I hear her shoes dusting across the tiled floor. She appears in the doorway, eyes skating up and down my body.
“You look fab, what’s wrong?”
I look down at myself. I am wearing a stone-coloured blazer with matching shorts and a black vest bodysuit. My feet are tucked into chunky sandals, my hair is down and curly, and I finish the look with chunky gold jewellery and large gold hoops.
“I don’t know. Is it enough?”
She laughs, full on laughs at me, until she catches my expression. “Oh, you’re being serious?” She scrunches her nose.“Babes”—she steps towards me, hands clinging to the top of my arms—“you look fantastic, and I am sure if Royce saw you tonight, he would want to put more than just the tip in.”
“Edel!” I screech, shaking my head as I step away from her and give myself a quick look in the mirror.
“You look amazing.” She smiles.
I tilt my head, giving her a soppy look. “Not as stunning as you.” I blow her a kiss and grab my phone and bag. Glancing down at the screen, my brows furrow.
“All okay?’ she asks as she walks from the room.
“Yeah, just I need to call Maria back.” I clear my throat when my phone vibrates and I see Royce’s name flash. My breath catches at the back of my throat and part of me doesn’t want to open it.
“You coming?” she asks, her voice floating through to the bedroom.
“Yeah,” I answer, rushing from the room to meet her.
We walk down to the lobby, her arm tucked through mine, and the apartment block is quiet.
Alexandre catches our attention, a soft smile pressed against his lips as we walk out into the warm sunshine. The evening sun begins to dip, but the air isn’t cool.
“Are we getting a car?” Edel asks as we hover for a moment and I shake my head.
“No, Rue’s shop isn’t far. I thought it would be nice to take a walk.”
“Fair,” she mutters next to me.
Edel talks for both of us. She doesn’t take it personally, she knows me inside out. I’m processing. I have never done anything like this before. I have no idea what kind of turn out Rue is expecting, but me? I’m expecting it to be just me, Rue, and Edel.
My thoughts tip toe around whether Royce will show. He said he would, he told Nora he would, yet I don’t believe him. Hemade it pretty clear what he wanted, why would he come out for me?
Inhaling heavily, we turn down the narrow alley to where Rue’s shop is, and I swear I feel my heart skip a beat. My logo and author headshot is pressed against the window, and my books hang in the display windows.
This is actually happening. What the hell.
“This is so exciting,” Edel whispers as we approach and I am glad Anaïs gave me detailed directions.
Pushing through the door, a small bell rings above my head. I step inside, my eyes roam around the pretty and cosy book shop. It’s bigger than I imagined.
A beautiful blonde steps out from behind a curtain and her eyes light up. “Wow.” She claps her hands together, walking towards me. “It’s you!” Her lips slip into a wide smile, and I wonder if her cheeks ache.
“It’s me.” I laugh nervously.
“I just want to say, I am so grateful that you agreed to do this. Royce was singing your praises. Big fan, that one.” She blushes ever so slightly.
“Is that so?” I nod, rolling my lips.
“Where are my manners?” she presses her fingertips to her brow as if she can’t believe she hasn’t introduced herself. But she doesn’t have to. I know she’s Rue and vice versa. “I’m Rue, owner of this shop andhugefan of Opal Bloom.” She looks at me as if I am about to disappear in front of her.
“It’s lovely to meet you. I’m Athena.” I hold my hand out for her to shake, which she does.
Rue’s warm like the sun, lighting up every corner of darkness. She’s comfortable and someone I feel like I would get on with, really, really well. Now I know why Anaïs and Nora are besotted with her.
