Music thumped through the double doors. There was no neon sign or name stencilled across the windows. The outside of the building looked more like a hotel entrance than a nightclub. Rory had never been here before, but it wasn’t quite what she had expected. Where were the bouncers?

‘What is this place?’ As they entered the lobby area, there was a vibe in the room which instantly made Rory suspicious. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was an air of… desperation?

‘It’s just a nightclub.’ Susie’s innocent expression did nothing to allay Rory’s suspicions. ‘It’s just been so long that you’ve forgotten what one looks like.’

Although Susie was right about it having been a long while since Rory had been in a nightclub – she had quite possibly been wearing an acid rave T-shirt the last time she’d been to one – there was still something odd about this place. Most people seemed to be hanging round in ones or twos; there were no large drunken groups of people out for a night on the town. The room was strewn with banners and bunting decorated with hearts and small fat angels.

‘Shall we put our coats in the cloakroom?’ Penny looked even less keen on this than Rory.

‘Cloakroom?’ A young, attractive man appeared who seemed eager to help them. ‘Right over there, ladies. But let me sign you in first and run you through the opportunities this evening!’

Rory’s head snapped around in Susie’s direction. ‘Why do we need to be signed in at a nightclub?’

Penny was holding her duffel coat and looking confused. ‘What does he mean by opportunities?’

Susie shrugged and smiled at them brightly. ‘You know security these days. It’s a good thing, isn’t it, making sure we’re all safe?’ She lowered her voice, ‘And I wouldn’t mind getting a pat down from him if he’s offering.’

Penny picked up a flyer from the desk and read aloud: ‘“Stupid Cupid. Where singles can mingle.”’

Rory turned to Susie in horror. ‘This is a bloody singles event!’

‘Is it?’ Susie feigned surprise. Badly. Good job she taught IT, not Drama. ‘I didn’t realise. Oh well, we’re here now.’ She turned to the man on the desk. ‘Susie Clark. Without an E.’

‘The Clark or the Susi?’ He winked at her before locating her name badge, which had been clipped to two others. ‘And you must be Aurora and Penny?’

Rory took the badges and gave Penny hers. ‘I am going to kill you,’ she hissed at Susie under her breath.

---

Two gin and tonics later, and Rory had forgiven her. Almost.

Rory fished the lemon from the bottom of her gin glass and sucked it. ‘I still don’t know what possessed you to book the three of us into a singles event.’

Susie pretended to knock on Rory’s head. ‘Hello? Because we’re single.’

Rory rolled her eyes. ‘But a whole event focused purely on matching people up? It’s all a bit Last Chance Saloon.’

Susie put her left hand on her hip. Rory had seen that look directed at stroppy Year 11s. ‘You can stop rolling your eyes, young lady. I’m not sure if you are aware, Aurora Wilson, but we have been in the Last Chance Saloon for so long that we each have a stool with our names on.’ She dropped the hand and sighed. ‘I’m bored of chatting to men in pubs who turn out to be married. At least this way, we know everyone here is a possible date. Please just give it a chance. Who knows, you might even find someone worth breaking your vow of chastity for.’

Rory scanned the room. In the near vicinity she counted three beer bellies, two shiny shirts and a toupee. ‘I doubt it.’ She took another gulp of gin. ‘Anyway, you might have warned us, at least.’

‘If I’d warned you, there was no way you would have come, and I didn’t want to come on my own. Although, actually, you are more likely to be approached by a member of the opposite sex if you are alone. Men are intimidated by large groups of women.’

Rory rolled her eyes again.

‘Well, the music’s good.’ Penny tapped her foot. ‘It’ll be nice to have a dance at least.’

‘No.’ Susie grabbed hold of their wrists. ‘No dancing. Men don’t approach women when they’re on the dancefloor, and also we’ll get hot and sweaty and that’s not attractive in women of our age.’

‘Bloody hell, I feel like I’ve just woken up in a Jane Austen novel.’ Rory threw the rest of the gin and tonic down her throat. ‘Sorry, Mrs Bennett, but I’m off to dance. Come on, Pen.’

