2015

I reached a hand out from under the covers and felt around for my phone. The date on the screen confirmed that it was 2015 and it was a Friday.

I had plenty of time to get ready, which was good news considering I needed a killer look to meet Robin after work tonight.

'Hey Penn! Make yourself look hot – we're going out after work.' I texted her.

'Ooh, where???'

'I'll explain later. X'

She was going to kill me when she found out I was bringing her with me to meet Robin, but she'd never agree to it if I told her now. I figured that the ends justified the means. I wanted Robin to see how fabulous Penny was – then maybe Penny would see herself as fabulous too. Penny needed to be less afraid of people and this would be like a social bungee jump. She just needed me to give her a nudge.

I strutted down the street towards work relishing the sight of men turning their heads to get a good look. My figure-hugging red dress with cap sleeves was paying for itself.

As I swung open the door to my office floor, I felt a hand snake itself around my waist. I shrieked as it pulled me into an empty meeting room. The hand spun me around and I found myself surprised face to sexy face with Colin.

'You look phenomenal.' He kicked the door closed with his foot.

'You're being very bold,' I remarked, putting my arms around his shoulders.

'No one saw. I'm very stealthy.'

'Is that so?' I leaned in for a kiss and wondered if I'd dare have sex with him right then and there. Probably not. These meeting rooms were booked solid every day from 9-5. That meant we only had 15 minutes, tops, before there was a rap on the door. Besides, I'd spent too long perfecting the waves in my hair to risk messing it up now.

Colin broke away from the kiss and ran a finger along my collarbone.

'I want to ask you out on another date,' he said. 'Tomorrow, around noon?'

'Okay, what did you have in mind?'

'It's a surprise.'

'At least tell me what the dress code is?'

'Let's just say that you'll be too dressed up wearing that.' He smiled. 'Jeans will be fine.'

'Jeans it is.'

'Right, we'd better get out of here before I have my way with you in front of some shocked compliance managers,' he said, opening the door for me.

'I think the campaign's going well,' I said loudly as I exited. I wondered if anyone within earshot would buy that we'd been innocently talking about work.

'Yes Sammy, keep up the great work,' said Colin stiffly. The man may be a master of theatrics in the boardroom (and bedroom), but he was a terrible actor.

****

'Great bar!' Penny sipped her wine and surveyed the room. 'Nice pick Sammy. Heaps of cute guys.'

I felt bad. Penny had interpreted my cryptic text telling her to dress 'hot' to mean we were going out clubbing all night to meet men. After work, she'd changed into a long sleeved, gold sequinned dress and stilettos. She was a tad over dressed for a tense reunion with our high school tormentors, but at least Robin would get an eyeful of her long legs.

Robin and her minions would be here in about 15 minutes and I'd tell Penny any moment, I really would, but she'd been chatting excitedly away about how she was ready to get back into the dating scene and I hadn't wanted to interrupt. Honest.

'You're so going to have to help me talk to some guys tonight,' she said with a grin.

'So you want to go out to meet guys, do you?' I wiggled my eyebrows up and down.

'Well, that's what we're here for isn't it?'

Okay, now was the moment.

'Not exactly,' I said sheepishly. 'I have something to tell you.'

'If you're pregnant, then you shouldn't be drinking that wine.'

I looked behind me to check Robin wasn't already on her way. In all honesty, I probably wouldn't be able to tell until she was looming over our table. A picture wasn't always an accurate indication of what someone looked like. I'd been on enough Tinder dates to know. Beware of men who wore sunglasses in all their profile pictures.

'Some people are actually meeting us here,' I said.

I could see Penny's body stiffen. She was uncomfortable with new people – especially new people she wasn't expecting to meet. I felt mean, but this was for the greater good.

'Who? Is it Colin?'

'No, it's... oh god, you're gonna hate me. Please know that I have the best of intentions.'

'It's not my ex, is it?' Her eyes darted frantically back and forth.

'It's Robin, Teaghan and Sara.'

If Penny's body stiffened before, it looked practically frozen now. Only her eyes and mouth moved.

'You're joking, right?'

'No. I got in touch with Robin on Facebook because I wanted to see what she was like now.'

Penny's body then went into overdrive. She tapped her foot while her fingers drummed her kneecap. The other hand smacked against her forehead.

'What possessed you to drag me into this?! I'm dressed like a friggin' New Year's Eve sparkler.'

'Penn, you look gorgeous. I just want Robin to see how amazing you are.'

'How could you do this to me? I don't want to see them.'

'I know you don't, but I really think you'll feel differently once this is over.' I clasped my hands and shook them pleadingly at her.

'How do you know that?' she asked doubtfully.

'I just have... a feeling. Aren't you curious?'

'No.' She stood up and reached for her bag.

I gripped her wrist. 'Please don't go,' I begged.

Penny looked down at me and then at something behind me. Her mouth twitched into a smile. I turned around to see a mound of big blonde curls bouncing towards me. I stood up as two tanned arms that jangled with gold bracelets flung themselves around my neck.

'Sammy!' Robin squealed. 'It's so good to see you.'