Page 54 of You, As You Are

* Thank you so much, Iain

* You’re welcome

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

MAISIE

“I would loveto have a vulva hanging from my ears.”

“That’s not a vagina, Mabel, it’s a calla lily. Where are your glasses?”

“That’s an excellent question.”

Maisie stood by, trying not to laugh at the small congregation bent over her phone. Vera had praised her earrings loudly enough for the whole room to hear, which led to half of the women flocking to ask about her business. She’d scrolled through photos of her jewellery collections for the last five minutes with the ladiesoooingandahhing.

“Do you think that you could make some that look like this?” Mabel passed her hand over the pattern of roses on her frilly blouse.

“I could absolutely make some custom pieces for you, Mabel.” Maisie jumped at the chance. “Anything that you’d like.”

“Well then take a photo, dearie, you’ve got yourself a customer.”

Maisie fought with herself to contain her excitement, turning on her phone’s camera to capture the print on Mabel’s blouse. The roses would look perfect as earrings on white teardrops, oran arched window shape. She could make a matching pendant for a necklace, too.

Nine in the evening, and Vera’s birthday party was still going strong (even if the music had been turned down slightly for the sake of the neighbours). Maisie had restarted the colourful disco ball video on Vera’s smart TV twice; hernainmay have turned seventy-one and be technologically illiterate, but there was nothing that would stop her from kitting out her living room for a movie night that rivalled the cinema; and she was certain that she’d heard the current Tina Turner track playing from the sound bar three times already.

An array of party foods and a line of empty bottles of gin and wine filled the dining table. Strings of tissue confetti littered all over the carpet and sofas that had, like the table, been pushed aside. Maisie already knew she’d have to come over early in the morning before work to help tidy all of this up, cursing in advance whoever decided to bring party poppers.

This group of pensioners partied harder than she and her own friends did. She was sure someone had taken a nap on Vera’s bed, since the sheets were wrinkled when she’d gone up to close the curtains. At least, shehopedthat’s what had gone on up there. It was hard to tell who slipped from the main room and who didn’t.

She finished taking her photos and checked them over.

“He’s waiting for you, honey,” Mabel hushed.

Maisie forgot for a second who Mabel could’ve been talking about. But then she felt it: the tingle of awareness skittering across the nape of her neck that made her draw herself up taller.

Step one in the plan that she’d made for herself was to convince the elders that she had a crush, which wasn’t too difficult to make believe when that feeling had been there for weeks. Turning her chin to her shoulder, she didn’t need to forcethe blush to her cheeks when she found who she searched for across the room.

Sipping his drink, Iain leant his shoulder against the door to the coat cupboard, watching her over the rim of his glass with eyes that caused azingto travel down her spine. He certainly was good at playing his role in their dating ruse, because the fizzle of attraction that swam through Maisie feltveryreal. She’d have to get used to it if they were going to pull this off.

“Excuse me.” She turned back to the ladies, one of whom giggled as Maisie walked away, straining to hear what was mumbled between them before their voices were out of reach of her ears, and her hands within reach of Iain.

Play it cool.

She guided her fingers to his waist, resting on hard muscle that was so unusual to her senses.

Too cool, too soon.

Abort.

Maisie ripped her hand away, flattening the thin fabric of her dress over her soft stomach. They weren’t supposed to be all touchy-feely yet. Or maybe they were? Maisie had no clue where they stood on publicly displaying this fake affection. She needed a drink. Maybe two? Something to cool the fuzzy, heated bubbling inside of her. It was just nerves, worry that someone might see through their façade.

Iain rolled the rim of his glass against his lips.

“You don’t need to look so possessive,” she hushed, knowing full well that everyone in the room behind her would be focussed on them.

“We’re playing a game, aren’t we?” Iain answered equally as low. “One I mean for us to win.”

“Well it’s working. I’ve only had a couple of questions about having a boyfriend, which is ninety percent less than normal. And no one’s found some way to get us alone together yet.”

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