Chapter Twenty-Two
BEA
Friday rolled around quickly. Much quicker than I’d have liked. I’d mostly maintained my upbeat mood over the week, mainly due to the cessation of calls and texts from Jon and the ordinary treatment I’d received from Fin. She didn’t fuss or buy me ice cream, and she didn’t expect me to break down.
Business as normal all around.
As for Jon, I’m pleased he’d taken the hint. Finally.
And now I must meet the piper for dinner. I expect Kit Tremaine has men and women dancing to his tune all over the place. And he made me no promises; I need to remember that.
I dress for dinner carefully this time, opting for the classic LBD and nude heels. I tie my hair up again, this time in a ponytail, and I put on a little makeup. The overall effect is one of tasteful elegance. In the mirror, I decide I look very grown up until Fin comes to stand beside me. Our reflections paint our vivid differences. Her look is sharp and sexy—a red lipstick pout, her Bettie Paige fringe, and a vintage silver-grey jumpsuit. Meanwhile, my look is more PTA meeting.
‘What are we channelling tonight?’ she asks rhetorically. ‘Personal assistant seeks interview?’
‘You don’t like it?’ I ask, looking down at my outfit as though the mirror is missing something.
‘Maybe you’re in mourning and you don’t actually know?’ Her reflection creases in a tiny frown. ‘Please tell me I’m wrong.’
‘You’re wrong. Definitely.’ We’re both frowning into the mirror now. ‘Not for Jon, anyway.’ But for Kit? ‘Do you think I’m subconsciously trying not to draw attention to myself?’
‘I don’t know,’ she says walking from the room. ‘That outfit makes me want to look at you.’
‘That doesn’t sound like a good thing,’ I call after her.
Rory arrives shortly afterwards. Fin and I get into the cab, and we arrive at the restaurant before Kit and his “friend”.
‘You’re mad, you know,’ Fin says as the waiter retreats with our drinks order. ‘You’re so not inconspicuous.’
‘Are you saying I stand out?’ We’re still on the topic of my outfit, it seems.
‘I’m trying very hard not to roll my eyes because I don’t think my eyelids would manage to return. These fake lashes are so uncomfortable.’
‘Why are you wearing them, then?’ asks Rory. ‘You’ve got lovely... ’ His eyes glide over her whole body. Well, what he can see. ‘Everything.’
‘You’re so sweet.’ She leans closer to him for a moment, her hand on his cheek. ‘But Natasha asked me to trial them. She sent me a few samples to try before she commits to stocking them at the salon. Could’ve been worse,’ Fin adds. ‘She tried to get me to take some vajazzling sequins.’
‘Absolutely not,’ comes Rory’s serious response. ‘Eyelashes are bad enough, butthatdoes not need any adorning.’
‘Please, don’t hold back on account of my presence,’ I interrupt in a droll tone.
‘You’re so funny,’ Fin says, laughing. ‘Anyone would think my vagina belonged to you or something.’
Rory’s response is to grumble unintelligibly. Strange, but it sounded like it was only fair as Fin owned his balls.
‘Beauty is painful.’ I take a sip from my water glass. ‘I should put that on a t-shirt.’
‘Beauty comes from the inside, and that shit is effortless.’
‘I should put that on a t-shirt, too.’
‘Just so long as you credit it to me,’ says Fin. ‘The point I was trying to make is that it doesn’t matter what you wear, it doesn’t detract from you. You’re lovely in your pyjamas, scrubs, anything.’
‘She’s right,’ rumbles a deep voice from behind me as a warm finger brushes the back of my neck. ‘Diamonds don’t ask for permission to shine, they just do.’
And then he’s there, in front of me, bending and kissing Fin on both cheeks before bestowing a hand to his brother’s shoulder. And then it’s my turn, though I turn my head and offer him just one side of my face because all I can think is, what if it’s not a man he’s here with? A man is bad enough, but what if he brought a woman?
I’ll have to feign an emergency. I’ll have to leave.
