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And then she saw him.
His startled expression on seeing her.
The way his eyes seemed to search all over her face as if he’d never properly seen it before. Which of course he hadn’t. She’d been hiding it from him behind the maze of her big, bouncy mess of hair. And now that it was there, it was all really there, and it clearly wasn’t what he expected. It was weirder, or bigger-boned, she suspected.
Broad faced, her dad used to say. Though none of those things really explained the way he lifted his hand. How he let it hang in the air, a millimeter from her cheek.
Before he seemed to realize that he was being weird, and let it drop.
“There,” he said gruffly. “Much better.”
But somehow, she didn’t think it was.
She thought that perhaps it was a lot worse.
And in a way that she had no idea how to ever fix.
In fact, she was still thinking about how to fix it when he escorted her to the car, sometime later. Then just as she was getting in, he put out a hand. And without even thinking about it, she took it. She let him guide her in.
As if they were something else altogether.
Instead of exactly what they were.
QUESTIONS TO ASK/THINGS TO CLARIFY
Do you really only carry a toothbrush when you go anywhere?
Your manager claims you use the cologne you briefly advertised, but I am pretty sure it’s Davidoff Cool Water you smell like. (Maybe take out the Davidoff Cool Water—you only think that because it reminds you of high school, only matters that it’s definitely not Macho.)
Actually important things like describe where you grew up, instead of stuff that is just swirling around your head thanks to eight million absurd quotes from his teammates, his manager, and people who just think they know him.
Suggest he adds some of his own words to this, he’s got such a turn of phrase. Wonder if he ever wanted to do anything with that? Something’s there. Dig deeper.
Come on, Mabel. Ghostwriting might not be your dream writing gig, but you’re good at it. You’re getting somewhere. You can do this!
ANSWERS FOR YOU, YOU BLOODY NOSY PARKER
Yes, I only take a toothbrush with me. But that tosspot is saying it like it’s a bad thing, instead of all you need when them hotels always had everything else. Tiny soaps, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer—they had the works, so why would I pay for my own? You seen how much Palmolive costs these days?
It is Davidoff Cool Water. Because how was I to know you were only supposed to use that stuff in 1997? I liked the smell, and always wanted some, and so when I could afford it, I bought some and stuck with it. End of.
Don’t tell Hugo Boss this but I hated Macho.
I told you, I grew up in Manchester. Weren’t you listening?
Stop letting things people said about me swirl around your head. There’s already enough swirling in there from all the things you forced out of my gob. You’re still fucking forcing it out now, look at me here scribbling away on this piece of paper you meant to throw away.
Don’t you bloody dare dig deeper!
P.S. Next time you want to make up some daft questions and toss them before I can see or hear how daft they are, make sure you actually aim well. I found this scrunched up in one of my shoes, even though it was bloody miles away from the bin.
P.P.S. I knew it, I knew you were after more than ghostwriting, I bet there’s a million amazing stories in that weird head of yours.
TenJust Picture a Yearbook Photo of a Friendly High School Principal from 1984
She decided the best approach to the whole weirdleg grabbingandface almost touchingandhands briefly grazingthing was to just pretend it all never happened. She had never dug her nails into his thighs about an inch from his groin. Really, it had been a mile away from the danger zone, and she’d barely brushed him. And he had definitely never nearly caressed her cheek. Probably he’d just seen an errant hair and wanted to brush it away. He was, after all, a well-known perfectionist.
He strived for the best, always.
