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Chapter one
Delilah
Two Years Ago
Sometimes, there are things that just stop your world from spinning.
For some, it’s seeing their child come into the world. For others, it’s the death of a loved one. Some have said it’s when they see a near miss—some tragic event that almost happened but shook their world and jolted their heart.
For me, it’s the sight of him walking into the boutique store, five minutes before I’m due to close for the day.
Joseph Wakefield. Devastatingly handsome. Effortlessly confident. Charismatic soul.
Complete heartbreaker.
Also, my former teacher.
He looks at me with a quizzical expression, like he’s sure he knows me from somewhere but isn’t quite sure where. His head is slightly positioned to the right. He used to do this when he was teaching, waiting for somebody to remember something he’d taught us.
He had this same pose the night he stole my heart.
He shakes his head, almost like he’s decided he doesn’t know me, that he’s imagining some potential history between us and I’m just a stranger rather than somebody he used to know.
I don’t blame him. I look different to how I did when I was one of his students, and it’s been twelve years. There’s no reason for him to recognise me. Gone is the dark black, box-dyed hair, the long fringe to obscure my face, the heavy make-up, the sullen expression, the buck teeth that were in desperate need of braces, and the air of sadness.
On the other hand, there is every reason I’d recognise him. Not just because he looks the same as he did then, nor because of what he meant to me, but because after he finished his time at my school, he quit teaching and took a shot at stardom.
“Hello,” he says, smiling that famous smile of his, his perfectly straight white teeth on display.
“Welcome to Adler’s. How can I help you?” I ask politely.
My heart feels like it’s fluttering in my chest. I slip my hand into the pocket of my dress and pinch my thigh, just to check I haven’t slipped into a coma and this is an elaborate dream. Maybe I fell and hit my head. But the pinch I give myself—the little bite of pain—reassures me that this isn’t a coma dream or an hallucination. Cue more heart flutters in my chest because this is real, and he’s really standing in front of me.
“I’m hoping you have a dress shirt in stock. I had a slight accident, and I don’t have enough time to go home and change,” he explains, clearly unaffected by the out-of-body experience I seem to be having. He pulls his jacket open, showing his white shirt and the stain he has there. It looks like coffee.
“A sixteen-inch collar?” I guess. I clear my throat and force myself to smile brightly.
His own smile gets a little wider. “That sounds like you could be my life-saver.”
“I do have some dress shirts. Over here.” I point in the direction of where the shirts are kept and hope that I remember how to put one foot in front of another. For a second, I’m convinced I won’t be able to move, but then I find myself walking towards the shelves where the men’s shirts are stacked.
“I’m so grateful for this. I thought I was out of luck with the other shops being closed, but then I saw the light on.”
“Another white shirt?” I ask, reaching for one from the pile.
“Yes, please. I’ll just avoid coffee for the rest of the night and save myself any further embarrassment.” Joseph chuckles.
“Are you going anywhere important?” I ask, pulling the shirt out.
It’s a redundant question given I already know the answer. I know he’s off to a film premiere. Not that I’m a stalker who religiously follows him on social media. I stay well away from his socials. I know about it because the film was shot in my hometown, and the producers decided the first night should be here instead of London. It’s been hard to avoid the excitement around the city, the announcements on the radio, the advertisements in the local papers, and the competitions being run to win a ticket to attend.
“Film premiere,” he replies, taking the shirt out of my hands. Nonchalant, like he isn’t the lead of the movie.
“You can try it on in there,” I suggest, pointing to the little curtained area in the corner of the room.
He gives another dazzling smile and then slips into the dressing room. I step away from this section of the store, because the last thing I want is to listen to him taking his shirt off. Or imagine him being semi-naked behind the curtain. Nope, not a good train of thought for me to indulge in.
I stand by the till, reaching under the counter so I can pull my mobile phone from my handbag. I unlock the screen and scroll to my chat thread with my best friend, Felix. He’s sent a message that I didn’t hear come through.
