Page 30 of Actually Yours

(Ahh, that’s why. For that answer. And yet, she’s still going out with him, and it still may turn into something).

JAKE: Then why not cancel?

I hold my breath as three dots appear and disappear for several minutes. And then there’s nothing. I’d overstepped my boundaries and offended her.

(Well done, Jake).

JAKE: Sorry, if that last message was too nosey.

(There, that should fix it).

More dots, then nothing. Then more dots.

AMELIA: You’re fine. I didn’t respond because I didn’t have an answer. I want to cancel, but I also want to see this through. You know? Break the bad habit and all that?

I can hear the confusion ringing through these three simple sentences and instantly feel like a heel. Just because I don’t want her to find someone doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve to. Someone as incredible as she is.

JAKE: You should do it. What have you got to lose?

AMELIA: You’re right.

AMELIA: What have I got to lose…

I end the conversation there, unable to summon the energy to be her cheerleader in this endeavour. Turning off the TV, leaving my new friends to survive the rest of the night in the wild alone, I make my way to bed.

AMELIA: Goodnight Jake. I’m happy you texted.

I read this message just before I give in to sleep, a smile stretching across my face. She may never be mine, but for tonight she’s happy I reached out. And that’s going to have to be enough. For now.

CHAPTER 7

Amelia

The minutes tick over, hurtling me towards the end of my shift at the salon, inching me closer to my upcoming date. My upcoming date with the accountant. I’m currently keeping my anxiety at bay while sweeping away the remnants of my last haircut of the day, waiting for my mentor and boss to finish with her last client, so she can make my hair look presentable.

“Millie, honey. I’m almost done here. Why don’t you finish up and then take a seat?”

I nod my thanks to Andrea, aka the best boss in the world, and busy myself with putting away the broom and cleaning down my workstation. Anything to keep my mind off what’s happening tonight.

“OK, spill.”

I look up to see a worried frown on Andrea’s face. She’s been my boss, and more, since I started here at her salon over five years ago as an apprentice. It’s because of her I love coming to work every day, that I’m actually good at my job and that I have a shoulder to cry on whenever I need it.

I blow some wayward strands off my face and puff my cheeks out. When I tell her what’s on my mind, I’m guaranteed she’s going to mock my dramatics. Dating for her, even in her fifties, is fun. She can’t understand why it’s such a chore for me.

“My friends have set me up on a date tonight.” I hold my breath and wait for it.

“Yay!” she claps in delight. “That’s exciting.”

“That’s one way to describe it,” I mutter under my breath as she leads me to the sink, wrapping a towel around my shoulders when we get there. “It’s a date with an accountant.”

I close my eyes and let her magic hands soothe me as she washes my hair, complete with a deep cleaning scalp massage.

“There’s nothing wrong with accountants,” she chastises me. “My second husband was a whiz with numbers and also a whiz in bed!” Her booming laugh coaxes a smile from me and also from the few lingering clients scattered around the salon. “What’s the actual problem here?”

With a towel wrapped around my head, I walk back to my chair and flop into it with a weary-sounding sigh. There isn’t any real problem with going out with Tom the accountant, it’s just that he may not be the one I want to be going out with.

“I saw Jake last week.”

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