Thankfully, the music wasn’t too loud, so they could talk whilst they were dancing. ‘I’ve hardly seen you this week, how’s it been at school? Is Finch still breathing down your neck?’

Penny nodded gloomily. ‘He appears all the time; it’s so unsettling. Yesterday we were having a lovely lesson about Buddhism – your Harry was sitting in the middle of the room, dressed in my gold shawl with his legs crossed – and the others were writing Buddhist quotes out and sticking them to him.’

Rory smiled. Everyone referred to 10-G as her class. She only taught them for five hours a week, but it did feel like they were hers. ‘I bet he loved that. Did he have a bar of fruit and nut hidden under the shawl?’

Penny laughed. ‘Probably. Anyway, Mr Finch turned up and told the children to get up and get behind their desks. Apparently, the lesson would have been unsatisfactory because Harry wasn’t getting the opportunity to write, and I was doing nothing to stretch the more able members of the group.’

‘What more able members of the group?’ Rory might love 10-G but she was under no illusions about their academic ability.

‘I tried to explain that they were learning, and Lacey, bless her, started to tell him the main tenets of Buddhism, but he didn’t want to hear it. I’ve got to have a meeting with him next week. I’m dreading it.’

Rory became aware of a short bald man dancing at her elbow. She moved herself around so that she had her back to him. ‘I cannot bear Nathan Finch. He has no idea how hard it is to engage those kids. I wonder how many years it’s been since he had a full teaching timetable? Do you know, he was only timetabled to teach three hours a week when he started with us, and he has given those lessons to a trainee teacher, so he just sits at the back of the room to supervise. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Just ignore him.’

Penny shuffled from side to side, not quite in time to the beat of the music. ‘I wish I could. I’ve got a feeling he’s not going to go away.’

The short man reappeared on the other side of Rory and smiled at her. ‘He’s not the only one,’ she muttered. ‘Come on, let’s go and get another drink.’

When they got back to Susie, she was chatting to a real live man. She was also flicking her hair intermittently – her mating signal – so they sat on stools a few feet away. When she glanced over at them, Rory pulled a funny face at her. Susie turned back to the man with a smile and stuck two fingers up in Rory’s direction.

‘I don’t know why she is so intent on meeting someone.’ Rory had ordered two more drinks. They needed a lot of alcohol to get through tonight.

‘I can’t understand why she goes for men who are mean to her.’ Penny looked over at Susie. ‘Why doesn’t she try and find someone nice?’

Rory completely agreed. The man Susie was speaking to was one of her classics. Huge biceps. Shirt too tight. A vacant expression.

‘Can you keep a secret?’

Rory turned back to Penny, who was staring into her drink and chasing an ice cube around with her straw. ‘Yes, of course.’

Penny took a deep breath and looked up. ‘I might have met someone.’

She’d kept that quiet. And she wasn’t even looking particularly happy about it. ‘Really? Is it Colin the librarian?’

‘No! How many times do I have to tell the two of you that we’re just good friends!’

Rory held up her hands. ‘Sorry! Sorry! Where did you meet him then? What’s he like?’

Penny smiled, but she looked nervous. ‘He’s lovely. It’s early days but he’s really lovely. When I first met him, I was still engaged to that idiot. But now… well, things have changed.’

Rory hugged her friend. ‘That’s great, Pen. I’m really pleased for you and can’t wait to meet him.’ She kept her hands on Penny’s arms and scrutinised her face. ‘Why aren’t you looking happier about it?’

Penny’s bottom lip trembled. ‘I’m so grateful to you both. After I threw that idiot out, the pair of you were so great. Taking me out with you, looking after me.’ She stared into her drink, then looked up again. ‘But it’s not really me, all this.’ She gestured at the dancefloor. ‘I prefer a night at home. I don’t want you to think I’m one of those women who drops her friends when she meets someone new. And I still want to see you both, but I’m worried that Susie won’t want me to hang out if I’m not looking to meet someone. I’ll just cramp her style.’

