Page 22 of Promise Me Ever After
“Can you stop at The Blue Goose and pick up a couple of their brunch takeaways? Amber forgot to get eggs and there’s only enough bread for one of us,” he said.
“And why can’t you go out?”
“Because that involves getting dressed, and I can’t be arsed. Do you know what time I got in this morning?” he moaned.
I bet they’d had a massive clean-up after last night’s event. I’d been lucky enough to get away with just sorting out my own station in the kitchen before the prize giving.
“Okay, fair enough. I’ll be there as soon as.” I ended the call and turned to Mum. “Right, I’m off. I’ll see you tonight. What are you up to today?”
“Don’t know. Might go and get my nails done. Amber said she’d had a last-minute cancellation, so it’s all mine if I want it.” She stretched in her chair, lifting the full coffee cup perilously high. “And I should pop into the hotel later and check everything was cleaned up properly. I’ll probably grab something from the supermarket to nuke later and find a film. Might be in bed when you get in.”
I placed an affectionate kiss on her forehead. “Well, you have a relaxing day and I’ll see you when I see you.”
“You too. Have a good night at work.”
Her words floated after me as I banged out of the front door. Despite the sunshine, the sharp breeze cut through me and I pulled my coat tighter. Town wasn’t too busy, and I went into the cafe as instructed and ordered our breakfast. I spent a few minutes chatting to Bryony Burton, one of the owners. She asked after Justin and Lennon, reminding me my best friend was hundreds of miles away in London with the love of his life. Twenty minutes later I knocked on Curtis and Amber’s door.
“What took you so long?”
I took in his boxer shorts and t-shirt. He hadn’t been kidding about not being arsed to get dressed. “Who died and left you in charge?”
“Fuck off, I’ve had enough of that from Amber this morning.” He grabbed one of the polystyrene containers from me and marched inside the flat. “Four thirty I got in. Four thirty because Melody fucking Johnson and her cronies wouldn’t stop buying champagne from the bar. I had to get security to escort them out in the end.”
“Nice tips though, I bet?” I followed him into the hallway and shut the door behind me.
He snorted. “If you count being felt up by a hormonal fifty-something a nice tip, then yeah.”
Curtis got us some cutlery and we sat at opposite ends of the sofa. The TV blared with this morning’s sports news and speculation about the team line-ups for the afternoon’s football. We ate in silence, eyes glued to the screen. Neither of us spoke until we’d both polished off the contents of The Blue Goose’s brunch box: sausages, bacon, eggs, hash browns, mushrooms, tomatoes, baked beans and a slice of toast. The perfect start to a Saturday. I pushed the carton on the table and slumped back on the sofa.
“God, that’s good.” I patted my stomach. Apart from sampling each of the chef’s dishes last night, I hadn’t eaten properly since yesterday lunchtime. A decent not-so-greasy breakfast was the right start to the day.
Curtis tossed a controller at me. “What’s the deal with you and Georgie Cavanagh then?”
“What do you mean?” I turned over the channel and found where we were on the game.
“Don’t think I couldn’t feel the sexual tension between you two last night.” He raised a brow.
I mean I could try to deny it… but... What was the point? “You haven’t said anything to Amber, have you?” I stalled.
“Of course I have, it’s exactly what we were talking about when I got home atfour thirty.” Curtis threw me some major shade in the form of an eye roll. “Fuck, Alex, she’d have chewed my ear off. Don’t know anything anyway,” he grumbled.
“That’s because there’s nothing to know.” It was the truth. Although the way her heart raced when I kissed her pulse point last night gave me some clue.
“If I can see it, then it’s only a matter of time before Amber spots it and tries to set the two of you up. Do you really want your sister getting involved in your love life?”
I couldn’t think of anything worse. Letting out a hard breath, I threw the controller to one side. “I don’t know what to do about it, mate. I mean, I am interested, she’s fucking hot. But we work together.”
“And that’s a problem because? Come on, Alex, how many waitresses did you screw over the summer?” Curtis counted on his fingers and held up a number for me.
“This would be different.”
“How so? It’s not like you’re looking for a relationship.”
“Yeah, but shagging a temp is a bit different to sleeping with the front of house manager.”
“Ah, so it would be like sleeping with the boss. I get it.” Curtis nodded earnestly.
“Wait, no. It’s not like that,” I protested, even though deep down I knew there was an element of truth in it. Georgie was a permanent member of staff like me. Tess and Ellis had always drummed it into us that workplace romances were frowned upon. I didn’t want to be the one who messed it up.
