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skipped a beat.   Sylvia was seeing that good looking presenter of GMT? He was one of the most recognised faces within the industry. And she was working in television! She hoped her face didn’t betray her as she tried to act both delighted and shocked for her friend. Inside, she felt rattled.  Sylvia had never been one to take her work seriously, or the type of woman to appreciate a man that had a successful career. She’d always just floated along in life, happy to party away whatever spare time she had. Why then, did Sylvia appear to be living a version of the life that Felicity strived and had worked so hard for?
    Overcome with envy, Felicity found it hard to focus on the conversations taking place around her and despite the occasional forced giggle or nod of her head, kept relatively quiet. Listening to Sylvia speak candidly about her life, she hadn’t expected to feel so awkward. It seemed that Sylvia had managed to incorporate her new found success easily into her old life. She was still a fun, easy-going person who could entertain a crowd. Draining the remainder of her second glass of wine Felicity excused herself, heading to the toilet. 
     
    Dan watched in silence as Stacey picked absentmindedly at the beer mat in front of her.  He picked up his pint of beer taking a long, slow gulp. Why was Stacey still sulking? He hadn’t meant to snap at her, but from the moment he’d picked her up, the endless stream of questions on whether he’d missed her had driven him crazy. Couldn’t she just be thankful that he’d agreed to give things another try? Why did she need constant reassurance? It was draining. And now she was managing to ruin his much looked forward to beer, with her silence and brooding.
    “ I might have a game on the fruit machine” Dan said, breaking the silence and drumming his fingers against the table. 
    “ Whatever.” Stacey answered, staring into the distance and folding her arms across her chest.
    Dan sighed; he really didn’t need this. They were supposed to be celebrating getting back together, not once again at war with one another. He would have to do something to repair the tension.  It was bad enough having to move back home without her in a strop with him too.
    “ Stacey, look at me. I’m sorry, ok?  I missed you so much this past week. I really wanted tonight to be special for both of us.” He reached out and gently prised her hand away from her chest, taking it in his own. 
    “ Let’s have another drink and we’ll go and get that curry and have an early night together, yeah?” He let his fingers tickle the underside of the palm of her hand. Stacey looked up suddenly, smiling at him.
    “ Yes, ok then. I want it to be special too.” She leant forwards and kissed him gently on the lips.
    Bingo. Mission accomplished, Stacey was back on his side. It wasn’t her fault she was such an easy touch to win over. It had saved them both from arguments many times in the past. But he couldn’t help thinking about Fee. A strong woman like her would never be so easily talked around by a man. She would have made him work for it.  
    “ You grab the drinks while I pop to the ladies.” Stacey ordered, getting up from her seat. 
    Dan knew better than to protest. Another beer was just what he needed to get through the evening. Leaving his coat on the back of his chair, he got up alongside Stacey and headed to the bar.
     
    Felicity flushed the toilet, struggling to fasten her jeans.   She hadn’t expected the light-headedness and dizziness to engulf her so quickly.  She could barely stand without the cubicle spinning in slow motion around her. It was the cheap wine that had done it. She had tasted its tartness on the first sip. She shouldn’t have allowed herself to sink to such low standards as to be in such a tacky bar drinking low-grade wine. What would Maurice think? 
    Sylvia could stick her friendship and li festyle; Felicity had what she needed already. It had been a