Page 29 of Winter With You

Errol raised his head from a sewing machine where Phoebe was helping, engaged in holding fabric before it was pulled under the needles and stitched. ‘Well, there’s a dial turned right the way around but, you know how it is with the landlord.’ He looked at Phoebe. ‘The man’s long beard keeps him warm, I swear, and not in a cute Santa Claus kinda way.’ He mimicked stroking facial hair and pulled a mean face that had Phoebe grinning.

Gabriella focussed back on Luca who had spent quite some time looking her up and down, an inch-by-inch reconnaissance she somehow hadn’t found too unsettling. She might profess to not give any fucks but she wasn’t exactly comfortable with this kind of intimate scrutiny.

‘I know what you’re thinking,’ he said low.

‘Yeah? So you know I’m thinking how does Kylie Jenner put up with standing like a scarecrow in nylon every time she gets dressed for an event?’

‘It’s not nylon,’ Luca told her.

‘You’re right. I’d be warmer.’

‘So, you are cold.’

‘I’m actually just wondering how long I can be away from Cheyenne before she calls the police and reports me missing.’

‘Would she prefer you missing with something to wear for your appearance on the talk show tonight? Or not missing and no show-stopping outfit?’

‘Why do you have pins in your mouth?’

Luca smiled. ‘And that’s what I knew you were thinking. Keep still.’

‘What?’

Before she could say anything else, fabric arrived over her shoulder, wound around her waist and then pins were being inserted in a rapid-fire scenario. On instinct she moved. ‘Ow!’

‘I said keep still,’ Luca said.

‘You stuck me with a pin.’

‘Not my bad.’ And then he stood up straight, stopped pinning and toying with the leather-esque material. Observed. ‘How does it make you feel?’

‘How do I feel?’ Gabriella asked. ‘Like an expensive sofa.’

‘No. I asked, how does it make you feel.’

‘I have no idea what you mean,’ she answered.

‘Errol?’ Luca called.

Gabriella was still wondering what she was meant to be doing. Should she be feeling something other than awkward? Should she put her arms back down now?

‘I’m a fan of the initial styling,’ Errol said, having left his sewing machine seat and moved closer. ‘But, something is off.’

‘Yeah?’

‘The fabric is⁠—’

‘I know what you’re gonna say, Errol. But I can’t use real leather here.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because it’s controversial.’

‘It’s sustainable. And it’s not a Lady Gaga meat dress.’

‘Do I get any input in this discussion?’ Gabriella asked. ‘And can I put my arms down now?’

‘Yes,’ Luca and Errol answered at the exact same time. But then Luca followed it up with something else. ‘My answer was to the second question.’