Page 98 of The Tape Job
“Yes. It’s got some fancy shampoo, Chanel perfume, some… ooo, what is this?” I hear rummaging.
“Is there a card?”
“Do I need to answer that?” she says.
“No,” I reply because I know it’s from Liam and my heart feels full to burst. I’m reminded of my impending doom by a fumble of movement from the back of the store. “Actually, Jen, while I’ve got you. Do you think you could come down to the tailor’s and help me out with something?”
“What do you need help with?” she says.
What do I need her help with? Shit. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I inject confidence into my voice and smile as I talk. “Do I need a reason? Just a little help would be great.”
“I would Vic, but I’m busy.”
I glance around the tailor’s quickly before making a plea based on the first thing my eyes land on. “Pocket squares. I need help with the pocket squares.”
“Is this a joke?” she says.
“Why would it be a joke?”
“No reason,” she says. But then I remember the warning I had earlier regarding pocket squares.
“Whatever happened with you, Ryan, and the pocket square is all in the past. Now, please, Jen. I’m begging you.”
She sighs but agrees, telling me she’ll be fifteen minutes.
Shit. I wasn’t sure if fifteen minutes would be soon enough, but I figure I can ask Bettsy to hang around since he’s the last one here.
“I’m thinking that I prefer a longer cut on the arms,” I hear him say from the back of the store. There’re several exchanges of conversation before I make out the tailor dismissing him. He disappears into the fitting room to get dressed again just as the bell above the door tinkles, announcing someone’s entry.
I can hear my heart pounding in my ears as I try to busy myself. Keeping my eyes on my clipboard, I lean against the counter and, as the footsteps get closer, I breathe in relief when Liam wraps his arms around me.
“Someone may see,” I say, looking around.
“Nah, it’s fine,” he says, and he kisses my neck before breaking away. “I just wanted to do that quickly. Did you get my gift?”
“I hear it’s in the office,” I say. “Thank you. Did you come here to check?”
“I wanted to tell you something. Ryan said he wouldn’t stand in our way or anything, you know, if we—”
But the way he says it makes it sound like we needed Ryan’s permission, which is not what I signed up for. “Did we need to seek his approval?” I say, my voice flat.
“No, but—”
“Hey, Lee, do you want to grab a pint?” Bettsy calls from the back of the store. He’s half-dressed, in a polo shirt with his jeans undone.
The front door opens again as Matt Rodgers slips in along with the last two guys on my list. I’d overlooked the fact that he wouldn’t be coming alone, and I’m grateful for the company. I make brief conversation with the newcomers, trying to involve Liam, but Bettsy makes his way to the front and signals he’s ready to leave.
“I’ll see you later, yeah?” Liam whispers, and I nod.
Luckily for me, that brief conversation with Liam has put me in a sour mood. So if Matt tries anything, it’s likely that my knee would meet his balls. But he says nothing. At least not at first, anyway. He simply smiles and shakes hands with the tailor before his group is ushered towards the back of the shop.
To my relief, Jen pops her head into the store next. “Did you want a brew? I’ll go across the road and grab us some drinks.”
“I’ll come with you,” I say, making a rash decision to sign the paperwork, not concerning myself with the last few fittings. I leave a note for the tailor, asking him to call me if there are any issues before I follow Jen out into the chilly December air.
“I thought you wanted my help with the pocket squares?”
“Yeah, do you think that silver-grey is a good choice of colour?”
