Page 8 of Falling for Nicole
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I wasn’t expecting to find anything, but as I drove along the coastal road the next morning, a ‘staff wanted’ sign caught my eye outside a guest house. Turning the car around, I parked up and made my way in.
By the time I left almost an hour later, I was the newly appointed View Point Inn bar manager, thanks to my previous experience. I still can’t quite get my head around it happening so fast, but I’m too happy to question it. The guest house itself is a little dated and the cliental sat in the bar left something to be desired as they sat there nursing their breakfast pints, but a job’s a job at the end of the day.
I’ve managed to push my concerns aside and I’m smiling as I let myself into Lilly’s house later that afternoon. Something’s going my way for once. Lilly’s stood in the hallway with two glasses of wine in her hands, a smile almost splitting her face in half when I walk in. She’s got a wicked glint in her eye. My stomach clenches but I’m not sure if it’s with excitement or nerves.
“We’re going out tonight,” she announces, thrusting a glass at me. “Lucas’ parents are babysitting and I’mfree,” she squeals spinning around and sloshing wine everywhere. How much has she already had?
As I laugh at her I realise that stomach clench was definitely excitement. Lilly’s got the night off, and for once I’ve got good news. “Perfect, because I’ve got something to celebrate.”
“Really?”
“Yep, I’ve landed myself a job.”
“That was quick!”
“It was.” I can’t help the smile creeping on my lips.
“Where?” she asks, looking a little more sober.
“Point View. They needed a bar manager, and when I said about working in The Olive Tree for a few years, they snapped my hand off. What?” I ask when I see the look on Lilly’s face.
“That place doesn’t have a very good reputation.” That slightly sick feeling I had while I was inside the guest house reappears. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. Go get ready.” Her voice is suddenly much lighter, but it doesn’t do much to settle my nerves about my new job.
“So where are we going?” I watch Lilly’s smile falter and it only adds to the ball of dread in my stomach.
“Dec’s having a barbeque. Lucas was meant to come with me but he’s got to work again. Don’t tell him but I’d much rather go and get drunk with you, anyway.” I’m not sure who this is in front of me, but it’s definitely not my quiet best friend. I guess a night of freedom from twins can do that to you.
“Isn’t there a club or something we can go to instead?” I groan as she ushers me towards the stairs.
“Nope. Plus, he knows we’re coming.”
“I was invited?”
“Well, no. He still thinks I’m bringing Lucas.”
“Lilly, he won’t want me there. Maybe you should just go alone.”
“No chance. There’ll be loads of people there so he probably won’t even notice.”
There isn’t a part of me that believes her, and by the slight narrowing of her eyes as she says it, I’m not sure she believes it either.
“You’ve got a bikini, right?” she asks, pulling one of the drawers open and rummaging through it.
“Uh…no. What sort of barbeque is this?”
“He’s got a hot tub.”
“Of course he has,” I mutter to myself.
“You can borrow one of mine.”
“Lilly, no I can’t—” My protests are pointless; by the time I turn around, she’s already gone.
When she reappears, it’s with a simple black string bikini swinging from her finger. I run my eyes the length of her body before turning them to my reflection in the mirror next to me. She has to be joking. Even post twin pregnancy, Lilly has a supermodel figure. I’m nowhere near short and dumpy but that’s how I feel when I’m stood next to her, even with my leaner body after the stress of the past few months.
“You can’t be serious?” I ask as she pokes it at me.
