for it, but just the thought of speaking the words out loud made Amy’s chest hurt.
‘Coffee would be great,’ Myf replied, oblivious to Amy’s internal disquiet. ‘All the detox did was make me crave chocolate.’
‘I’ve got some of that here too. You want that instead?’ Amy replied over the noise of frothing milk.
‘Temptress.’ Myf grinned. ‘No, I think coffee is better after all the craziness this afternoon. I need the boost. Is it always this full-on nowadays?’ She gestured to the shop. ‘This is insane. When do you get time to centre yourself?’
‘Worse and never.’ Amy topped two cappuccinos with chocolate sprinkles, adding extra to Myf’s.
‘Really? You don’t look like you’re enjoying it as much as you used to. This is the third time Mel’s quit on you. Have you thought of not taking her back?’ Myf asked quietly, taking her coffee and drawing her finger through the froth and sprinkles before popping it into her mouth.
Amy just shrugged and took a seat next to her friend, giving her an apologetic half-smile. ‘It’s not that easy, petal. She’s a good friend. You know why she does it.’ She reached down and pulled her heels off, massaging her toes.
‘And you tell me I’m too nice.’ The words came as a kind rebuke.
‘You are. You’re here, aren’t you? What did you sell your last painting for? Ten thousand?’ Amy couldn’t help but notice that her friend’s bare arms and legs were generously covered with tiny specks of purple and green paint that blended in with her freckles. It made her smile. Myf was an artist, a highly successful one, whose explosive, violently dynamic canvases were a total enigma to everyone who knew her.
Myf waved a hand. ‘Not important. What’s important is the way you keep forgiving people when they do crappy things. You’re going to have to draw the line at some time.’
Amy sighed. ‘I know, but you know what it’s like. My friends are my family. Mel’s family. I’m only doing what she’d do for me, right?’
Myf didn’t look as sure. ‘It doesn’t work like that for some people, love. And you know better than anyone that sometimes you’ve got to let family go . . .’
Amy felt herself tearing up. She’d let go of so much in her life, she didn’t want to think of giving up another person she cared about. ‘Can we change the topic, sweetie?’
A flash of frustration crossed Myf’s features but she hid it beautifully. ‘Okay . . . so what are you wearing tonight? I take it you want me to stick around and check this guy out?’
‘Of course. You’re my bastard detector. I’ve got my blue party dress out the back.’ Amy spun her chair around and leaned towards a mirror. How had Ben seen her scar on Monday? The man must have telescopic vision. ‘He said wear anything, so I was tempted to wear jeans and a T-shirt.’ They both knew it was a lie. Amy’s appearance was her armour, and she never went anywhere without making sure she was fully suited up.
Myf chuckled. It was a warm sound, one that never failed to make people smile.
‘What?’ Amy demanded.
‘You.’
‘Me what? Look, m’love, if you’re going to laugh, the least you can do is tell me the joke.’ She swivelled her chair back around and prodded Myf with her big toe.
‘There’s no joke.’ Myf tucked her knees up under her chin. ‘You look lovely as is, but if you’re going to change you’d better start. It’s getting on.’
Amy glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘It is too. Far out! Time to frock up.’ She took a quick sip of her coffee then scampered behind the screen at the rear of the room to change.
‘So where’s this mystery man taking you?’ Myf called out not long after Amy quickly got naked, put on clean underwear, slid on her stockings and stepped into her dress.
‘No idea. Hopefully somewhere not too expensive. My credit card can’t handle it. Give me a hand with my zip, petal?’
‘Coming. Why are you worried? He’s
‘Coffee would be great,’ Myf replied, oblivious to Amy’s internal disquiet. ‘All the detox did was make me crave chocolate.’
‘I’ve got some of that here too. You want that instead?’ Amy replied over the noise of frothing milk.
‘Temptress.’ Myf grinned. ‘No, I think coffee is better after all the craziness this afternoon. I need the boost. Is it always this full-on nowadays?’ She gestured to the shop. ‘This is insane. When do you get time to centre yourself?’
‘Worse and never.’ Amy topped two cappuccinos with chocolate sprinkles, adding extra to Myf’s.
‘Really? You don’t look like you’re enjoying it as much as you used to. This is the third time Mel’s quit on you. Have you thought of not taking her back?’ Myf asked quietly, taking her coffee and drawing her finger through the froth and sprinkles before popping it into her mouth.
Amy just shrugged and took a seat next to her friend, giving her an apologetic half-smile. ‘It’s not that easy, petal. She’s a good friend. You know why she does it.’ She reached down and pulled her heels off, massaging her toes.
‘And you tell me I’m too nice.’ The words came as a kind rebuke.
‘You are. You’re here, aren’t you? What did you sell your last painting for? Ten thousand?’ Amy couldn’t help but notice that her friend’s bare arms and legs were generously covered with tiny specks of purple and green paint that blended in with her freckles. It made her smile. Myf was an artist, a highly successful one, whose explosive, violently dynamic canvases were a total enigma to everyone who knew her.
Myf waved a hand. ‘Not important. What’s important is the way you keep forgiving people when they do crappy things. You’re going to have to draw the line at some time.’
Amy sighed. ‘I know, but you know what it’s like. My friends are my family. Mel’s family. I’m only doing what she’d do for me, right?’
Myf didn’t look as sure. ‘It doesn’t work like that for some people, love. And you know better than anyone that sometimes you’ve got to let family go . . .’
Amy felt herself tearing up. She’d let go of so much in her life, she didn’t want to think of giving up another person she cared about. ‘Can we change the topic, sweetie?’
A flash of frustration crossed Myf’s features but she hid it beautifully. ‘Okay . . . so what are you wearing tonight? I take it you want me to stick around and check this guy out?’
‘Of course. You’re my bastard detector. I’ve got my blue party dress out the back.’ Amy spun her chair around and leaned towards a mirror. How had Ben seen her scar on Monday? The man must have telescopic vision. ‘He said wear anything, so I was tempted to wear jeans and a T-shirt.’ They both knew it was a lie. Amy’s appearance was her armour, and she never went anywhere without making sure she was fully suited up.
Myf chuckled. It was a warm sound, one that never failed to make people smile.
‘What?’ Amy demanded.
‘You.’
‘Me what? Look, m’love, if you’re going to laugh, the least you can do is tell me the joke.’ She swivelled her chair back around and prodded Myf with her big toe.
‘There’s no joke.’ Myf tucked her knees up under her chin. ‘You look lovely as is, but if you’re going to change you’d better start. It’s getting on.’
Amy glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘It is too. Far out! Time to frock up.’ She took a quick sip of her coffee then scampered behind the screen at the rear of the room to change.
‘So where’s this mystery man taking you?’ Myf called out not long after Amy quickly got naked, put on clean underwear, slid on her stockings and stepped into her dress.
‘No idea. Hopefully somewhere not too expensive. My credit card can’t handle it. Give me a hand with my zip, petal?’
‘Coming. Why are you worried? He’s
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