I laugh, which turns into the coughing fit I’ve been hoping for since I left the salon, to remove the lash lift stench from my lungs. Thank god FILLINGZ isn’t open – I have to lean on the door and make one of those retching noises to conclude matters.
When I look up, eyes watering, there’s smiley Gabe Dix, Josie’s friend, who I promised myself I’d say hello to next time I saw him. And this is my moment, standing in a sandwich shop doorway, jeans now pretty much wet up to my knees (damn you, osmosis) and zero make-up, as the Hun took it all off To Make The Treatment As Effective As Possible.
‘Hi.’ My voice comes out in a croak.
‘Hi!’ Gabe looks surprised then concerned. ‘Are you okay?’
I mutter vague words about ‘something going down the wrong way’ to explain the retching without mentioning my lash lift. But instead of politely moving on, he reaches into his bag, pulls out a bottle of water and hands it to me.
‘I just bought it. I mean, I haven’t drunk out of it. Would it help?’ He’s like a hotter version of Gary Barlow, without the tax evasion rumours. I thank him and shake my head.
‘Maybe see you at The Perch soon?’ he says, putting the bottle back in his bag and, I notice, making quite a meal of refastening it. I also notice he has rather lovely, slightly freckled hands.
‘Oh yes please.’ My voice is still husky, so I sound like Rod Stewart, but not in a ‘Do you think I’m sexy’ way. And also –please? Why the hell did I say PLEASE? For a writer I have quite a talent for picking the wrong words. In the hope of ending this shameful interaction as quickly as possible, I mutter a goodbye and start walking home, waving over my shoulder. To appear busy and important, I get my phone out and google Halloween costumes. And that’s when I spot it, as double-take-inducing as a coconut in a grocer’s window: an email from my old editor Merlyn.
Dear Erica,
I hope you got the invitation to the party at Luscious that I asked the team to send over. Very much hoping you can make it, especially as I have an exciting proposition for you.
Until then!
Baci
M
Merlyn Vye
Non-executive Editor, Luscious (UK edition)
I have a feeling. Well two feelings, the first of which can hopefully be remedied by a Settlers Wind-eze Plus. The secondis a feeling that something might be about to change. At bloody last.
