Chapter Nineteen
Maya
Whilst the girls are packing up their essentials, I’ve decided to walk around town. Needing a minute alone to offload all the shit that’s happened today.
It’s a lot.
I wonder if this is how I’d usually handle a situation, or if the new memoryless me is a lot more chill. Knowing that the girls want supplies for a teen style sleepover I wander down the high street, alcohol is a must, but I also need to find face masks and sweet treats. Rounding the corner I find the sweet shop that everyone raves about.
The shop is small but packed to the brim with all kinds of sugary goodness. There are two smiling ladies behind the till that get to work on all of my demands, weighing up each type of sweet and ringing it up ready for me.
Just as they’re finishing up, I get the feelingof being watched, I turn and look over my shoulder to find a man staring into the shop from the window.
Ah, he must just be looking at what they have to offer in here. Urgh, I hate being so jumpy, the news the police brought this morning was clearly messing with my head and making me imagine things that aren’t true. I pay for our sweets and turn to leave, walking straight into the chest of a tall man stood directly behind me. Looking up into his face, I realise its the same man who was just looking through the window
“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going,” I smile up at him. He’s a very attractive man, with dark blonde hair and deep brown eyes. It’s a shame my head is still up my arse, otherwise I might have tried flirting with him.
He smiles kindly back at me. “Don’t worry gorgeous, it’s my fault for walking into you.”
Ew, I hate pet names. I think I have just found my first ick.
“Are you having a party?” He asks, smirking at me. I must look confused as he laughs and points at my bag. “You have practically bought the full shop.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m having a night in with my girlfriends. Sweets and wine is how we get the party started.” I lift the bag and give it a shake, smiling along with him.
“I hope you have a good evening,” He says, andI scurry out of the shop, mumbling a thanks as I go.
Although he was gorgeous, I’m not in the right head space to be flirting with anyone yet, I’m too broken to be around new people.
I carry on across the street, heading straight for the supermarket to get the pizzas and wine. Fallon told me my favourite bottle almost as soon as I got out of hospital when I asked what my life staples were. Maybe I was an alcoholic before, because I bloody love it.
Who knows? Not me.
I’m heading back up to Fallon’s place when I hear someone call out from behind me. Turning, I see it’s the man from the sweet shop jogging to catch up with me.
“Hey, this may seem out of the blue but I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me some time?”
“Oh, er, I don’t think I can right now. I have a lot going on and dating someone isn’t really on the cards for me, I’m sorry.” And I am. I’d love to be carefree and just say yes. It would be selfish of me to drag someone into this life of mine right now.
“How about a coffee as friends? My name is Jack,” he holds out his hand for me to shake and I do, though the situation seems bizarre. He seems nice enough, one coffee won’t hurt.
“You know what, yes, I’d love too. I’m Maya.”
He smirks at me, as if there’s something hidden in the meaning. Odd, good job he’s cute. He passes me his phone and I enter my number.
“I’ll message you soon?”
“Sounds great, nice to meet you, Jack.”
“You too Maya.”
I have forgotten all about the gorgeous stranger by the time we make it back to mine. The pizza’s are in the oven, wine is cooling in the fridge and all the sweets and snacks are scattered all over the coffee table. In proper sleep over style, we’re all in pyjamas with matching fluffy socks and have spa style face masks on.
“Girls, this is exactly what I needed,” I say, able to relax a little now I’m not alone. “Thank you so much for sticking by me, I know I’ve been a nightmare to deal with.”
“You haven’t been at all, you’re our best friend. There isn’t much we wouldn’t do for you,” Gracie says turning to me, offering me an encouraging smile.
“Speak for yourself. I can list off plenty of things I wouldn’t do for any of you,” Blair adds, playfully scowling us.
