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Melanie: I’m not sure when we could what with our shifts and Alfie and everything x
Melanie sent the text and then read it back, her stomach sinking. Yes, the art project work needed doing, yes, she did feel like she was dropping some of the plates she was desperately spinning, but her heart clenched at the thought of taking Paige off the to-do list — so to speak. Melanie started typing before she could stop herself.
Melanie: One last try. Let’s find an evening that works and I’ll make an early dinner, you can come over and we’ll do the art stuff and then you should still have time to get back to work. What do you think? X
Melanie felt better after sending that. She didn’t want to be rude to Paige, and she could use the help, so long as she actually got help. And yes, she didn’t want to not spend time with Paige.
Paige: Third date at yours. Just let me know when and what to bring x
Melanie: Let’s do tonight then if you can make it work? We need to get to it x
Oh no. What had she done? What was Paige thinking now? Had she really invited Paige for a third date at her place? Could she have any more obviously said let’s have sex?
Melanie groaned and took her glasses off. She rubbed at her eyebrows gently, not wanting to smudge her perfect eyeliner. She picked up her iPad again.
Melanie: To work, you’re coming round to work x
Paige: I can work hard don’t worry x
Oh God.
Melanie felt flushed, and now her brain was fried and her body pulsed. She all but threw her iPad on the table as if it had burnt her.
‘Melanie, I’m sorry I can’t find the full allergy menu — do you know where it is?’ Cleo asked.
Shit, she needed to focus. Switching into work mode, Melanie smiled.
‘Sure, let me go see if I can track it down, it’s probably in the kitchen.’ Melanie put her glasses back on, straightened her skirt and tucked her iPad under her arm. Her spine was straight as she clicked on her heels through the restaurant, hoping she appeared calm and in control. Hoping that it might come true.
Chapter Sixteen
Paige
Paige had seen on Melanie’s to-do list that flirting had been crossed off. She wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. It was neither of their forte to be fair. Paige had also seen that Melanie should be on Alfie watch tonight, but had called in a favour with her mum, and Paige wished she knew what that all meant. Once again, she mourned for her mojo. She’d have had more confidence.
Paige followed the instructions and parked up at the end of the street, using the app on her phone to pay. She’d guessed at two hours, but who knew if she’d be sent home by that point or not? Paige would have known that’s who. Consciously breathing through her cognitive impotence, deliberately choosing not to feel wound up by it, Paige approached the lobby. She would just have to take Melanie’s lead. But they needed to talk. It was an all the cards on the table type situation, no more confusion. She buzzed to be let in, and as she waited she had a feeling of low-level static energy running through her. She realised she was excited, that she was experiencing anticipation. Not something she got to feel all that often when her mojo was in full swing. But with that not knowing came hope. She hoped that they would end up kissing again and maybe even more, but hope was something she could cling on to.
Yes, conversation first.
Work second.
A rather heavy make out session third.
Hopefully.
Paige grinned as she realised, she’d just created a to-do list in her head. Melanie was clearly having an impact and Paige was tempted to add it to the app, but the lift was opening, and she was walking towards the flat. The door opened before she got there and Melanie waved her forward. ‘Quick! Come on I need your help.’
Paige rushed forward, the acrid smell of burning reaching her nostrils before she’d even crossed the threshold. She followed Melanie inside, noticing with despair that she still wore the pencil skirt and shirt combo and her hair was still tied up. Then she saw the black smoke and turned her attention to the open plan kitchen.
‘How can I help?’
‘It’s the oven. I only put it on to preheat and it’s done this. I really don’t want to set the alarms off and have the whole block evacuated.’ Melanie’s panic was clear as she opened the balcony door wide.
‘Have you turned the oven off?’
Melanie looked at Paige as though she was an idiot which Paige took to mean yes.
‘Where do you keep your carrier bags?’
