"You did what?" Anna demanded, looking at Dillon in horror. "Why?"
Dillon shrugged. "I thought it was a bit out of order inviting loads of other people right underneath her nose. Anyway, she is a colleague."
"And it's my birthday!" Anna reminded him crossly. She pulled her scarf on roughly. "God, when you said you'd organise something I expected low key, I didn't expect you to dredge the barrel for people!" A thought suddenly occurred to her. "I thought you said Lara was coming?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Are you crazy, man?" Anna asked. "Lara and Lucy in the same room together? After what's been going on?"
"We don't know anything has been going on!" Dillon pointed out. "Besides, I'm sure they're both mature enough to handle it."
Anna rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You better have a bloody good present for me after all this. I'll see you in the pub." She walked out the staffroom as Lucy walked in.
Lucy raised her eyebrows at Dillon. "She didn't look happy," she observed cautiously. "Is it my fault? Look, I knew inviting me was a stupid idea, I don't have to come, I can…"
"You can what?" Dillon asked. "Do you have other arrangements for tonight?"
"No, but…"
"Then you're coming," Dillon insisted, putting his coat on. He looked at the other nurse's terrified face. "Come on, you might even enjoy it."
"Enjoy what?" Lara came in, looking exhausted after a long day.
Um, Anna's birthday drinks," Dillon said awkwardly, looking between the two blondes. "I invited Lucy to come along…"
"Cool, I'll see you down there," Lara said breezily. She winked at Lucy. "Maybe I can repay the favour," she smiled.
"Yeah," Lucy nodded, aware that Dillon was amazed by their exchange. "But don't worry too much about it. I'm trying to quit."
"Aren't we all?" Lara replied. "You two get going, get the drinks in. Mine's a dry white wine, Dillon, in case you're wondering."
"Um, no. Not about that," Dillon said softly, as he walked away with Lucy.
"She's not so bad," Nikki said in what she thought was a conspiratorial whisper, but after three double vodkas and cokes, her sense of hearing was a bit off. "I mean, there hasn't been a scrap between her and Lara yet and it's… it's… what time is it, babe?"
"Nearly half ten," Jack informed her, looking at his watch. "I'd expected some action by now."
"There's still time," Anna pointed out.
Lucy, listening from behind a pillar couldn't resist smiling.
"Something funny?" Josh Griffin, a paramedic, asked her, as he turned away from the bar. Lucy Hart rarely smiled, at least to his knowledge. It was a shame, she looked really pretty when she bothered. "That's a big smile."
Lucy blushed but couldn't help giggling. "It's nothing," she insisted. "Just… just something someone said."
Josh glanced at her empty glass. "What are you drinking?"
"Me?" Lucy nearly the dropped the glass in alarm. "It doesn't matter, I've had more than enough."
"You've been nursing that drink all evening, what is it?" Josh demanded to know.
"You should really be getting Anna one. It is her birthday, after all," Lucy reminded him.
"I think she's had more than enough," Josh gestured towards the more than slightly inebriated nurse. "Now… what are you having?"
"Archers and lemonade," Lucy smiled, and joined him at the bar.
"And a dry white wine please," Lara completed her order.
"I'll get these," she whipped round as Patrick's unmistakable burr cut in. He handed his credit card over to the barmaid. "And a pint."
"I wasn't expecting you tonight," Lara remarked, regaining her composure.
"Couldn't miss this could I?" Patrick replied, dead pan. Lara raised an eyebrow at him. He pulled a face. "Okay, okay… I wanted to see if she'd do it."
Lara looked over at where Lucy was standing with Josh, Comfort and Finn, not exactly making conversation, but at least making eye contact. She looked back at Patrick. "Well, she did."
"Yeah, she did," Patrick nodded. His eyes remained fixed on Lucy's oblivious face.
Lara sipped her white wine before speaking. "You really care about her, don't you?" she said.
Patrick brought his attention back to her. "What?"
"Lucy. You… you seem to be obsessed with her," Lara clarified for him.
Patrick sighed. "Lara, we went through this yesterday. There's nothing…"
"I know, I know." Lara nodded. "I know all that. But you still seem to have some sort of feelings for her."
"She's a friend." Patrick tried to shrug it off.
"Dillon's a friend, I don't see you involving yourself this much in his life," Lara remarked.
"No, it's different with Lucy," Patrick admitted. "She's… this is going to sound ridiculous, but she's… she's like me in so many ways. It's almost like we're the same, we're…"
"Soulmates?" Lara suggested dryly.
Patrick grimaced. "Not exactly the word I'd use. She's more like my little sister. One I never had." He shrugged. "Whatever. I'm just impressed she took on challenge three."
"And challenge four is?" Lara asked.
Patrick tapped the side of his nose, not being able to resist teasing Lara. "Between me and Lucy. Come on, I've had enough."
"And who says I have?" Lara asked coquettishly, sipping her wine again. She may have forgiven Patrick for his bizarre behaviour lately, but no way would she turn into a pushover.
"Me," Patrick replied cockily, downing his pint and taking her hand. "Come on, Skippy."
