The Final Note (DJ Series Book 1) by Helen J. Barnes Page A

introduce you to the people who speak to me?”
    “Really. Why is that?” I’m genuinely curious but honestly hadn’t given it a thought.
    “It’s because it would go something like this…” He clears his throat like he is about to make a public speech. “Hi there. Yes, I’m fine, thanks. Yes, I am playing tonight, I’ll see you there if you’re out. Oh, by the way, this gorgeous lady is Alannah, my date for tonight. Alannah, I haven’t got a fucking clue who this is but say hello.”
    I burst out laughing, poking him in the ribs to which he fakes immense pain, holding his side. His brutal honesty really surprises me though. How strange must it be to be approached so often by people and not have a clue who they are but they obviously think they know you?
    “Don’t worry, I’m not upset you didn’t introduce me. I like that I’m your date though.” I giggle, holding his hand and walking beside him. I catch our reflection in a shop window and I want to stop and admire the view but I don’t.
    We stop in a few more shops looking for inspiration for Chloe’s birthday present, Dayton being stopped twice more. We come up blank on gift ideas, but we both buy a new top in French Connection and decide to have lunch. We grab a sub whilst discussing our best and worst gifts, given and received. I’m just laughing at his story about giving his crush a bottle of his mum’s perfume in primary school while we find a table.
    “So, what gifts have you been given and not admitted you disliked to save hurting people’s feelings?” he asks before tucking into his sub.
    “I get chocolates a lot but I rarely eat them, I usually give them to my parents.”
    “If you were given free run to do a trolley dash in any shop here where would it be? Mine would be the Apple Store.”
    I mull this over for a minute before answering honestly. “The Disney Store.”
    Dayton stops chewing and raises an eyebrow like I’m pulling his leg. “Seriously? Why?”
    I swallow my food and giggle. “I love Disney. Who doesn’t love Disney cartoons? Come on, you’ve got to have a favourite Disney character.”
    “Yeah, I have. I love the genie out of Aladdin and Mater out of Cars, but I wouldn’t choose Disney for a trolley dash.” He chuckles.
    We finish our subs before we get up and wander out of the food court. “Where are we going to try now?” Shopping for Chloe has been harder than I thought.
    “The Disney Store. I want to see what’s so fascinating about the place.”
    “You mean you have never been in?” I ask in surprise.
    “Nope, never. Until now.”
    We step into the shop and I can’t resist being lured amongst the shelves, always taken with the cutest stuffed toys. I pick up a cuddly Dumbo toy. “Aww, look how cute he is.” I pout playfully and Dayton picks up a stuffed toy of Dopey the dwarf from Snow White.
    “I prefer this little guy.” He replaces the toy and turns to me. “So who is your favourite Disney character then?”
    “Ariel out of The Little Mermaid,” I admit, turning to the rotating shelves of china teacups with every character you could name on them. I spot the Ariel one immediately.
    “Okay, let me buy you something. An Ariel cup or something.”
    “You don’t have to do that, Dayton.” He comes to stand right behind me, his chin resting on my shoulder and his kissable mouth so close to mine. I turn my face to him.
    “Your inner child really comes out in here, doesn’t it? You said you could do a trolley dash in here so it shouldn’t be hard to pick something. Let me buy you a gift, just because I can and I want to.” His eyes roam over my face before stopping on my mouth and I can’t resist him any longer. I run my hand up over my shoulder into his hair and lay a soft kiss on his lips. He doesn’t hesitate in returning the favour, our kiss soon filling with need and want.
    When his tongue brushes over my top lip before plunging back into my mouth I remind myself we are in public and