Page 7 of The Moon Also Rises
“Lovers?”
“God, that sounds like we’re in an Edwardian novel.”
“You’ve just shagged, then?”
“No, it was… It was a bit more than that.” Jake’s gaze drifts to an undefinable spot in the room.
“And now you want to show up with someone on your arm to show him you’re not bitter. That you moved on. That you’re doing fine without him.”
“Yes, yes and yes. I have all those untruths to prove to him.”
“Ever thought you could do that just as well showing up alone? With a smile on your face, a tailored suit on your body and a well-chosen gift in your hands?”
“God, you have no clue who you’re talking to, do you? You think I’m that level-headed and self-confident?” Jake swipes around on his phone. “Listen closely, Mr Events. You’re about to learn that I am the very opposite. And ugh, I hadn’t even thought about what I’m going to wear. I suppose I have to go shopping now too.”
“What’s your size? My sister is a tailor, she could maybe help you out. It’s tight on the timing but I could twist her arm.”
“Your sister is a tailor? For men?”
“Yes, why is that so unusual?” My skin prickles as I think about Radia.
“Not unusual at all. Just…” Jake pauses. “She’s a lesbian, surely?”
I blink at him. “She is but I’m not sure what that’s got to do with anything…”
“Only that, annoyingly, many gay women wear masc clothes better than most men, so I was just trying to fit the missing puzzle pieces together.”
There’s a compliment in there somewhere, but even so I don’t like the idea of him trying to fit together puzzle pieces relating to my sister. Not that she’s got any secrets. It’s my puzzle pieces I don’t want him getting anywhere near.
“Shall I call her?” I ask, digging in my trouser pocket for my phone.
“Is she expensive?” Jake leans forward a little. “I hate to ask but I’m on a bit of a budget for this wedding and haven’t even factored in the total bribery cost yet.”
“She’ll do mates’ rates,” I say and the word “mates” sticks to the roof of my mouth.
Mates.Maybe Jake and I could be friends still. Maybe this will help him see I can be a good friend. Or maybe I could do something else.
I suck in a breath and speak before I can stop myself.
“Listen. If you can’t find someone, I could go with you. As the job title suggests, I know exactly how to navigate gatherings and have worked at a few weddings in my time."
“I'm sure I won't be that desperate," he says, not even looking up from his phone, which stings as much as his words.
“Thanks." I huff out a laugh, but it doesn’t ease the nausea that follows the lurch of my stomach.
“I didn't mean it like that,” Jake says but still doesn’t look up. “But I do have other friends I can try and blackmail into coming with me.”
“I'm sure one of them will go with you.”I sound just as sour as I briefly feel.
Jake makes his phone calls and while I may be listening judgement-free I am still listening, and within minutes of each conversation it’s clear Jake is no closer to finding a date. I try not to listen too closely, but it’s hard not to. Every other sentence Jake says is a punchline for some amusing joke or witty retort. I feel almost dizzy about how quick his mind works, and his energy… his energy is like a firework that never fades. While I manage to get my email working, find the company intranet and start working through some of the training material I was tasked to read, I still find my attention being pulled towards Jake and this mission he’s on. He’s on call number five and getting increasingly frustrated with his friend Harry, who apparently would rather go to Bicester Village outlet shopping with his mother than be Jake’s fake date.
“Really, Harry? You’re choosing Mildred over me. No, no it’s not for Jenna’s wedding. They’re not getting married… Are you saying that you would come if it was for Jenna’s wedding but not for the man who broke my heart?” Jake switches the phone to his other ear all the while he carefully applies lip balm to his pout like it’s an expensive lipstick. “Fine, maybe I broke his, but he got pretty close. As close as any man has. So please come. Please… No, I will notpayyou to be my date... Seriously? Does our winter of fucking mean nothing to you? Okay, half a winter... Look, it's going to be incredible. One groom's family is Jamaican and the other is Italian, so the food is going to be off the charts... Oh, for fuck's sake, Harry, you're not really doing that diet again… No, I'm not buying you a new suit... It's just one day... Okay, how much do youwantto come with me?”
It’s at this point that I’m so tempted to do exactly what Sharon did and reach over and grab his phone and save him from himself, but I clench my fists and glance at the time on my laptop. This gives me an excuse to cough loudly and when Jake looks up at me from under heavy brows, I indicate I need to talk to him.
“Just a second, Harry.” Jake moves the phone away from his ear. He gives me an impatient scowl. “Yes?”
“Our meeting starts in six minutes,” I say.
