flicker of nerves went through her just thinking of the night ahead.
Across the room , Paula had finished Matthias’s buzz cut – thankfully, she seemed to have forgotten the Mohican – and was answering his dull questions about her relationship with Willow.
‘ So how did you and Willow first meet?’ he asked. Minus the shock of ginger hair, Matthias’s sea-green eyes and full even features really stood out. He was almost handsome.
‘ It was back in Year Three,’ Paula said, ‘in Mrs Zane’s class. One day at break time we decided to play make-up, and I drew lipstick, blusher and eye-shadow on Willow.’ She swivelled to grin at Willow. ‘Little did I know I was using permanent marker! She had to walk around for weeks with that stuff on her face.’
Willow couldn’t help smiling at the memory. She’d never forget that day in the playground when Paula, the prettiest girl in school, had grabbed her and asked if she wanted ‘to look like a rock star’. Not wanting to say no, she’d nodded and stood still as Paula stroked markers across her face. When they’d gone back inside after the bell rang, Mrs Zane’s face had screwed up like a shrivelled Granny apple. They’d both had break-time detention for almost a month afterward, and the two of them forged a firm friendship.
‘ And then fifteen years later, I opened RockIt,’ Paula continued.
Willow bit her lip and tried not to laugh at how , as the questions went on, Paula managed to bring every single one back to her business.
A short time later, Sheila swung the chair toward the mirror. ‘There! Done. I hope you like it.’
‘ It’s great,’ Willow responded automatically, but when she saw her reflection, she really meant it. Shiny hair sprang up around her shoulders, the volume making her face appear fuller and healthier. She actually resembled a living, breathing human instead of someone who’d been shoved in a wardrobe and left to rot. Would Jay like her new look? Don’t be silly, she scolded herself. It’s a business dinner, that’s all.
‘ You look fantastic!’ Paula said, coming over.
‘ Where’s Matthias?’ Willow glanced around but she couldn’t see any trace of the reporter.
Paula shrugged. ‘He took off. Something to do with filing the story. Listen, have fun tonight,’ she said. ‘Just hear the man out, okay? He might be able to help. And if nothing else, maybe you can get a good snog out of him!’ She lifted an eyebrow and smirked at Willow. ‘Or more. It has been ages, hasn’t it?’
‘ You don’t need to broadcast it to the whole village,’ Willow whispered, getting up out of the chair. Paula knew she hadn’t slept with anyone since Alex; it wasn’t like Belcherton had a whole lot on offer – not that she was looking.
‘ I’ll fill you in tomorrow,’ Willow said, waving goodbye.
A few hours later, Wi llow and Jay meandered along the Cotswold Way toward the neighbouring village pub, Jay’s continuous sneezing marring any chance at normal – or anything beyond monosyllabic – conversation. But even with his unromantic streaming nose and watery eyes, he was still beyond gorgeous.
I’m so sorry,’ Willow said, after another epic sneeze from Jay. ‘If I’d known you were allergic, I would have suggested the longer way.’
Jay blew his nose loudly. ‘It’s all right.’ His tone was even, but Willow hoped he wasn’t just pretending. Not exactly a great way to start the date – or whatever this was. She hadn’t even imagined Jay might be allergic. But Jay wasn’t Alex, she reminded herself. Not all men loved flowers enough to order them almost every day, like Alex had done in those first few months.
A smile tugged at her lips as she remembered their initial meeting. Alex had strode into Liberty’s, asking for something a little bit different for Mother’s Day.
‘ Oh, you must talk to Disa,’ Willow heard her manager Joanne say to him. ‘She’s an expert in all things exotic.’
A
Across the room , Paula had finished Matthias’s buzz cut – thankfully, she seemed to have forgotten the Mohican – and was answering his dull questions about her relationship with Willow.
‘ So how did you and Willow first meet?’ he asked. Minus the shock of ginger hair, Matthias’s sea-green eyes and full even features really stood out. He was almost handsome.
‘ It was back in Year Three,’ Paula said, ‘in Mrs Zane’s class. One day at break time we decided to play make-up, and I drew lipstick, blusher and eye-shadow on Willow.’ She swivelled to grin at Willow. ‘Little did I know I was using permanent marker! She had to walk around for weeks with that stuff on her face.’
Willow couldn’t help smiling at the memory. She’d never forget that day in the playground when Paula, the prettiest girl in school, had grabbed her and asked if she wanted ‘to look like a rock star’. Not wanting to say no, she’d nodded and stood still as Paula stroked markers across her face. When they’d gone back inside after the bell rang, Mrs Zane’s face had screwed up like a shrivelled Granny apple. They’d both had break-time detention for almost a month afterward, and the two of them forged a firm friendship.
‘ And then fifteen years later, I opened RockIt,’ Paula continued.
Willow bit her lip and tried not to laugh at how , as the questions went on, Paula managed to bring every single one back to her business.
A short time later, Sheila swung the chair toward the mirror. ‘There! Done. I hope you like it.’
‘ It’s great,’ Willow responded automatically, but when she saw her reflection, she really meant it. Shiny hair sprang up around her shoulders, the volume making her face appear fuller and healthier. She actually resembled a living, breathing human instead of someone who’d been shoved in a wardrobe and left to rot. Would Jay like her new look? Don’t be silly, she scolded herself. It’s a business dinner, that’s all.
‘ You look fantastic!’ Paula said, coming over.
‘ Where’s Matthias?’ Willow glanced around but she couldn’t see any trace of the reporter.
Paula shrugged. ‘He took off. Something to do with filing the story. Listen, have fun tonight,’ she said. ‘Just hear the man out, okay? He might be able to help. And if nothing else, maybe you can get a good snog out of him!’ She lifted an eyebrow and smirked at Willow. ‘Or more. It has been ages, hasn’t it?’
‘ You don’t need to broadcast it to the whole village,’ Willow whispered, getting up out of the chair. Paula knew she hadn’t slept with anyone since Alex; it wasn’t like Belcherton had a whole lot on offer – not that she was looking.
‘ I’ll fill you in tomorrow,’ Willow said, waving goodbye.
A few hours later, Wi llow and Jay meandered along the Cotswold Way toward the neighbouring village pub, Jay’s continuous sneezing marring any chance at normal – or anything beyond monosyllabic – conversation. But even with his unromantic streaming nose and watery eyes, he was still beyond gorgeous.
I’m so sorry,’ Willow said, after another epic sneeze from Jay. ‘If I’d known you were allergic, I would have suggested the longer way.’
Jay blew his nose loudly. ‘It’s all right.’ His tone was even, but Willow hoped he wasn’t just pretending. Not exactly a great way to start the date – or whatever this was. She hadn’t even imagined Jay might be allergic. But Jay wasn’t Alex, she reminded herself. Not all men loved flowers enough to order them almost every day, like Alex had done in those first few months.
A smile tugged at her lips as she remembered their initial meeting. Alex had strode into Liberty’s, asking for something a little bit different for Mother’s Day.
‘ Oh, you must talk to Disa,’ Willow heard her manager Joanne say to him. ‘She’s an expert in all things exotic.’
A
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