Casey braced herself and walked reluctantly into the party. Her co-worker Tammy had been surprised when she’d accepted the invitation. The truth was, Casey didn’t want to be there, but she’d given her word.
‘Three parties. Three hours. Three new people.’ It had seemed so easy when her sister, Rachel, had set the challenge.
‘I know you,’ Rachel had said. ‘You’ll agree to go, then hide in the kitchen and sneak away after 10 minutes.’
She was right, of course. But here Casey was, fully committed, even if her heart was racing.
‘Hi. I’m Jerry.’ A handsome fair-haired man with a smile approached her. ‘You look a bit lost. Can I get you a drink?’
Yes! Casey wanted to punch the air, but she settled for returning his smile. Only here two minutes and already she could tick ‘one new person’ off her list. ‘Thank you,’ she said with heartfelt sincerity.
When Jerry brought the drink, she thanked him again and waited for him to move on so she could tick off new person two. But he wanted to talk.
‘How do you know Tammy?’ he asked, leaning against the wall.
‘We work together,’ said Casey and then, because he seemed to be inclined to have a full conversation, she asked, ‘What about you?’
‘I’m her neighbour. I live upstairs,’ he said.
‘Oh.’ She nodded and wondered how long they had to converse for it to count. Rachel hadn’t stipulated any rules about that and Casey made a mental note to clarify it with her sister before the next party.
‘If you work with Tammy, you must work in a lab too?’ said Jerry.
‘Medical research.’
Denne historien er fra February 16, 2021-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.
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Denne historien er fra February 16, 2021-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
EAT WELL (even on a budget) - Easy meals that make the most of your store cupboard, and won't break the bank
Courgette and pesto pasta
The CATCH
The house was perfect - so why was it so cheap?
Elizabeth and THE RAIN
She had made Lisa's life a misery- and now she was back
I won't stop taking my daughter out of school... - TO GO TO THE BEACH!
One mum tells us why fun, spontaneous days are sometimes more important than being in the classroom
Where's the JUSTICE?
Catherine Wardle's son died over a senseless Snapchat spat
Fat-shamed BY MY MUM
Gemma Hall, 28, showed off her snaps and got a dose of tough love
Fighting for SURVIVAL
When Danielle Camilleri collapsed at 40, the diagnosis was devastating
Finding love AFTER LOSS
As Kelsey Parker moves on after losing her husband Tom, we investigate how difficult it is to find love again in widowhood
Phil's revenge
Phillip Schofield is back on our screens after a 16-month hiatus and it seems it's all-out war between the former presenter and ITV.
'I'm too scared TO HAVE SURGERY'
Christine Lampard on gratitude, staying in shape and date nights with husband Frank.