CHAPTER 8
BREAK TIME
TRACK 9 | PARTY POOPER
I need that cooling off period when I’m seeing someone. Take some time away so things don’t get too serious or locked in. So, I wrote a song about it, and now no one can say they didn’t expect that from me.
Another day,another party dress, another car to a gorgeous venue. Another day of people watching my every move, of not being able to drop the smile painted on my face for even a second.
Dina and James zip me into a skin-tight nude bodysuit with a floor-length mesh cover-up. I am embellished from bust-to-toe in appliquéd flowers, a garden of tulips, mums, and lilies. All in pink and orange hues. Mimi is working on a partnership with Polly Riviera for an outfit for theYour Email Didn’t Find Me Welltour, and this is what they wanted me to wear this time.
I take as deep a breath as I can in the tight fabric. The doorbell rings and there’s movement downstairs as someone goes to open it. I’m not moving very fast or very far in this gown.
Seems a bit excessive for someone else’smovie premiere, but Mimi decided it was warranted because I wrote and sang two whole songs for the soundtrack. The fans will be thrilled they’re already getting more music from me when I’ve only just releasedYour Email Didn’t Find Me Well. And it’s mine and Luc’s debut as a couple.
I spent most of the day doomscrolling. After Jess planted the story about me being excited to bring Luc along tonight, people couldn’t stop talking about it. There are lots of polarising opinions. Some are accusations of a stunt relationship, because why would I bring someone to work this early otherwise, and others are saying that we’re moving quicker because we’ve known each other for a long time and therefore we’re more comfortable with each other.
All I know is that it’s going to take a bit more effort to convince everyone that we’re in love.
Dina picks up the train of the dress, wordlessly helping me down the stairs. I tread carefully, making sure a rogue piece of fabric doesn’t get stuck under my foot to send me flying.
Luc is waiting in the hallway, watching my steps as I climb downstairs. Dina starts rearranging my curls, making sure they are glued in place with yet more hairspray.
Luc is wearing a black suit with a nude tie, appliquéd with the same flowers as my dress. There was talk of him wearing a nude-coloured suit with the flowers covering his blazer to match but, with only the tie, it’s understated. Much more to Luc’s taste.
‘You look very pretty,’ he tells me.
I can hardly meet his eyes, a hot flush creeping up my chest.
His eyes trail over my face, and I’m transported a decade into the past. The heat in his eyes when he’d called me gorgeous before unzipping the dress I’d worn for dinner, letting it drop to the floor in a ripple around my feet. Thegrunt in the back of his throat when I’d undressed him button by button.
I drop his arm and take a few steps to put some distance between us, managing to force out a ‘thank you’.
Mimi comes out of the living room, Jess behind her.
‘What a gorgeous couple you make,’ Mimi grins.
‘Admiring your handiwork?’ I smile at her, and she returns it warmly with a small nod of her head. ‘By the way, Memes… Luc is coming with me to Rory’s charity gala. I, er, asked him. Hope that’s okay.’
‘Great idea.’
‘And, from now on, I’ll invite Luc to all these events. It’ll feel more natural for me.’
‘If that’s what you both want, I’m happy to go along with it.’
She is absolutely unflappable.
Luc smiles, a glint in his eyes and a crinkle in his lip as he holds in a laugh. I lift each foot individually, clutching onto Luc and James for balance while Dina buckles my shoes. I’m off balance for a few moments, trying to figure out where my new centre of gravity is now that I’m only a quarter of an inch shorter than Luc.
‘This feels kind of like we’re going to prom,’ Luc comments.
A laugh erupts out of me. ‘Then it would be my first.’ I’d already left school to pursue music by the time prom rolled around.
‘The most important thing is–’ Mimi wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a hug, and I see Dina cringe behind her when my curls are crushed against my back. ‘That you have a good time.’ As soon as Mimi breaks away, Dina rushes back to fix what is now out of place.
‘You too, Luc,’ Mimi adds.
‘Thank you, Memes.’ Luc repeats my nickname for her.