‘Oh, Pen,’ Rory took the drink out of her hand and put it on the bar. ‘Stop drinking that gin, it’s making you maudlin. Susie will be happy for you! She doesn’t invite you only because you’re single, you silly thing. We have fun together.’

Rory wasn’t convinced that Susie wouldn’t throw a hissy fit once she realised that Penny had picked up a man with seemingly little effort, but she wouldn’t mention that right now. Penny’s emotional response probably included a big dollop of worry about Nathan Finch too. That man had a lot to answer for.

‘Thanks, Rory. I’m probably being silly.’ Finally, Penny smiled. ‘He is really nice. We have been out a few times and we have such a nice time. He’s kind and thoughtful. Funnily enough, he does know Colin and they’re about the same age.’ She sat up in her seat. ‘Too old for you, otherwise I’d ask if he had a friend.’

Rory nearly spat out her gin. ‘Not you too, Penny? I’ve got enough to cope with dealing with stupid Cupid over there.’ She turned to jerk a thumb in Susie’s direction and, because Susie was now behind her, ended up sticking it in her boob, instead. ‘Sorry! I didn’t realise you’d come back.’

‘Don’t apologise. It’s the nearest I’ve come to any action tonight.’ Susie slumped down and picked up Penny’s drink. ‘Is this for me?’

‘Yes.’ Penny spoke before Rory could say it wasn’t. ‘That man no good?’

Susie took a large slug of Penny’s drink. ‘Nope. He told me it was great that a woman of my age still came out to events like this. That I hadn’t given up hope.’

‘Dick.’ Rory shot him a death stare across the room.

‘Idiot.’ Penny patted Susie’s hand.

Susie smiled weakly. ‘Thanks, girls. Maybe I’m too late for even the Last Chance Saloon.’ She took another large gulp. ‘I’m going to the loo.’

As soon as she was out of earshot, Penny grabbed Rory’s arm. ‘Look, will you tell her for me? That I’m seeing someone?’

‘Penny! You’re being daft. Surely you’re not scared of her?’

‘Not scared, no. Just a bit worried about how she’s going to react.’

‘Well, I think you’re worrying unnecessarily. Go to the toilet when she gets back and I’ll tell her.’

Penny breathed out. ‘Thanks.’

Susie came back from the toilet. ‘Glad I went when I did; there’s a massive queue now.’

‘Oh, good!’ Penny slipped off her stool and disappeared into the crowd.

Susie looked after her and then back at Rory. ‘Did she not hear me properly?’

Rory patted the stool next to her and waited for Susie to sit down. ‘I need to tell you something. Before I do, I want you to remember that we love Penny. She is our friend.’

‘What’s happened?’

‘She has a boyfriend.’

‘What? How? When? Who? Is it Colin the librarian?’ Susie looked almost hopeful with her last question. Maybe it would be easier to bear if it had been nice, quiet Colin.

Rory shook her head. ‘Apparently not.’

Susie crossed her arms. ‘Fabulous. Whilst I’m running around like a walking, talking pheromone, she manages to attract a mate as if by magic. Don’t worry,’ she uncrossed her arms and held a hand up to Rory. ‘I am pleased for her. I’m not completely bitter and twisted. I just want to know what I’m doing wrong.’

Rory rubbed her leg. ‘You’re not doing anything wrong. It’s just down to luck.’ It was also down to the fact that Susie was attracted to Neanderthals, but Rory kept that to herself. This wasn’t the time for another lecture.

Susie slapped the bar in front of them and beckoned to the barman. ‘Do you know what’s not down to luck? Getting rat-arsed. My round; let’s make them doubles this time.’

Great. There was no way out of this. Susie needed to get stinking drunk and she wouldn’t want to do that alone. Which meant Rory would be nursing a massive hangover tomorrow and that would wipe out the whole day for any DIY or schoolwork. Sunday, she was planning on going to the hospital to speak to Charlie’s mum. And hospitals made her feel queasy at the best of times.