Page 27 of The Plot Twist

Jess swivelled on her yoga mat to turn and look at her. ‘Yes. Shall we get out of here?’

‘Definitely.’ Allie was already quietly rolling her mat up and grabbing her towel and water bottle.

‘Sorry, sorry’ they muttered as they clambered over the prone bodies now trying to relax in shavasana. The instructor shot them a filthy look as they finally got to the door and closed it behind them.

‘I don’t think we can go back there,’ said Allie, still giggling.

‘You’d want to?’

‘Nah, bit too trendy for me. I prefer my yoga in a community hall, with old ladies letting go and farting.’

Jess rolled her eyes. ‘Come on, let’s go get breakfast.’

Jess led the way to a cafe she said she knew and Allie hoped it wouldn’t be in the same vein as her morning so far; she wanted bacon and eggs, not quinoa and green tea. Ten minutes later, she ended up settling happily for black coffee and smashed avocado and hoping that the toast would contain as much gluten as possible. She stretched her legs out in front of her as she waited for it to arrive.

‘So, tell me everything,’ Jess demanded, scraping her chair across the floor and making Allie wince.

‘I’ve told you everything,’ protested Allie.

‘No, you haven’t.’ Jess gave Allie a hard stare. ‘You messaged me yesterday to tell me you’d got with hot waiter guy but this morning told me you hadn’t smashed. That is not enough detail Allie, look at you!’ exclaimed Jess.

‘What?’

‘Your face, it’s got this kind of sexy goofy expression on it. God, I hope that’s not the kind of face you pull around hot waiter guy, because I can tell you now, it does nothing for you.’

‘Will,’ said Allie, ‘he’s called Will.’

‘OK, sorry,Willthen. Do not pull that face aroundWillnext time you want to bang him.’

‘Thanks for the advice,Jess,’ Allie said, pulling the cup of coffee which had just been put on the table towards her, and feeling more than a little sorry for the girl serving who looked mortified by Jess’s statement.

‘So, tell me all aboutWill.’

‘Do you have to use that inflection every time you say his name?’

‘Sorry, I’m just enjoying seeing the effect it has on you. Wow, now I’m imagining what you must look like whenhesaysyourname.’ Jess took a large swig of her drink and pulled a face in disgust.

‘Whatisthat?’ asked Allie, pointing at the glass of sludge that Jess seemed to be drinking.

‘A cleansing juice.’

‘Looks disgusting.’

‘It is.’

‘So why are you drinking it?’ asked Allie, barely managing to keep the tone of irritation in her voice below extreme vexation.

‘Detox.’

Allie rolled her eyes. She well knew that Jess would be drinking and vaping again that evening so why she bothered with the pretense of a detox was beyond Allie.

As if reading her thoughts, Jess said, ‘Baby steps. I figure if I’m good during the day then I can get away with being naughty at night.’ She grinned wickedly at Allie. ‘But that,’ she said, pointing at her glass, ‘is truly disgusting. And no amount of excess can make it worthwhile.’ She pushed the glass away from her and fixed Allie with a look. ‘Seriously though. Tell me what happened, I haven’t seen you looking this dreamy-eyed over a boy since…’ She paused, looking thoughtful. ‘Actually, I’m not sure I’veeverseen you look this dreamy-eyed.’

Allie smiled a little shyly. Jess was right, she didn’t recall ever falling this fast or this hard for a guy.

‘I really like him,’ she admitted.

Jess grinned at her. ‘I can tell. And Al? I’m so pleased. You deserve it. Has he called you yet?’

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