I knock one back.
‘Do you think I’ll hear from her again?’
Tiny barks.
‘Me neither,’ I sigh. ‘Fuck.’
The next morning I wake up with a distinct headache and a slobbery dog lying by my side. Stretched out on the bed, Tiny is almost as long as me. It’s not quite the wake-up I’d been hoping for, I’ll be honest. I’d allowed myself to dream of waking up next to Alice, our clothes dotted around the bedroom. Her face would be lit by the morning sunshine, her warm body curled into mine.
My heart feels heavy when I remember her leaving and that goodbye kiss. The more whiskey I drank last night, the easier it was to persuade myself that I knew exactly what the kiss meant.
It’s been nice getting to know you, but goodbye.
The thought of not seeing her again feels like a physical pain and I’m unwilling to put myself through any more misery, so I leave my phone on the bedside table and head downstairs. If I can’t have Alice, I can at least get some work done. I take my sketchpad out into the garden and mainline coffee while I try out some new ideas.
I spend most of the day avoiding my phone, worried that I won’t have heard from Alice or worse, that she’ll have put into words what that kiss meant. But when my stomach finally gets the better of me and I head inside to raid the fridge, I find myself being pulled towards it like I’m seeking out the bad news.
I pick it up.
Shehasmessaged.
A glimmer of hope mixes with the gloom of potential bad news in my head. I’m pleased that she’s got in touch but …
Jesus just read it, Zach!
I open the message.
I’m sorry I hurried off. I’m a bit confused to be honest. I really like hanging out with you and I do definitely want to see you again, I just get a bit panicked when things get intense. Are you happy to just have fun together on our next date? No pressure? x
Eighties Disco
Alice
‘Ooh, a shell suit!’ Natalie coos, rifling through the piles of treble denim, leg warmers, oversized blazers and other eighties fashion staples currently strewn across my bedroom floor. I watch her over the top of my compact mirror, which I’m using to apply electric blue eyeshadow all over my lids.
‘I love seeing that smile back on your face.’
‘How can you not smile when you look this good?’ She preens, fluffing the perm wig she’s wearing.
‘You are serving pure Kylie Minogue circaNeighbourstonight.’
‘Charlene!’ she gasps. ‘I think that may be the greatest compliment I have ever received. You look absolutely banging, by the way.’
It’s my turn to gasp as I step in front of the mirror and catch the first sight of myself in my outfit for the night. I’m wearing very few clothes. Black fish-nets and a gold lamé leotard with massive ruffled shoulder pads. That’s literally it. Natalie loves a theme night even more than I do but I’m slightly regretting giving her free rein to choose my outfit now.
‘You can see my ass. Is it a bit much?’
‘Yes! In the very best way. You look like Joan Collins and Madonna had a love child. Zach’s going to lose his mind when he sees you.’
Butterflies coarse through me at the mention of his name. I’m super excited to see him and also still in a bit of a tizz. ‘This will be our fifth date, Nat.’
‘Bloody hell. Going out on more than three dates with one guy is so off brand for you. You must really …’
‘Don’t say it!’ I interject.
Nat drops down onto my bed and pats the space next to her. I sit down, feeling a bit like Raff’s dog Tiny. Only slightly more obedient. The memory of him ruining Zach’s romantic moments on our last date makes me smile so hard my cheeks hurt.
‘What’s going on?’ she asks.
