Page 30 of A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street
‘Tentacle costume?’ Ebony clicks her fingers to get my attention because I’ve yet to stop smiling at him, and I rush out the back and return with the dreaded thing, wrapped neatly in tissue paper inside a white cardboard box tied with a gold ribbon.
‘I’ll get this shipped on my way to London. I’ve arranged a meeting with a clothing boutique in Regent Street. They might be willing to display a few of our pieces.’
‘Regent Street!’
‘I know, can you believe it?’ She makes it sound as though it’s a good thing.
‘I can’t make dresses for Regent Street as well. Some boutique in London is not where we should be focusing on.’
She opens the till and takes a few notes out to cover her petrol costs. ‘Do you know how many rich and famous people shop there? It would be such an accomplishment. I’d better go, I’ve got an appointment booked at a “hairdresser to the stars” right before the meeting so I look my best. We want to impress them, don’t we?’
‘No we don’t!’ I call as she swishes across the shop. ‘Ebony!’
The door slamming on her way out is my answer.
I clonk my head down on my arms with a groan. ‘She cannot be for real.’
‘Shall I come back later?’ Witt looks perplexed.
‘No, you’re fine,’ I mutter without looking up. At this point, seeing him is the only thing likely to improve my day.
‘Do you mind if I ask a question?’
Or, maybe not. Witt and questions probably aren’t going to lead anywhere good.
‘What exactly is a tentacle costume?’
I burst out laughing and look up at him. ‘It was this… You know what, as a gentleman, I think you’d rather not know.’
‘Finnish reality stars famous for fallingoutof clothes as opposed to wearing them,’ Scarlett clarifies with a handwave. ‘Lingerie with spider’s legs.’
He laughs at the mental image, and Scarlett claps her hands together. ‘Ah ha, you’re here to see if the mystery Cinderella has got in touch.’
‘I think he’s just here for the password so he can access it from his own phone,’ I say.
‘Oh, no no, that would be too easy. Sorry, Witt, you’ll have to check them from here.’ She pats the chair next to where I’m standing. ‘Right here.’
‘But…’ I start to protest as he walks over. Our computer is a big, clunky old thing built into shelves behind the counter, so I can easily check fabric stocks and swivel the monitor around to show customers potential options.
She winks at me without him seeing. ‘The account has been set up on our server. Jackson couldn’t grant just anyone access. Ithasto be done from here.’
Admittedly I don’t understand the tech stuff that Scarlett’s boyfriend does, but I’m certain there’s only one reason that Witt has to check it from here, and that’s because I’m here.
Scarlett pulls out the comfy computer chair with wheels and a back that reclines when you lean against it, and Witt sits down, so close that his arm brushes against my thigh, and his aftershave fills my nose. It’s not the same one he wore to the ball. This one is dark lavender and spice and smells warm and homely.
‘Right, there we go, Sadie will show you the rest.’ Instead of doing anything on the computer, Scarlett dashes out the back and returns with her hairdressing toolkit over her shoulder. ‘Must dash. Hair clients. Byeee!’
‘Wait, I don’t know—’
The door slams behind her. Why do people keep doing that?
‘—how it works either.’ I clonk my head down again in frustration.
‘I’m sure we can figure it out between us.’ Witt’s arm presses against my thigh in a comforting gesture.
Everything about him is reassuring. I should probably move away, but Ilikebeing with him. Everything feels better when he’s near.
He leans back to allow me access to the computer and I crouch next to him and try to figure it out. ‘Scarlett’s posting on The Cinderella’s Shop’s own social media accounts seeing as we already have a few followers, and this is the blog she’s set up to keep readers updated on the progress, and this must be the contact form where people can get in touch…’
