“Charming, conniving.”
“She’s nothing of the sort.”
“She swindled you out of ten thousand pounds.”
“Dollars.” I switch off the iron and drop onto the bed, lifting the phone to my ear and taking Mum off speaker. “You’d actually really like her, Mum. If you want me to type out a statement for the press, I will. But you need to tell them to get their facts straight.”
“All right. Send me the details of the charity and I’ll put a positive spin on this. For once, we can actually use one of your blunders to our advantage.”
“Is that all? I have to go.”
“Yes, darling. Before you go, how was the party?”
“It was okay. You know what Dad’s like. He used it as a networking opportunity. Had me sucking up to the town’s dentists all week as we’re a similar age.” I huff. “Although you wouldn’t think so if you met them. It’s like babysitting a bunch of tweens.”
“Is he after a new set of dentures?” Mum bursts into a laugh. It’s rare she laughs these days with all the stress of her new role.
I laugh along with her. “The dentist’s uncle is on the town’s planning committee.”
“Ah, got it. Okay, I’ll let you go. Are you up to anything nice?”
“I’m taking a girl out on a date. The one I bid on in the kissing auction.”
“You need to be careful. Make sure she isn’t just dating you for your money, son. The auction might have been for charity, but lavish spends like that attract the wrong sort of girl.”
“She’s not like that, believe me. She’d sooner lead a march than go to a party.”
“Maybe I would like her after all.”
“And she hates me. If it wasn’t for bidding so much money in the auction, I doubt she’d have agreed to this date.”
“So, you really like this girl?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
“Then let her see the real you. I’ll call in a few days with an update on the papers. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry you keep getting dragged into the politics of this country. I know you didn’t choose any of it.”
“Don’t worry, Mum. I know it’s important to you. You can make it up to me when you’re the Prime Minister.” Ichuckle as I think about dancing around Number Ten Downing Street with my mother running the country.
“Wouldn’t that be something? Finally, I’d be able to give some of these backstabbing bastards the boot.” She laughs. “One day, my darling. Text me how your date goes. Love you.”
“Love you, Mum.” Cancelling the call, I check the time and jump off the bed, needing to dress. I don’t want to be late or give Shelly anything to moan about. This date’s going to be perfect. After researching the best vegan restaurant in the area and borrowing Dad’s two-seater sports car, I’m all set.
Should I get her flowers? After the date, I can have some delivered to her. Or tomorrow. I honestly don’t know what’s got into me. I never put this much effort into a date. Usually I don’t have to, but Shelly’s different. She’s not falling at my feet like the usual gold diggers my mum was referring to.
Once ready, I grab the car keys and step out of the resort with a swing in my step, but a knot tugging in my stomach. With the roof down on Dad’s convertible, I slide in, creaking the cream leather.
The engine purrs when I press the button. After typing in the address she gave me into the built in satnav, I click my seatbelt into place and reverse out of the parking bay. Driving to the end of the resort, I tap my thumb on the steering wheel to the beat of the country music playing through the speaker.
As the GPS on the car directs me down a dirt road, my heart plummets to my stomach, thinking she’s gave me a fake address.
“You have arrived at your destination.” Are the words coming from screen, but all that’s in front of me is a huge welcome sign for a campsite.
With a heavy heart, I’m about to call her when I hear her voice behind me.
“Is that a flex?”
My head spins around toward her voice as a smile to spreads across my face.
