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Well shit. Of course, it wasn’t going to be straight forward.
OK, but she didn’t have the big art project reveal on her list any more thanks to Paige and co. But she still had scaffolding and sourcing of other resources. And with a click, Melanie felt her work brain engage. And she suspected it may need to stay that way for the time being. But it was temporary. The art project would be over in just a few weeks. Her life would be back to her normal, which fine, was very busy, but it wasn’t usually this level of overwhelming. She could do this. For a few weeks she could manage. She would just need to prioritise. The first thing she did was add to the list to go through their CCTV again to see if they could see anyone lurking around near the tattoo shop, but she already knew that their CCTV wouldn’t quite reach. So, in that case, Melanie needed to go through the figures again and see if it was just the prosecco that was a problem or any of their other goods.
Which just unnecessarily reminded Melanie of how little time she had to offer to Paige. Friends with benefits was an all right idea, in theory, but Melanie couldn’t help but feel that at some point she was bound to let Paige down with her absence. And she would never, ever, want to make Paige feel how Laura had made her feel. Melanie could admit that some of her relationship fears could no longer be applied to Paige. She didn’t think Paige would belittle anyone. Melanie honestly felt in her gut that she could trust Paige, that she was rock steady. Grumpy at times, yes. But she didn’t play games. Her friends also reflected well on Paige and Melanie took all that in. But what Melanie would not do was put Paige in a position where she felt second best, worthless by default, because she knew how much that stung, how much it tore away at your confidence until there was very little left. So, yes, she wanted Paige, she was madly attracted to her and could admit she trusted her. But she would be cautious, and clear. It was a friends with benefits situation and that’s all it could be for now.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Paige
‘You always knew there would be no psychic for psychic night, didn’t you?’ Paige asked as she started making a Tom Collins for Connie, her actions deliberately chill and nonchalant. ‘In fact, I would bet you headed on up here because you knew you’d be needed.’
‘Don’t even try it,’ Connie said, her back to the bar as she perched on the barstool, deliberately choosing to look around the room rather than at Paige.
‘I’m not trying anything. But you suspected, didn’t you?’ Paige asked again as she poured the drink.
‘I know your plan, too,’ Connie said shifting her head only slightly. ‘You’re trying to butter me up, trying not subtly I might add, to suggest I am better than the fraud you had booked. Now you’re making my favourite drink, and you’ll make it well, in the hopes I’ll agree to be your psychic for the night.’ Connie finished the sentence with a pfft type noise and Paige knew, just like they both knew, Connie would do it — all Paige needed to do was ask.
‘Not at all, Gran. She’s already contacted me to say she can do it, that the other place fell through and she was right to double-book in the first place.’
‘Oh, she did not!’
‘Yep, so I guess she really is good. Here’s your drink.’
Connie slowly turned on the barstool, her nostrils flaring, the tiniest of scowls on her forehead as she made that balloon exhale sound again. Paige had to wait it out. Oh, and she knew this, because it would appear her mojo was working just fine today.
Connie took a sip of her drink, the atmosphere between them so heavy it needed a drink of its own, until Connie nodded in satisfaction.
‘I know you’re lying to me. I know you know. I know that you know, that I know, you know. I also know that your mojo is fixed. Although I know why it’s fixed, do you?’ Connie paused, eyebrow raised, and Paige said nothing; in fact she didn’t move a muscle. ‘And we both know that I’m the best. So, let’s cut the crap. What time do you need me?’
Paige smiled. ‘Thanks, Gran, it starts at eight tomorrow night.’
‘Shhh. It’s Connie in public, I’ve told you.’
‘Oh I’ve gotta take this, it’s the scaffolders about the wall.’ Paige grabbed her phone and sure enough, within minutes arrangements were made and the site would be ready to paint from tomorrow.
Connie took another sip before putting her drink down and pinning Paige with a look. ‘And you’re going to add that into the app, are you?’ Connie sucked her teeth.
‘Why, what’s wrong with that?’ Paige began typing exactly that.
Connie put her hand on the phone and pulled it down, and Paige had no choice but to look at her gran with undivided attention.
‘You need to tell her about the app. About the rucksack, about the prosecco. About the girls’ brunch social media plan. About the conversation you were thinking of having with Patrick, sorry, Councillor Houghton. About the work you were planning on doing with Selena. I know your heart is in the right place, but this isn’t the way to do it.’
‘To do what?’
‘Paige.’ Connie said her name in such a way that Paige looked down at the bar top, not sure she wanted to hear what was coming next.
‘You’re not her knight in shining armour. You can’t debit her into love.’
‘Love?!’
‘Paige, that’s not how relationships work. You can’t make someone love you with countless acts of kindness. There has to be a real connection there. You’re creating a debt that you have no intention of ever letting her repay.’
‘I don’t know what you mean. I’m just trying to help out — she’s running on fumes.’
‘I agree. And the occasional meal, the running of a bath, these are all lovely things. But swooping in like you are. And using the app like you are. It’s not the same. Let me put it this way. How can she ever make things better for you? For example, have you even told her about your doodah, your mojo as you call it? What about your mum?’
Paige was stunned silent. Since when had doing nice things for someone become something wrong?
