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‘You can’t have them, they’re in the middle of signing an exclusive with us,’ Melanie said, her gaze not even moving from the horizon, but she let out a soft, tired sounding chuckle.
Paige stayed quiet a moment longer. There was a lot to be said, but she knew or suspected at least that if she waited, Melanie would fill the silence.
Besides it was nice sitting outside with her in the low-level quiet surrounded by nice new looking apartments. There was a shared courtyard in the middle that looked untouched.
Melanie sunk further into the sofa, as Paige untied her topknot letting her hair fall to her shoulders hoping that Melanie might do the same. She looked stressed and tired, surely that would help? But it was armour wasn’t it? It was her battle suit for any and all purposes. Battling with customers, with four-year-old nephews, and probably with Paige and everyone else. She must own pyjamas though, she wouldn’t sleep in that, and Paige knew she had to find that out for herself one day.
Paige got herself comfortable and that meant moving ever so slightly towards Melanie.
‘We got more reviews at the weekend, more voicemails too,’ she said quietly.
Paige said nothing but turned her face towards her, hoping she would say more.
‘I don’t know what to do about it. Even the staff have picked up on them. I think if we don’t do something someone might reply or something; they’re starting to take them so personally, especially when we know they’re completely made up. The gas bill has finally come through and it’s about three times higher than we calculated. However, business has been steadier than we’d planned for so far, so we should balance out. But it just means more pressure to keep it going as it is. How long before everyone local has taken their Instagram pictures? I need to design next season’s walls, hopefully reuse as much of the stuff we already have. Then there’s this art project. We’re meeting with the Neighbourhood Business Alliance and Councillor Houghton tomorrow and so far, other than the posters and the flyers which you sorted and distributed, we have nothing else to show for it. And then there’s you.’
Melanie stopped abruptly, and Paige was in two minds. Push forward on that conversation and see where the ‘and you’ part was going. But then again, she could hear what Melanie was saying; she was listening to what was being said and what wasn’t. Melanie was stressed. Forcing her into a conversational topic that she clearly didn’t want to talk about, wasn’t exactly meditative. Not to mention the other things that were going on. The unpacked boxes, the rushing around. No time for shopping? Paige had to wonder if Melanie was actually looking after herself properly. But mostly, Paige had no idea what would happen if she pushed that topic. So maybe ignorance for now could actually be bliss. It was a novel concept for Paige. Instead, Paige remembered what Connie had said about helping. ‘Helping is good, but you must make sure it’s aimed in the right direction, Book’. So instead of facing a potential rejection, she got her phone out of her pocket and opened up Uber eats.
‘You like Greek food?’ Paige asked.
‘I said I was feeding you tonight, at least let me order something.’
‘Greek yes or no,’ Paige said firmly.
‘Yes, and I want spanakopita please.’
Paige nodded, placing a large order so there would be leftovers and salad to last for a few days. She supposed that Melanie ate at Lulu but she’d never actually seen it.
‘Oh gross, I stink of burning,’ Melanie said with a shudder, leaning forward.
‘Don’t worry about it. If you get changed now, you’ll just have to walk through it again,’ Paige said reasonably.
They sat in silence again, their arms touching, and Paige felt a quiet peace with Melanie as they both sunk heavier into the sofa, the sky darkening and a slight chill in the air. Spring was trying its hardest but couldn’t compete with the warm summer nights.
‘Hang on,’ Melanie said as she passed both drinks to Paige and lifted up the coffee tabletop. ‘Here’. She produced a gorgeous soft silver throw and sat back down, getting closer to make sure the throw covered them both. Drinks back on the table, Paige took off her Converse and put her feet up. She threw her arm along the back of the sofa behind Melanie’s head but not quite touching. The busy hubbub of Manchester was like a second throw surrounding them both, and Paige felt truly comfortable, hoping that Melanie felt the same.
Paige tried not to sigh as she finished her beer, knowing their reprieve was over and it was time to talk. She was surprised Melanie hadn’t spoken yet. She hadn’t seen Melanie ever be so still. Then she felt Melanie’s head on her shoulder. Surprised, Paige quickly turned her head and saw she’d fallen asleep. Gently and carefully, she took both their bottles and put them on the floor. Before getting comfy again, she gently peeled off Melanie’s glasses, putting them carefully on the arm of the chair next to her and then settled back down. Melanie sighed and turned slightly until she was nestled in next to Paige, under a blanket together. Paige quickly took her phone off the arm of the chair and snapped a selfie. She wasn’t sure she would have this moment again, especially if they had a talk and it didn’t go well.
Then realising that might have been a bit creepy, she sent it to Melanie too. Paige moved her arm until it was lying gently across Melanie’s shoulders, resting her own head on Melanie’s. She breathed in deeply. Yes, she could smell burning but that mango scent was there too. Paige couldn’t recall a time she’d snuggled like this, felt this content. This was the first moment of peace she’d known since her mojo had gone, if not before. But Paige worried that this would also be her last and so she clung on to every second.
Chapter Seventeen
Melanie
Melanie’s eyes opened to the sound of soft talking and she realised a few things at once. Firstly, that she had fallen asleep. It wasn’t that much of a surprise as she hadn’t slept properly in so long that she’d become accustomed to catnaps. Except not usually outside, and not usually on the pillow she was currently on. Which brought her to the second thing. She could feel her pillow gently rise up and down, she could feel through her ear and her cheek as her pillow spoke softly. The third was the scent, that spicy scent of Paige’s was in her nostrils and it sent waves of lust through her body, or it did until she smelt the smoky undertones too and remembered what had happened. She wasn’t quite sure how she had ended up in Paige’s arms but that’s definitely where she was.
‘Great, thanks, I’ll be there in a second.’ There was a pause and Melanie still hadn’t moved. She should have moved as soon as she woke up. Now she was awake and er, snuggling? Would this constitute a snuggle?
‘Mel,’ Paige whispered as her hand stroked up and down her arm.
Melanie sat up, albeit with reluctance. ‘Hey, sorry about that.’
‘No, I’m sorry to wake you but the food is downstairs. I need to go find it before he gives it to someone else.’
‘Of course.’ Melanie moved further out of the way and Paige quickly put on her shoes before hopping up and disappearing through the apartment.
And Melanie needed a damn minute. She could still feel Paige’s body beneath hers and honestly it was making her dizzy and breathless. Why did that woman have so much power over her? She’d never been this instantly attracted to someone and for it to get to this level where she felt combustible, it was as new as it was thrilling, and scary, and distracting. She had no idea what to do.
Standing up she hunted for and found her glasses and stretched out her back. Walking through the apartment she was pleased to discover the oven had cooled down, and more importantly, the smell was dissipating. She could close the oven door, take the bags off the sensors and cover the place in Febreze. She was going to add cleaning the oven to her to-do list but she already knew it would go right to the bottom. She didn’t cook here anyway. It had waited a year. She had just finished with the air freshener when Paige came back in.
