Sorry, I haven't been on a date for such a long time. Well, except my failed attempts with you. Not much of a track record!" Ellis smiled warmly.
Olivia laughed at that and was glad they were friends again.
Edgar saw her coming a mile off. Like his heart was trained to always find her. She was in jeans, high heel boots and the cream coat with black piping that Edgar liked. He beamed as he watched her approach. Ellis might have been with her but Edgar could only see Olivia, the rest of the world blurred to nothing.
Olivua spotted Edgar and had to stop herself from breaking into a sprint and jumping into his arms. Every step felt like a lifetime until they would be close again. Like Edgar, she didn't register Casey at all. They were both besotted with each other.
They forgot themselves entirely when they were face to face. Wrapping around each other and kissing passionately, while the other two were left to fend alone.
"So, you must be Ellis?" Casey offered reaching a hand out in greeting.
"That's me." His smile was quite disarming. "And I guess you're Casey." They shook hands enthusiastically.
"Shall we leave them to it? There's a cafe inside so we can wait there for the film to start, if you fancy it." Casey inclined her head towards the lobby of the cinema.
"Sounds good. I'm sure they'll follows us in once they've finished, um..." Ellis laughed and let Casey lead him inside.
The other two pulled apart looking happy but embarrassed at getting carried away in their clinch, to see their friends wander inside.
Casey gave Edgar a quick, delighted thumbs-up and Edgar smiled at her own ingenuity.
Once the four of them settled at a table with coffees to await the next showing of their movie, it was a relief to have conversation flow relatively smoothly.
Casey thought he looked adorable all flustered. Edgar's plan seemed to be working better than any of them could have imagined.
"Ok, well how about I jump in that horrendous queue for our tickets before we miss the beginning of the film?" Ellis needed to absent himself before he embarrassed himself any more.
All three of the others made a move to grab some cash and head with him.
"No, no. This was my treat, remember? You just relax and I'll be back in no time." he smiled and made to join the queue.
"Ellis." Casey called out to stop him and stood up. "How about I come with you and grab us all some popcorn and things? Leave the lovebirds to it for a few minutes." She winked jokingly at him and was rewarded with a furious blush creeping over Ellis's cheeks.
Ellis lost the power of speech for a moment. "Sure, ok. If you want." he waited for Casey to make her way over and they walked together to the back of the line.
Edgar and Olivia watched them, pleased with their efforts. Then turned back to each other, linked hands and chatted while they waited for the pair to come back.
They got the tickets and some snacks before heading over to the happy couple again and making their way to the screen for the film.
Edgar and Olivia walked in front holding hands, whilst Casey and Ellis hung back a little watching them.
"They look so happy." Ellis said wistfully.
"You miss your ex?" Casey didn't know why she brought that up, first rule of dating broken again, smooth.
"I did for the longest time, even though I could never have forgiven her. She did me a favour in the end, so no point dwelling on the past.
They are good together, I'm told you have a bit of a thing for her." Casey nudged Ellis gently.
"Don't remind me. I was terrible, just a silly crush really. I think it was just because she's been so lovely to me and she's easy to like. Now that I see them together, they seem perfect for each other and nothing would have happened. With everything that I went through, I wouldn't dream of coming between them." Ellis found it so easy to talk to him and hoped they were getting on as well as he thought.
Once they were all seated inside and all the food divided out, they settled in to watch the movie. They had chosen a rom-com and were thoroughly enjoying having a laugh. Olivia and Edgar were sharing one bucket of popcorn and cuddling into each other, heads together laughing heartily. Casey and Ellis shared the other bucket and were a bit more awkward, smiling apologetically when their hands would brush if they both reached in at the same time.
If Casey had thought Ellis's smile was something, she was totally unprepared for his laugh. She stole a quick glance at one particularly funny moment and saw his face lit up by the glow from the screen, and completely unguarded laughter made him look gorgeous. Casey decided as she watched him that she would very much like to see him again.
When the film ended, Casey and Ellis made their way back outside, talking animatedly about how much they'd enjoyed it and pointing out their favourite bits to each other, laughing again at the memory. They were in front this time and as Edgar and Olivia watched them, they gave each other a knowing look and decided to leave them to it.
"Oh shit!" Edgar puts the final part of their plan into action in dramatic fashion. Olivia, I totally forgot I promised Christian a lift home."He winked at the brunette willing her to play along.
"Oh well, how about you scoot on and I'll drop everyone else home." Olivia took the bait.
Casey stepped in then. "Actually I was thinking of going for a quick drink while we're in town. How about it Ellis?" Please say yes.
"I'd love to." Casey couldn't stop smiling.
"Looks like it would just be the two of you as I'm driving." Olivia says feigning disappointment, but neither Ellis nor Casey heard, they were too busy deciding where to go and Casey was arranging how to get him home.
"No way! I live about 3 streets away from there. It's not far from the bar, I'd be happy to walk you home later or we can share a taxi." Casey beamed.
"Right well, I'd better head off for Christian. Enjoy the rest of your night." Edgar waves to Casey and Ellis. He hugs Olivia goodbye placing a kiss to her cheek he whispers. "I'll see you back at mine in 15 minutes. Chinese or pizza?"
Olivia whispers back her order and heads off in the direction of her car, quickly hugging Ellis and Casey goodnight and reiterating Edgar's sentiment to enjoy themselves.
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