Page 32 of Midnight Wishes

Maybe that confidence was why, on returning to the bathroom to change, she opted to keep wearing the pretty purple set under her clothes. Why, before buttoning her shirt fully, shesnapped a picture with the lacy bra peeking out the edge of the flannel. And why, as she sat on the couch waiting for Abby’s session to run its course, she opened her messaging app.

She hadn’t texted him in two days. Not since their unplanned movie night. He’d sent her a string of Pride and Prejudice memes the following afternoon. She’d ignored them, but only because that was also what she did with the endless stream of art memes he sent her way.

So it didn’t feel rude to continue ignoring that reminder of their everlasting phone call as she texted him.

Sarah: Are you home?

Alex: Still at work. Why? Miss me?

It was well past seven. And while she knew late nights were the norm for him, being stuck at work on a Friday night in summer felt as though it should be illegal.

Sarah: No.

Sarah: But I thought you might want to see this.

Sarah: [bra.jpg]

Alex: Oh shit

Alex: You’re evil

Alex: I have a video call with a company in the US at 9. I’m free until then. Want to come to my office? I’ll make itworth your while.

Alex: [Pin]

‘Who are you texting?’ Abby asked when she reappeared, fully dressed and slightly flushed.

‘No one,’ Sarah said too quickly, as if they hadn’t lived together for years. As if Abby didn’t know all her tells.

‘You’regrinning—’ Abby’s eyebrows were raised, but she broke off as Alice came through, the photographer leaving Sarah in her eternal gratitude.

‘Thanks, ladies. Those are going to come out looking stunning.’ She turned to Abby. ‘Sarah mentioned the time crunch given the wedding, so I’ll get the digital galleries to you in about a week. We don’t have quite enough time to get a book printed, if you decide to go that route, but I guess you could print some off yourself. I’ll send Sarah the information for some discreet printers. Sending your fiancé the link with absolutely no warning and watching him open it to find those photos has some merit too, I’d say.’

‘You can rush Abby’s through in favour of mine,’ Sarah said quickly. ‘It’s not like I need to share them with anyone.’

Abby’s eyes narrowed, not returning to normal even when they were in the lift, heading down.

‘What?’ Sarah said eventually.

‘You know what. Who are they?’

Sarah made one last attempt at innocence. ‘Who?’

‘I know what you look like when you have a crush, Sarah.’

‘I do not have acrushon him.’Did she?She couldn’t. Didn’t need that complicating their situation. They were just acquaintances who used each other for stress relief and pleasure.And spent an hour on the phone together watching her comfort movie when she felt ill.She’d woken up in the middle of the night to find the call still connected—soft, snuffling snores she’d assumed were Celine’s accompanying deep, steadybreaths. Sarah had hung up, but not before flopping back into her pillows, letting herself indulge in the rhythmic sound for a moment. Imagining it was next to her, rather than transmitting through a crappy speaker.

Shit.

‘So it’s a him! Good start. Anyone I know?’

Like Alex, she didn’t particularly want to outright lie to her best friend. But also like Alex, apparently she had no qualms about avoiding the truth a little. ‘It’s new, and it’s casual,’ she said, as they ventured down into the tube station. ‘We’re really just hooking up.’

‘Okay.’ Abby looked equal parts unconvinced and disappointed. ‘I’m just saying, you have a plus one for the wedding if you need it.’

‘Thanks,’ Sarah said quietly, trying not to look too uncomfortable as she considered why she definitely didn’t need a plus one.

When Abby turned to lead them to their platform, Sarah paused, checking the location Alex had sent her again. The address sounded vaguely familiar. ‘I’m actually heading to Central.’

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