AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes,” I nod. “The one and only.”
She gives me a high-five. “Yay! I’m getting better at this.”
At lunch, I call Nick to tell him about the change of plan; he’s surprisingly unfazed.
“An art exhibition? That sounds fun.”
“Really? So, you don’t mind us going there for a bit?”
“Of course not, darling. It will be nice to meet some of your friends.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“I promise we won’t stay there too long.”
“Darling, I don’t care what we do as long as I’m with you. And anyway, you’re spending the night at mine, so there will be plenty of time for us to be alone afterwards.”
My heart flutters. Can he be any more perfect?
After work, I take Jill across the road to Coffee Republic. I nod at the waitress and order my usual: a blueberry muffin with a large white coffee.
“And for your friend?” she inquires, glancing at Jill.
“Just a skinny latte, please.”
“Don’t you at least want a muffin?” I frown.
“No, no, I’d better be good.” Jill pats her impossibly-flat stomach. “I’m supposed to be cutting down on the sweet stuff. You know, Christmas is just around the corner and I need to be able to fit back into my little black dress.”
“Jill, you already look amazing. I’d kill to have a figure like yours. Surely you’re allowed at least one little treat?”
“That’s the problem. One treat with me leads to six in one sitting.”
“Oh, come on; please get something. The blueberry muffins are amazing.”
She pulls a face. “Oh, all right, you’ve twisted my arm.”
We both laugh. While I pay for our food, she scans the shop for somewhere to sit. As always, finding a seat in this place is a nightmare, but eventually, Jill spots a free table. As soon as we’re seated, she begins telling me about her problems with James. I’m surprised by her frankness, but grateful her non-stop chatter means I have very little to add to the conversation.
“The thing is,” she says, licking the lid of her skinny latte, “my brother’s the sweetest boy you could ever hope to meet, but he lacks drive. He’s amazingly talented, but I think he gives up too easily. Ever since he left art college three years ago, he hasn’t held down a stable job and so far hasn’t really made any money from his paintings. The art world is so hard to break into, but if he doesn’t take a proper crack at it, he’ll be left by the wayside.”
“How old is James?” I ask.
“Twenty-seven,” Jill replies brusquely. “Old enough to be living alone, don’t you think? I mean, honestly, it’s already a squeeze living with Gavin and the twins, but James in the spare bedroom makes things unbearable. He doesn’t help around the house with anything, and he’s always leaving dirty dishes and socks around the place. When I get home from work, I feel like I have to clean up after three children.”
“Couldn’t he get a place of his own?”
“Not unless by some miracle his paintings take off. Don’t get me wrong, James has my every sympathy; it’s not easy for young people to get on the property ladder these days, and rents in London are bloody astronomical. James says most of his friends from university are still living at home with their parents because they can’t afford to go it alone.”
I take a bite of my muffin and wipe crumbs off my jumper. “What about a flat share? Couldn’t he split the rent with one of his friends?”
Jill sips her drink thoughtfully. “Perhaps I’ll float the idea past him. I’m just praying this exhibition might be the start of something big. We’ve got so much riding on tonight, Carly. Gavin’s paid a small fortune to hire out the venue, and I’ve sent invitations to everyone I know in the creative world. I’ve even invited a local journalist to see if we can generate a buzz.”
“Sounds like you really love your brother,” I say.
Her eyes grow misty. “Yes, I love him to bits. All I want is for James to start taking life seriously and make something of himself. He’s wasted far too much time sitting at home on the Xbox.”
