Page 10 of The Suite Life
‘You did, thank you,’ I assure her, appreciating the effort. Her heart was in the right place, even if Lewis did turn out to be a bit of a nightmare date. She’s his friend, how was she to know what he would be like in that sort of setting? Like, if I set someone up on a date with a friend who was a surgeon, I wouldn’t expect them to bring a scalpel and cut them open between courses.
‘So, what’s the plan now?’ Tom asks curiously.
I sigh as Zoe, Tom and his client all look at me expectantly. I do think it’s funny how, whoever is in our chairs when we are chatting becomes a sort of extension of us, bringing them into the conversation. Sometimes it’s useful, to have that hive mind – in fact, it was one of Zoe’s clients who alerted Erin (one of theother stylists here) to the fact that she couldn’t eat gluten, just by overhearing one of her conversations.
‘I have no idea,’ I admit, my mind trying to block the cringy flashbacks from my date last night. It is probably worth pointing out (and this is something I’m only just realising myself now) that last night was my first date since Nathan and I broke up. I suppose it didn’t feel like a real date, because the plan is to find a plus-one, not a boyfriend, but still, it has definitely put me off the idea of moving on.
‘The chances I’ll find a date – a really good one – in a matter of days are slim,’ I tell them. ‘I mean, the chances I could find any date don’t seem ideal. Perhaps I could go alone, hold my head up high, show them that I don’t care?’
‘Yeah, that could work,’ Zoe chimes in encouragingly. ‘You don’t need a man.’
‘Do you think?’ I glance at Tom and Zoe, hoping for a confidence boost, but their expressions aren’t exactly reassuring.
‘I know, I could see if I’ve got any high-profile clients coming in over the next week,’ Tom suggests. ‘And if not, I could see if any of them would be willing to move their appointments – we could orchestrate your very own meet-cute.’
‘Wow, Tom Olsen, hairdresserandmatchmaker,’ Zoe teases, a playful smile on her face. ‘That could be a good idea, though. Tom definitely knows some people. You just need to catch their attention.’
‘Right, yes, because of all the people in this salon, I’m the one who turns heads,’ I quip sarcastically. ‘Not any of the gorgeous women who work here, or the stunners that come here only to leave looking even more attractive than when they came in.’
‘Some people are into all sorts,’ Tom jokes, his humour trying to help me through my self-deprecation.
‘Which is his rude, jokey way of saying: don’t be so hard on yourself,’ Zoe adds, always the voice of reason. She pauses as shethinks for a moment. ‘Have you thought of going to any celebrity hang-outs, or anywhere rich people hang out?’
‘Yeah, here’s the thing about that, how is a nobody like me going to get into the kind of areas where celebrities or rich people hang out?’ I say, pointing out the flaw in her plan.
‘I’ll have a think,’ Zoe declares confidently.
‘And I’ll see who I can scramble,’ Tom adds, his commitment evident. ‘We’ve got your back, Gigi.’
‘Thanks,’ I say, laughing it off, but with a hint of genuine gratitude too.
I’m so fortunate to have the support of my friends, but the reality is sinking in, and it’s not looking good. For any of this to work, I’m going to need more than just creativity and a bit of charm, what I need is some luck – something that is definitely in short supply for me this year.
And, if I can’t manifest some good luck, then the only other thing that could work is a miracle. It really will be a miracle, if I don’t wind up at this wedding alone.
7
As we take in aisle after aisle of another department store, I run my hands across yet another rail of brightly coloured sarongs. It’s only April, so summer hasn’t exactly arrived in London yet, but the shops are stocked so that people can prepare for their holidays, which is lucky for us, shopping for the last bits we need for Hawaii. We know exactly what we need so we’re on a mission, weaving our way through displays of sundresses, bikinis, and sandals, picking up last-minute essentials, and trying not to get distracted by shopping for things we don’t need. Of course, we keep failing, getting distracted by brightly coloured things, testing perfumes, and trying things on.
Lucy’s fingers dance over the array of swimsuits, her eyes lighting up at the tropical prints and bold colours on offer.
‘What about this one?’ she asks – briefly breaking from talking about the wedding – as she holds up a playful bikini adorned with pineapples. ‘It’s perfect for Maui, right?’
I laugh.
‘Very bridal,’ I tease.
She grins, tossing it into her shopping basket, and then her attention is captured by a rack of sunglasses. She grabsan oversized pair – the kind celebrities like to hide from the paparazzi behind – with smoky brown glass and gold details. She puts them on and looks at them in the mirror, striking a serious pose.
‘No photos, no photos,’ she says, like a Hollywood starlet. ‘At least I’m not going to need these at the resort.’
‘Why, have you developed UV-resistant eyeballs?’ I joke, not entirely sure what she means by that.
‘Very funny,’ Lucy replies as she returns them to the rack. ‘No, because the resort is so exclusive. The press aren’t allowed anywhere near, and the guests know that discretion is key – not that it’s a problem for me and you but, honestly, Sunshine is so relieved. We really lucked out with where we chose. She might not be coming if we were getting married somewhere she could be mobbed. I just want everyone to feel comfortable on my big day.’
I can’t help but let out a little sigh, an involuntary response to the mention of Sunshine, Nathan’s new flame. I don’t mean for Lucy to notice but she does.
‘Are you really okay with all of this, Gi?’ Lucy checks, sincerity in her eyes.
