Page 38 of Girls Just Want to Have Sun

I wait to hear what the emergency is, hovering on the verge of hyperventilating.

‘We have no tequila,’ Tash whines. ‘Or lemons. We have no lemons.’ She sounds drunk.

‘That’s it? That’s the emergency? You’ve rung me thirteen times over a lemon shortage?’ I ask tentatively, unable to fathom her out. It’s as though I’ve volunteered to be in charge of lemons.

‘Yes… No! Wait. No, it wasn’t about that at all.’ I wait for Tash to search her memory. ‘I got the times wrong for tonight. Yes, that’s it. Nancy rang, you’re on in half an hour.’

‘Half an hour?’

Tash giggles.

‘Yes. And it’s not on The Strip. It’s on a boat. Some big boat down at the marina. Fuck knows where that is, but anyway, go on ahead of us and cover until we get there. Hoargghhhay can take you. He’s outside.’

‘Tash. Where do you think I am?’

‘Didn’t I just see you waxing in the kitchen, babes?’

I hang up.

Jesus wept.Where do I start?

I run out of the bar into the street to hail a cab. As I’m flailing my arms around, I do a double take when I notice Matteo walking down the other side, deeply engrossed in his phone. The dark-haired beauty from the bar last night is scampering along beside him trying to keep up. I can’t believe it. I need to hide.

Unfortunately, the bearded nuns suddenly round the corner and make a huge fuss about me standing there.

‘It’s the Dollz!’ they yell excitedly. ‘The Dollz!’

‘It’s not the Dollz,’ I say tightly, trying to keep them from making a scene as they break out into The Shopping Cart.

Their heads swivel wildly about before their eyes come back to rest on me and their faces fall.

‘They’re not here!They’re not here!’ cries Sister Kevin, sounding bereft.Ridiculous really for a group of grown men.‘Where are they?’

‘They’ll be along later,’ I hiss out of the side of my mouth. This only causes them to cheer as loudly as though England had just won the World Cup. Everyone in the vicinity turns to see what the rumpus is about.

13

Matteo clocks me standing there amongst the nuns. The dark-haired beauty says something to him before giving me daggers with her eyes and stomping away, her thick hair swinging down her back, her wedges making a slapping sound on the pavement. I’m like a rabbit caught in the headlights, frozen to the spot as he strides over. Like the waves parting for Moses, the nuns disperse as Matteo reaches me.

‘Aren’t you supposed to be on stage about now?’

He’s so masterful.

‘Yes. Yes, I am. But listen, I can’t apologise enough for yesterday,’ I blurt, feeling very nervous around him. ‘I’m mortified. I really am. I didn’t know you were him. I mean the boss.’

We take a beat to stare at each other.

‘Would it have made any difference?’

Good point. Probably not.

His expression is unwavering. His beautiful mouth set in a tight line. His eyes thunderously dark. He is a powerful man. Like a panther in human form. Graceful but lethal. He has this undercurrent simmering under his skin, signalling deliciousdanger. I snap out of my trance. There must be a way that I can defuse this tension and regain some professional dignity.

‘Turning up late was inexcusable. And the costume choice. And the whole thing with Siri. The search for… hot guys called… that was unforgivable. Simply bang out of order.’Yes, Connie. What he really needs is to be babbled at, but in a much higher pitch. ‘And the song choice! Then the phone dying!’ I look briefly away before meeting his gaze. ‘I’m not sure I’ve got time to list everything I did wrong to be honest, but… well, it’s very out of character for me. I’m not usually that hopeless or unprofessional.’

‘It has been a strange couple of days,’ he says.

I nod, getting lost for a brief second in his eyes, framed with thick lashes. I take a closer look at him. He is dressed in a very smart and expensive suit. His dark longish hair is very European and sophisticated. He very much has the upper hand with his striking features and his mysterious ways. He is way out of my league.

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