Page 50 of Hot Girl Summer

“I accidentally said your name when I was...well, you know.”

I go to sympathise with him but then my tummy rumbles and I blush. “I’m going to head off. I’m starving, and I’ll take an educated guess that you have no food. So, I’ll leave you to your adoring Insta fans,” I say.

“Well, you could’ve had a sausage.”

“A chipolata won’t fill me up.”

“That was uncalled for. How do you know I’m not hiding a salami under here?” Luke gestures to the slight outline in his shorts. Smirking, I side-eye him.

“I’m sure a mini chorizo is more accurate.”

“Charming. Here I was, about to suggest Mexican takeout.”

“Well, I’m here now, we may as well get some tacos. No chorizo for me.”

Chapter Thirteen

ThefollowingMonday,Idrag myself onto a train to London for my course. This past week I’ve done a pretty solid job of keeping myself distracted with course preparation, but in the quiet moments my thoughts have strayed to Danny.

After the non-situation with Luke, I made a decision to dedicate the first half hour of my day to meditate, so I could make sense of my thoughts, and be with my feelings, my body and my breath in stillness. It weighs on me that I might actually be falling for someone who doesn’t feel the same, and it scares the shit out of me.

After checking in with the receptionist at Auréale, I help myself to a coffee from the machine and take a seat on a sofa in the waiting area. Sipping the silky warm roast, I scroll Instagram, liking posts without bothering to read the captions. Once I have my fill of memes and inspirational posts, I pick up a magazine from the table and thumb through the celebrity-filled pages.

“Hi, is anyone sitting here?”

A young woman with large, expressive brown eyes gestures to the adjoining arm chair. For a moment, I can’t speak—the girl is stunning. Teal hair cascades in long waves over her shoulders, and intricate tattoos in shades of baby blue, lavender and rose adorn her arms and chest. She looks like a mermaid. Once I pick my jaw off the floor, I manage a nod.

“I’m Ellie,” she says, taking a seat in the armchair.

“Sophia,” I say, offering a smile.

“Are you here for the Social Media course, too?” Ellie asks.

I nod.

“What are you reading?”

“Oh, just the latest toxic celebrity bullshit. You know what? I used to enjoy reading these things, but I don’t even know why I picked it up. You want it? I’m pretty much done.” It isn’t just the magazine; I’m done with a vast amount of the pretentious things I used to love. I close it and hand it to Ellie, who proceeds to flick through the pages.

“I just like the puzzles.”

I smile, absorbing Ellie’s bright, contagious energy. Sipping my coffee, I quietly watch her fawn over the questions, while a handful of people enter the room, helping themselves to drinks and sitting down on separate tables so that they can peruse their phones in peace. Ellie signals the end of the quiz with a flick of her pen.

“That was impressive,” I say.

“What can I say? I have no life.” Ellie lets out a high-pitched chuckle, which would sound annoying coming from anyone’s else’s mouth, but on her it’s charming.

“I don’t believe that for a second. You’re like what? Eighteen?”

“Nineteen. Honestly, I’m a bit of a recluse. I have social anxiety, so that keeps me in a lot.”

“I’m sorry. You seem so confident.”

“That’s what everybody says. Sometimes it’s hard, but I’m lucky to have a job I love. When I’m at work, it’s like a switch flips. I can be anyone I want to be. The shop floor is my stage,” she says, dramatically.

“That’s great. So you’ve really found your calling? That’s amazing to have that so early on in life. Your parents must be really supportive.”

“Actually, I live with my grandparents. My mum died when I was small, and well, my dad isn’t really that interested.”

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