‘My friend.’
‘So, I guess you’re leaving as soon as we’ve cleaned?’
I sigh. ‘I wasn’t going to. But I just can’t be here, Ror.’
He looks at me for a few moments, his eyes searching mine. We’re playing chicken with each other, waiting for the other to speak first, to say what they’re thinking. There are so many thoughts racing around my brain, fighting for airtimein my consciousness, that I can’t pick one out over another. One thought doesn’t finish before another takes the mic.
‘Okay, well,’ Rory starts. ‘I don’t know what Mimi has planned, but I presume you’re still coming to my charity gala at the beginning of next month?’
‘Rory, you know I wouldn’t miss that.’
‘Well, bring Luc along.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘It’s going to be very public, so you might as well,’ he smiles. ‘And I want to see you both together for myself.’
I wince.
‘What? You look so happy in these photos, Sie. I want to see that in real life.’
‘I look the same as I always do when I’ve had some wine. Just put a bottle on the table and you’ll see me look that happy.’
‘What about today?’
‘Mauve’s here. It doesn’t count.’
‘Sienna,’ Rory’s voice is firm, almost scolding. ‘Bring him.’
I pause, knowing I probably don’t have a choice in the matter anyway. Mimi won’t want me seen somewhere like that without Luc on the end of my arm, so she’s probably already asked him. She knows what she’s doing.
CHAPTER 7
BALLPOINT PEN
TRACK 6 | YOUR EMAIL DIDN’T FIND ME WELL
When I first started out in music, I was surrounded by people – people who wanted the best forme, who wanted me to be successful. But over the years, I don’t know… They’ve all faded into the background, appearing in the papers as ‘a close friend of Sienna Martin’ or ‘a source in Sienna Martin’s inner circle’. Whenever someone needs to make some quick cash, they can sell a story or something scandalous that I’ve done or said recently and job done. It’s led to some real tightening of my circles quite quickly, until the circle has become virtually non-existent. Almost the size of a ballpoint pen.
Jess is already standingoutside my door when Kareem pulls in through the driveway.
‘Thanks again, Kareem.’ I pull open the car door. ‘Don’t go yet. I have a present for you inside.’
‘You didn’t have to do that, Miss Martin.’
I reach thetop of the steps.
‘Did you not bring any food back with you? I’m starved,’ Jess begs.
I clear my throat. ‘From Mauve’s house? Do you not value your life?’
‘Fair point.’
I unlock the front door and grab the gift bag from next to the umbrella stand. Another new outfit and a book for Kareem’s baby girl. I can’t wait for the day I can buy her a piano and teach her how to play it.
When I close the door, Jess has already slipped off her shoes and is rooting through my kitchen cupboards. ‘Sienna, you don’t have any real food.’
‘I know. I really need to do a food shop, but everything has just been so busy and it’s not like I can pop down to Tesco anymore.’
