Page 69 of We Used To Be Magic

I’ve never experienced anything like it. The editorial itself was for jewellery, and 1960s-themed – hence the huge hair and dramatic make-up. I hadn’t ever modelled jewellery before, but they were all so effusive with praise that before long I was totally at ease. I was the only model featured, which absolutely blew my mind, and everyone on set was so kind – they even made sure I got lunch and actually had time to eat it.

There’s a little bit of that shine still on me, and I feel lighter than I have in weeks.

‘I was going to ask if you’d been working today.’ Ezra nods. ‘How was it?’

‘Good.’ I beam. ‘Really good.’

‘Does it bode well for you staying, then? Booking all these new jobs?’

‘Well, it’s just one.’

‘I’m manifesting more for you.’

‘Oh, you finally got into manifesting.’ I laugh. ‘How’s it working out for you?’

‘I’ll let you know.’ He smiles, voice dropping lower – I take a quick sip of champagne, heat rising in my cheeks.

‘There’s another Fashion Week here in February,’ I say quickly, flustered. ‘So – I’ll be back for that, at least.’

‘Right,’ Ezra says after a pause. ‘Twice a year, right?’

I nod, trying to imagine four months stretching out between us. Will he keep in touch? I know how easy it is to let long-distance friendships wither and die, and I’m guessing that Ezra does too – he never references any friends from school. Maybe we both know that even with the best of intentions, life gets in the way. That doubt creeps in, and after you start to wonder how long is too long to go without talking, it’s pretty much impossible not to convince yourself that they don’t actually care about hearing from you at all.

The idea of reaching out starts to feel desperate, needy.

Desperately needy.

‘Ezra!’

I start, turning to see a willowy, dark-haired girl wearing a forest-green dress. I realise it must be Ezra’s older sister, and she’s heading this way –agh. I so badly want to make a good first impression but I’ve somehow forgotten everything Ezra’s ever told me about her besides her name and the fact that she has a fiancé – the tall, bespectacled man by her side, I’m guessing. She’s smiling, at least, which is encouraging until her gaze falls on me and her expression flickers. But before I can process that her fiancé steps forward, proffering his hand.

‘You must be Edie!’ he enthuses. ‘I’m Tomas. It’s very nice to meet you.’

He has a kind smile and an accent that I can’t place. I shake his hand, endeared by the formality.

‘It’s nice to meet you too. It’s actually Audrey, though.’ I smile, embarrassed at having to correct him.

‘Audrey,’ he echoes, confusion clouding his features. ‘My mistake.’

‘No, it’s fine! I’m awful with names.’ I laugh. ‘Edie is close, so …’

‘I’m Maggie,’ Ezra’s sister says quickly. ‘It’s lovely to meet you. Lovely to meet any friend of Ezra’s.’

Her eyes dart to Ezra. I look to him too – for reassurance, I guess – but I don’t find any. His face is blanched, gaze fixed on the ground. Something is weird. Is it my fault? Did I say something stupid in spite of barely saying anything?

‘So, you’re a schoolfriend of Ezra’s?’ Tomas ventures, mercifully breaking the silence. I open my mouth to reply but Ezra beats me to it.

‘Audrey’s here for work,’ he says brusquely. ‘Listen – we were just heading outside for some air. Can we catch you guys later?’

‘Sure,’ Maggie says, looking about as startled as I feel. ‘We’ll be … around.’

‘All right,’ Ezra says, and then we’re moving – his hand on the small of my back, guiding me towards the exit. I glance back at Maggie and Tomas over my shoulder and see her frowning as she cranes her neck to whisper something in his ear.

Ezra doesn’t say a word until we’ve made our way down a spiralling staircase and out into a small, leafy courtyard. My stomach is in knots, and I stare up at the flat black sky and press my lips together as he fumbles for his cigarettes.

‘I’m sorry,’ he says, gaze lowered. ‘That had nothing to do with you.’

‘I don’t even know what that was,’ I confess, and he pinches the bridge of his nose, screwing his eyes up. It’s something he does when he’s agitated, I’ve noticed.

---