The Florist | ✓ (#Wattys2016)

poinsettia

"We bumped into each other a month back," she smiles.

"She hooked up with my long-term girlfriend," Dev translates, and John almost doubles over from shock. "It's okay though. We're cool."

"You and Rebecca?" Alice scoffs and shakes her head. "If that white trash turd-blossom cheated on you, John and I can kick her ass."

"Yeah," says John. "I'm almost a doctor, I can make it look like an accident."

Sofia puts a supportive arm around his waist. "Babe, then you'd get sued for medical negligence."

"It's okay babe, you'd defend me in court."

Dev is about to remark on how there's really no need for either of them to do that, but John has already scooped up his wife, and her legs are wrapped around his torso and they're kissing passionately.

"This is...uncomfortable," Dev says.

"Shall we side-step away from this?" Clara suggests.

He nods, and they awkwardly mosey over to the food table. It feels strange to have Clara and Alice together in the same place, especially after all those 'forget her' pep talks Alice had so rousingly delivered back when they started university.

Alice tries to be polite. "So, Clara. How was Moscow?"

"The food was in-cred-i-ble," Clara enunciates, and the tension in her shoulders melts away at once. "They have these tiny little pastries I could eat infinitely." She looks up at Dev and says, "We should get some on the way home."

"Home?" Alice raises an eyebrow.

"We're heading back to mine to watch Mothra," Dev explains hastily. "You know what, you should come!"

"No thanks," Alice says. "Remember that gymnast I was telling you about a couple months ago over Facetime?"

"The one who's also a realtor?" guesses Dev. There are an entire assortment of friends to keep track with in Alice's bubble.

"Yes! Hot Realtor." She grabs a little filo pastry filled with Brie and cranberry sauce. It's still semi-frozen (a testament to the Changs' ready meal cooking technique), but she throws it into her open mouth anyway. "Yeah, need to get home early. We're going to build a cabinet," she says, her mouth full of seasonal garbage.

Dev pulls a face. "Why?"

Alice shrugs. "To put stuff in."

He can't really argue with that.

"It's a shame I don't have your Rebecca on call to help me with DIY crap any more," Alice remarks idly. Her eyes widen. "Oh my god, she is such a stereotype."

Although it's been a month since the breakup, Dev is still a little sensitive about it. Most of his possessions are still in her flat because it's hard to face her to get them back. His trick for having to see her is to wear his nicest clothes and pretend he hasn't been crying. It's not the best technique.

Suddenly, Alice seizes his arm and tells Clara, "I'm sorry, I need to talk to him for a second, I'll bring him back. Are you okay alone for a bit?"

"Sure –"

"Brilliant." Alice hauls Dev over out of earshot, by the tree.

"What the hell, Alice? You can't just steal people like that!" he scolds, rubbing his arm.

"Tell that to colonial Europe."

"What?"

She shakes her head dismissively. "Whatever. Clara. You like her, right?"