Page 19 of Don't You Want Me, Baby?

Another therapist came past, giving them a glass of Champagne and a selection of gel-polish samples on a key-chain-looking thing.

‘No rush ladies, take all the time you need to decide.’

‘Thanks.’ Sharon raised the glass at her. ‘Bubbles as well, eh?’ She held her flute out to Amber’s. ‘Happy thirtieth, mate! Tomorrow’s the big day!’

Amber chinked her glass, taking a long sip. ‘Thanks. I think I’ll need thirty of these to get over the shock.’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘So, who did pay for this then?’

For a moment, she thought of Bradley. Maybe he’d done it before the break-up. He hadn’t sent her a card, or been in touch. She was hoping that he’d just leave it alone now. She had daydreamed that he’d give her a ring for her birthday, once upon a couple of months ago. Now, she just felt relief that he wasn’t going to be there, or stand her up like he usually did. She wanted her thirties to be Sloane, and drama, free.

When her friend didn’t answer, she turned to scrutinise her. ‘Who paid for this, Shaz?’

‘Tyler.’

‘Tyler?’

Sharon nodded.

‘Yep. Paid for both of us, the whole day.’ She raised her brows. ‘The full package too.’

Amber felt her heart throw itself against her rib cage. ‘When?’

‘Does it matter when?’

Amber thought of her friend, back home in the kitchen, working away with Ben, and smiled. ‘No. Not really.’ Her gut twisted when she thought of their fight. The way he’d pushed her to fight for her own life. When did she stop fighting for it herself? She’d screamed at him, pushed him away, and he’d still come after her. ‘I feel bad now.’

‘And why is that?’ Sharon’s face was all knowing, and Amber had to drain the rest of her glass before replying.

‘You know why. I was awful to him the other night. He’s been nothing but nice since, and I feel like a prize dickhead.’

He had been more than nice. The day after the bowling alley, he’d snapped back into being her friend. The grumpy, scowling hulk of a gentle giant she knew and…

‘That’s Tyler for you. Mr Dependable.’ Sharon leaned back in her chair, pressing a button on the control and moaning like a porn star at the increased pressure. ‘Oh, dear Lord, that’s better than sex.’

Amber huffed. ‘Yeah, well it’s as close as I’m going to get these days.’

Sharon tutted at the side of her. ‘Well, that’s what parties are for. Maybe your luck will be in sooner than you think.’

‘Not a chance. No more men for me. I don’t have time for all that now. I have to get serious if I’m going to get the Arms.’And the baby.‘I’m good single.’ Sure, she felt a pang of… something whenever she saw her friend these days. All week, he’d been the usual Tyler. Master of the kitchen, bringer of pastries. He’d fallen back into his easy pattern, their easy pattern. Before all the lustful looks and snatched conversations that left her breathless and wanting to hear more. But she had a plan and, after her birthday, she’d resolved to get on with it. She was going to fix the business proposal and have faith that everything would come right in the end. It had to, right? Tyler would go and work somewhere else; their sexual tension would fade. She’d have everything she wanted.

‘So, that’s it? You’re just staying single?’

‘Yep. Easier that way. No wasting my time, no waiting for someone else to show up. I can just do my own thing. Master of my own destiny.’

‘Sounds lonely,’ Sharon pointed out.

‘Yeah,’ Amber sighed. ‘Well, I’m a hell of a lot less lonely since I got dumped, so riddle me that, Batman.’

‘Aww honey,’ Sharon reached for the polish samples, selecting a dark, dull-looking blue. ‘Not all men are like Sloane. You and Bradley were like blue polish on toenails.’ She gave her a pointed look, holding up the navy-blue thumbnail. ‘Looked good in some lights.’ She stuck her tongue out of the side of her mouth, shutting her eyes comically. ‘Dead when you look closer.’

8

Hours and a heavenly few treatments later, and Amber was back outside the doors of the Slug, Sharon’s arm linked through hers.

They got changed at the spa, and Amber felt amazing in a pretty, peach-coloured dress she’d splashed out on on their recent post-break-up shopping trip. ‘It looks great with the coral,’ Sharon had winked when she saw it on, and Amber had felt a huge wave of affection for her friend. She might not have family, or a partner she could rely on, but she did have her. This place, and the people in it. And Tyler. The thought of seeing him tonight, out of their work relationship for the first time since the bowling fiasco, churned her gut. She didn’t quite know what she was going to be walking into. Or what she would feel when she saw him. Over the past week, Tyler Williams had been running through her head so many times, her grey matter felt like it had run a marathon.

‘So, you ready?’ Sharon beamed. ‘Tonight is the start of your new thirty and fabulous life!’

Wow. That hit Amber like a sucker punch. She was right. Tonight was the last night of her twenties. Tomorrow, she wouldwake up thirty years old. She’d been thinking of this for months. Planning on how she was going to make her next decade count. A few months ago, she thought she might be getting engaged soon. Starting her life with Bradley.The time is now, Amber. If you are still here this time next year, single – floating through life and running the Slug – you will only have yourself to blame.

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