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‘You don’t?’ Belle laughed, then properly laughed, like leaned over to one side laughed.
‘What?’ Paige asked.
‘Oh boss. I hope she’s around a lot because this is going to be fun.’
‘I can fire you, you know?’
‘Yeah but we both know you won’t. You never do.’ Belle had only just got her breath back.
Even without her gift, Paige knew they were all laughing at her expense, but she didn’t want to look too closely at what specifically they found so amusing.
Chapter Seven
Melanie
Melanie tried to rub her hand on her skirt without anyone noticing but it was sweaty, and she couldn’t shift the feel of denim from beneath her fingertips no matter how hard she tried. Melanie looked around the table unable to believe she was actually there. Well for one thing, that she was out, socialising, maybe, possibly, making new friends. New friends that in some cases happened to be internet sensations. But while Melanie had expected to feel starstruck and awkward, she had to say that for the most part everyone was making her feel very welcome.
For the most part.
Paige was sat next to her, not really saying anything unless spoken to and there was a tenseness about her that had Melanie on edge. Connie jumped out of her seat and Melanie watched as she walked purposefully towards the bar, even though Belle had not long since dropped their drinks off. Sophie, Marcus, Polly and Bailey were talking about something to do with gardening and everyone was trying to make rude gardening puns. Melanie had thought of three to do with bushes and one to do with edging but wasn’t sure if they were too much, so instead she took a sip of her IPA and let the noise of the bar wash over her. It was a home from home type feeling.
‘Erm so, I’m sorry about my friends all being weird.’
Melanie jumped, the shock that Paige was willingly conversing surpassed only by her sudden proximity. Paige had leaned close so that she could talk into Melanie’s ear. No doubt because of the general Friday night noise, and background music, but Melanie had to try and contain a shiver the second Paige’s breath connected with her neck.
‘They’re not. I mean . . . Everyone is being really lovely,’ Melanie said. Well nearly everyone.
The lack of response from Paige was starting to get awkward, especially considering she hadn’t moved back. It was like she still wanted to say more. Melanie slowly put her drink down on the table and turned a little to see Paige better, and immediately wished she hadn’t. Paige was frowning at her again. Great, at this rate she’d be back to communicating in nods.
Melanie was about to turn and rejoin Sophie’s conversation but her mouth to brain filter malfunctioned without warning. ‘Look, if you don’t want me here, I can go.’ And then the malfunction continued, unrestricted. ‘Actually, I have lots to do, not to mention it now appears I’m project managing this whole art thing. So yeah, I can just go. In fact, I need to go.’ Melanie reached down to her side to get her bag, a bitter taste in her mouth; a cocktail of disappointment and anger.
But it was the warm hand placed on hers that stopped her in her tracks. Her head shot up to look at Paige, and she found that she couldn’t look away, the look on Paige’s face like someone conflicted. The frown was still there but there was a wariness to it. ‘Please, you don’t have to go.’
Paige kept a hold of her hand, the one that had reached for her handbag and with her other she reached to pry Melanie’s fingers off, until the handbag landed on the floor.
Melanie tried to study Paige’s face to see if she could make any kind of sense as to what was happening between them. It was almost like she was causing Paige some sort of pain. Melanie sighed. She had no idea what she might have done to cause it, but she didn’t need to continue to make it worse and more importantly she didn’t have to wait around to receive the brunt of it. She’d learnt that lesson the hard way once before. Was only just recovering in fact. But even now, Paige’s hand still holding hers, Melanie had to admit her heart was racing at the contact. Her body was stuck in place, unable to move even if she wanted to; Paige’s green eyes had her trapped. Which was how she noticed Paige’s gaze move to her lips and her pupils dilate.
Woah. Hang on. What was that?
‘Paige? Belle and I need you for something, so sorry to interrupt.’ Connie’s low voice broke through the moment, and Paige was up and walking off towards the bar. Melanie looked down at her hand, expecting to see some sort of imprint on it. Something tangible. Something to help her make sense of what was happening with Paige. Oh, Melanie was attracted to her, despite her best intentions she knew that. But she also knew she could put it to one side. That it was purely physical; that it could be ignored. It wasn’t exactly like Paige was winning her over with her smashing personality, was it? All Melanie got were grunts, nods and the occasional sentence. She didn’t have time for lust, whether reciprocated or not; it wasn’t going on her to-do list.
‘Melanie, what do you think?’ And just like that Melanie focused instead on what Sophie and the rest of the group were talking about. But her handbag was down and she was staying for now at least.
* * *
Melanie couldn’t quite believe she’d gotten all the way to closing time, considering she was opening up her own bar tomorrow morning, and especially considering the less than warm welcome afforded her by Paige. But here they were. Paige and her staff were cleaning up around them, as they all began pulling on their coats and jackets. Melanie discovered she didn’t live all that far away from Polly and Bailey so they arranged to share an Uber that would be there any minute. Sophie and Marcus were also being picked up. Melanie watched, feeling a little awkward as one by one they went up to Paige and gave her a hug and a kiss goodbye, before doing the same with each other.
‘Will we see you again Melanie, my love?’ Connie asked appearing at her side from nowhere.
‘Why don’t you come down to my bar? I’m only down the road and if you come in for brunch tomorrow, the prosecco’s on me,’ Melanie suggested.
‘You’re such a love. Surely you’ve been snatched up by someone by now?’ Connie asked with a nudge.
‘No, not wanting to be snatched by anyone to be honest, Connie.’
Connie let out a burst of deep laughter. ‘Me neither, but sometimes it’s nice to be wrong.’
‘Connie haven’t you been wrong quite a few times now?’ Sophie asked, joining their conversation.
