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‘You’re like a school kid in a playground that doesn’t know what to do with their feelings. You like her, so talk to her. Have you even had a proper conversation yet?’
It had been enough that she could acknowledge she’d been off earlier; she didn’t need to go any further. ‘Do you know someone that can help with poster and flyer design?’ she asked.
‘Yeah, and so do you,’ Sophie said without questioning the sudden change in topic.
‘Who?’
‘Bailey’s sister, Seb. Remember she did all my invites and seating charts?’
‘Would she do a simple poster and flyer as a favour?’ Paige asked, a plan forming.
‘I’d say. Did you hear that her last work was for Lady Gaga? She’s mega successful now, so yeah, she owes me. Let me send her a text.’
Sophie bent down towards her phone, tapping furiously. ‘When do you need it by?’
‘As soon as possible. If she’s on then I can send her the brief. And we can print them locally. It’s just the design. And do you know any local artists that could do a huge wall mural?’
‘Erm no, I don’t think so. I’ll keep an ear out though. Why, what’s going on?’
‘The Business Alliance are looking for an artist to do a mural that best represents our corner of Manchester — something to do with city investors.’
‘Uh-huh,’ Sophie said with a nod as she continued typing on her phone.
‘Anyway, Melanie suggested we advertise for an artist locally, and she got lumbered with the task of creating posters and flyers.’
Sophie paused and looked up at Paige. ‘You know that helping like this is really nice.’
‘Shut up, or I won’t do it.’
Sophie grinned and looked back down at her phone. ‘I really like her, by the way.’
‘Who?’
‘Melanie. When I came back from my honeymoon, you know, when you had all swanned off to Vegas? I met her then. She was really lovely. She even asked for a selfie.’
‘Oh, she’s a fan of yours, is she? Internationally world-renowned influencer? I’m surprised you still hang out with us plebs.’
‘How else am I going to get the content that best resonates with my people?’ Sophie raised an eyebrow before bursting out laughing. ‘Having said that I’ve gone and got myself invited to a royal engagement celebration or something . . .’
‘Seriously?’
‘Yeah, just the evening-do part, but I can’t make it — it’s Barbarella’s psychic night and I promised you I’d be here for that.’
‘Soph!’
‘What?’
‘It’s a psychic night in a bar in Manchester. They happen all the time. What the hell? You were invited to a royal event!’
Sophie laughed. ‘Honestly, I’m not even really sure what it was but look without sounding bigheaded, I get invited to lots of things these days. But I need to remember who I am. It can be a weird space, and I’ve felt a little lost at times, but you, Marcus, Polly, Bailey, Mya and now of course Smithy, well you’re my family. You keep me grounded and real and it reminds me that real life is more important than my pseudo influencer life. I’m not complaining. I love it, it’s hard work, the perks are incredible. But I need you guys. So yes, I will always pick a psychic night in a bar, a girly booze up at Polly’s, or hell, travelling around the world to support Mya on her quest for global domination, over some big influencer thing. It’s what we do. And you don’t have to say, because of the warm and fuzzies, but you would do the same in a heartbeat. You’ve been there for us every step of every day, no matter the drama, the event, the excitement. I have your back, Paige. We all do, whatever happens.’
Paige threw her arms around Sophie, unaware before that point how badly she’d needed to hear that. And just as quickly, Paige pulled away.
‘Right then, well if we can get the flyers and posters sorted then that will go a long way to making me look less like a bitch.’
‘Then you can tell Melanie you like her.’
‘I do not. I barely even know her.’
