A well of joy opens up inside me. I hope I get to see all of them. Every single one.
If they still want me.
“Thank you,” I say to Orla. “Honestly, I’ll never be able to show my appreciation enough. The Agency is beyond amazing. It’s opened up so many doors I’d have never even dreamt of, and to know that’s not going away is…” I look at the ceiling. “It’s such a relief.”
“I’m glad,” she tells me. “Any problems with clients whatsoever, come to me and I’ll take a look into it. I’m always just a message away.”
“You’re amazing. Thank you, Orla.”
“Oh, and just one more thing,” she says. “It might not just be me checking in on you, now you’re back in action. You might get a certain proposal come in, too. The founders are… always keen to investigate matters.”
My breath hitches at that. The founders.
The founders of The Agency. The powers behind the scenes.
Oh my God. Handling that kind of a proposal feels a lifetime away.
A sleep mask at a workshop has nothing on the kind of anonymity they demand during a proposal. And being double-spannered has nothing on their scale of extremity.
“I look forward to it,” I tell Orla, and wave as she ends the call.
I flop back against the cushions in relief. Josh’s comment about monsters growing in the shadows is true. Mine have been growing out of control since Connor’s stupid song. It’s time I learnt to stand firm. To be myself and stare demons in the eye, trusting my own strength to cope with the darkness.
There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Mine was just out of view, and I was too scared to look for it.
Not anymore.
Josh steps out of the tiny bathroom with a towel around his waist.
“Went ok?”
“Went better than ok. Orla is amazing.”
“Great stuff, I knew she would be.”
I shuffle up so he can sit beside me, and run my fingers down his wet abs.
“I tell you what else will be amazing,” I say with a grin.
“What’s that?”
“A double shower.” I pick my phone back up. “Let’s get looking for a new Airbnb. It’s time to move on.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
I’m still unpacking my case when there’s a knock at the front door. I quickly hang up the dress I’ve got in my hands and dash on through the living room of our new Airbnb, grinning like a schoolgirl as I fling the door open to find Tiff waiting there. I’ve been so excited to see her.
She looks absolutely amazing as usual with her cascade of scarlet hair in freshly styled waves, always her gothic diva self in catflicks that rival mine. She was my icon at The Agency when I first started.Creamgirl. The most hardcore of the hardcorers. Now she’s one of the greatest friends there could ever be. To me, as well as Josh.
He’s waiting behind me as I wrap her in my arms, swaying from side to side as both me and Tiff squeal in delight. And then it’s his turn. I feel the warmth as he holds her close, landing a kiss on her perfectly contoured cheek. She’s such a plus sized dream, proud and self-assured. Confident to the max.
Pride, self-assurance and confidence were qualities that left me in the dust at Cannes airport. Thank fuck they are slowly being resurrected. Growing a little more solid every day.
“Hey, guys!” Tiff says, then lets out aniceas she steps past us and scouts a look around our new surroundings.
This Airbnb is much fancier than our secluded one-bed in the shadows. We’re in a three-bed townhouse on the west side of the city now. Still secluded, sure, but with infinitely more presence, with its incredible kitchen and huge living room. It has high ceilings with intricate coving, and a huge fireplace as a centrepiece. Hardly the modern, designer finesse of Belgravia, but it’s good. Really good.
“I’ll get us some drinks,” Josh says to his best friend, and heads on through to the kitchen. “Got your favourite white in, Tiff.”
