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Caz sat back. “I have far too much respect for Grace than to be discussing her previous relationships. I’m not asking for permission from you all, or even expecting any of you to understand. I just have respect for you guys, too, and I wanted to share my news with you all.”

Dalilah grinned. “You’re right. It’s none of our business. We’re happy for you, right guys?”

Dani and Portia both nodded.

“Good…cos we’re moving in together.”

“Okay…bit quick, init?” Dani stammered out.

Portia stood up. “I think we need more drinks. Same, again?”

Three heads nodded and she wandered off towards the bar.

“I get it, you’ve known her for years, but so have we and we aint…” Dani’s face scrunched up at the idea, “…don’t you want to see if things work out now you’ve…you know, added in intimacy?”

Caz frowned. “You know, I don’t remember you being so diligent when you met Paula, or Sinead, or who was that other one?”

Daliah chipped in with a mischievous grin, “Nerys.”

“I didn’t move in with them,” Dani exclaimed a little too defensively.

“You might as well have. You got engaged after a week with Sinead and after a month with Paula. You barely knew them. Grace and I have been tight for nearly twenty years.”

“Yeah, which is why it’s weird that all of a sudden you’re into each other,” Dani pointed out.

Caz shrugged. “So, we’re different people now... ready to settle down and just enjoy life.”

Dani raised her hands in acceptance. “Alright.”

“Okay, here we go. One for you,” Portia said, placing a pint glass in front of Caz, “and you, and you, and me.” She grinned. When they all had a drink in their hands, she said, “Congratulations, Caz. Wishing you and Grace all the best.”

“Hear, hear.” Daliah raised her glass to the centre for them all to clink together.

“To you and Grace,” Dani said.

“Thank guys, it means a lot that you’re all okay with it,” Caz said after she’d sipped her drink. “Not that it would change anything, but you know, it’s good to have your friends on your side, right?”

“Hell, yeah, it is.” Daliah laughed. “Always, Caz, always.”

Opening the door, Grace smiled. “So, how did it go?” She moved aside and let Caz in.

Her best friend shrugged nonchalantly. “As expected. They were a bit shocked I’d snagged the straight girl, especiallybecause they thought it would have happened by now. She shrugged again. “But they’re happy for us… You?”

“Weirdly, mine were the opposite. They thought we’d been shagging the entire time and had just been waiting for me to tell them.”

Caz raised a brow at that. “Really? Why?”

Now it was Grace who shrugged. “Apparently, we have always been ‘joined at the hip’and if any of us were to be trying out the gay path, they thought it would be me.”

Caz pressed her lips together to suppress the laughter. “You’re like the least gay person I know.”

“I know, right?” Grace joined in with the giggles. “I don’t know whether to be offended or not.” She laughed, harder this time.

“At least we have them all convinced.”

“Yeah, that’s the main thing.” Grace grinned. “Tea?”

Chapter Six