make it through tonight.
I sound like quite the alcoholic, don't I?
"Anyway," says Sam. "Do you two want to come with David up to my parents' house in Yorkshire? We're going this weekend."
I grimace. "I wish, but I told my mum we'd go home for this family party this weekend."
"We?" asks Will in confusion, looking at me with a raised brow.
"Yes," I say in frustration. "You're coming with me for Grandma's birthday."
"You didn't tell me!" Will exclaims, giving me a look.
"Well now you know," I say smugly, raising a brow.
He sighs and shakes his head. "Well, you'll have to make my excuses then."
"Why?" I ask sharply.
Will looked sheepish. "Er, I've got a date with the new Seeker, Maggie Lorring."
Will is manager of the Wimbourne Wasps. He oversees all the players and helps sort out all the crap – like stalkers (many of them for those hunky players he manages) – that comes their way.
"Well, you'll have to cancel then," I snap.
"But…" he whines.
"Has it been a while, then, mate?" asks David slyly, elbowing Will in the arm.
Sam lunges across the table and hits him. "Shut up, you twat," she mutters, albeit affectionately.
"SAMANTHA ALEXANDRA CUNNINGHAM!" I say loudly. "Don't do that! We've left Hogwarts!"
Sam looks decidedly unaffected by my yelling. Is it me, or am I less threatening by the day?
"And you," I say, swiveling in my chair, narrowing my eyes at Will. "You're coming with me. That's nonnegotiable. Tell Lorring you're otherwise engaged and get on with it."
Will rolls his eyes. "Fine, Mum."
"And if you don't, I'll write your mum and maybe even your uncle Oliver."
Will's eyes widen. "Please don't tell Mum!" he says, frightened.
"Then do as I say," I command simply. Really, it's easier if you just listen to me.
"Why do I still associate with you?" asks Will.
"Because I'm the best bloody thing that's ever happened to you," I say. "And I'm gorgeous."
Will snorts. "Okay, and you call me arrogant."
I feel a twinge of hurt. I mean, obviously I was joking when I said that stuff to him, but he didn't have to dismiss me derisively! I mean, he doesn't think I'm a cow, does he?
Does he!
Before I can follow this particularly alarming train of thought, David interrupts me. "Lily," he asks, "can you come with me to buy some more drinks. I need someone to help carry them."
"I can help," Sam volunteers. "Really, Lily, you can relax."
"No," says David, surprisingly sharply, "I want Lily to come."
Will looks at David appraisingly and I get up slowly, agreeing. "I'll come," I say.
David leads me away to the bar, where he asks for a new round of drinks.
"What's so urgent?" I inquire curiously.
"This," he says as he fumbles in his pocket, pulling out a velvet box.
"Oh my goodness," I breathe as he opens it to show me a platinum ring with a large diamond. I look up at him with shining eyes.
"D'you like it?" David asks nervously. "I know you know Sam the best. She's your sister, practically…"
I put a hand warmly on his arm. "David," I say honestly, "She'll love it. It's perfect."
David's face relaxes into a smile.
"So when are you going to pop the question?" I ask with a glint in my eye.
"Actually, I was thinking tonight," he says, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I've asked her father for his permission, and I've bought Krug for the flat, and I've sprinkled rose petals all over the flat."
At this point, my hand is over my mouth and I'm smiling so widely I'm surprised my face doesn't split.
"I know," he mumbles. "I'm practically a poof. But I want it to be special for her."
"Oh, you're ruddy brilliant," I say, throwing my arms around him.
"Excuse me," interrupts the bartender, "Your drinks are there." He points impatiently at them, signaling for us to get out of his way so we can make room for other customers.
"Oh, shut up," I say irritated to the bartender. He glares at me.
"David," I say, returning my gaze to him. "You and Sam will be so happy together."
"I know," he says simply. "That's why I'm asking her."
"Does Will know?" I ask.
He nods. "He came with me this afternoon to pick up the ring. I needed support."
I grin. "This is fucking amazing."
"Okay," I say, picking up the drinks and carrying them back to the table. "I'm going to take Will out of here so you can get going with Sam!"
"Don't hurry," David says. "I'm not in a rush to –"
He stops talking as he sees Sam.
"What?" Sam says, looking at David strangely.
"Nothing," he says, gulping down some Firewhiskey.
Oh, Merlin. I'm too excited. I can't in good conscious know I'm the person delaying David asking Sam to marry him. I just can't.
So I place a hand on my stomach and make a face.
"What's wrong?" asks Will immediately.
"I'm not feeling well," I say, groaning for effect.
David gives a short laugh.
Sam asks concernedly, "You want some medicine? Because I brought –"
"No, really," I say hurriedly. "That's okay. I just…. I need to go rest. I think I want to go home and go to sleep. Will, come with me, won't you?"
Will protests, "Can't you just Apparate home?"
Sometimes I want to hit Will. I really do. Isn't the man you're in love with supposed to be chivalrous or something?
Not a lazy idiot who annoys you.
I groan loudly again, this time in annoyance. "Will," I say through gritted teeth. "You're coming home with me this instant."
"Lily it's okay –" says Sam.
Will shakes his head. "I'll go with her. I live with her anyway." Something in my tone must've signaled to him that I want to leave for an important reason.
We grab our jackets and head outside with a wave and a gleeful glance from me to David, my heels echoing off the pavement like gunfire.
After we walk round the corner, I stop and turn with an ebullient expression on my face.
"Okay," says Will. "What the fuck is going on?"
"David is proposing tonight!" I say happily.
"Tonight!" says Will incredulously. "I thought that was next week."
"No, now. That's why we needed to get out of there," I explain.
"Ah," he says with a raised brow. "That's why you behaved as though you were giving birth."
"Shut up, arsehole," I hit him. "You're insufferable."
He laughs. "You love me."
"No I don't," I say, pulling lipgloss out of my bag.
"Admit it," he says grinning.
I look up into his eyes alight with laughter and I freeze. Something inside me stirs and I feel the smile fall off my face. Just for a moment.
I paste it back on and say, "Yes, I do. I love you."
It's true. Just not in the sense he means it.