Page 45 of The Dicktionary Club

That evening, after locking up, I drove home to the West End and got settled on the sofa. My mind was still racing over Philip’s words – mainly how I was doing myself a disservice with the Alexander Cambi campaign. I let out a loud squeal and held my head in my hands. That man was unbelievably annoying, irritating and cocky. But I couldn’t help but wonder if he was right. Should I be thinking bigger with this campaign? It was happening in a matter of weeks – was it all too little too late now? I heard my phone ping from my handbag. Reaching over, I scrolled through the endless messages from the group chat.

Katy:Wow! He was even hotter in a suit!

Zola:Insane! It says A LOT that he came to the meeting. I’ve just googled him, and OMG, he’s mega.

Katy:Yeah! Like so big!

Zola:Have you heard anything from Ella?

Katy:Nup! You?

Zola:I wouldn’t be asking you if I had, haha.

Katy:Harry’s coming over soon! I want updates before!

Zola:ELLA!!!!

Katy:It must be going well. She’s going to nail it.

Zola:What, him or the pitch?

Katy:It’s Ella. The pitch, haha!

I felt my mood shift as I read through their banter. I scrolled to the bottom of the chat and began typing.

Ella:Well, he was arrogant, cheeky, and didn’t want a PowerPoint! Andrea outed my fake name – AWKS! He also reckons I should think bigger than his hotels for a great art exhibition. But then he said he’ll contact me tomorrow – MAYBE! Oh, and he asked me for dinner, and I said no xxx

My phone began ringing – a FaceTime from Zola. I accepted the call and smiled as I watched her cosied up on her couch with a cup of tea.

‘OK. Information overload! Are you OK, hun?’ she asked.

I nodded, feeling my breathing relax from seeing my friend’s face. ‘Honestly, I’m OK. I’m just worried. Andrea has it in for me just now, and I’m panicking about this exhibition. What if I get sacked, Zo? I would lose everything.’ I could feel the fiery panic build up again at the prospect of signing on at the Jobcentre and being rehoused in a scatter flat in Forgewood.

Zola sat up, seeming more serious. ‘Ella, since I joined the Glasgow branch, there is not one event you haven’t nailed. OK? You are going to smash the life out of this, because it’s what you do.’

I attempted an appreciative smile at her efforts to console me. ‘Thanks,’ I managed, not quite believing what she was saying but grateful for the encouragement.

‘And besides,’ she added, ‘if you get fired, we have the Dicktionary Club to fall back on! Have you seen the latestreviews?’

She laughed and I lifted my laptop to log in. I spent the rest of the night chatting shit with Zola, uploading my latest review on the serial wanker, and agreeing tofinallymeet up with the sweet Alvaro the following night.

Chapter Sixteen

Katy

Katy spent the evening snuggled up with Harry on the sofa, pretending to enjoy the football. Before him, she’d never cared about sport, but after faking being a huge Celtic fan on her first date, she had to engage in a crash TikTok course, memorising the latest transfer windows and the names of the most important players on the pitch. She’d even YouTubed an explanation of the offside rule. But she didn’t mind. It was their fifth date, and already things were moving fast with feelings – although Harry seemed to be the perfect gentleman with regards to taking their relationship to the next level. Besides kissing, with the occasional lip biting, combined with heavy breathing, the couple had kept it PG. Nevertheless, Katy loved it when he hung out at hers, and suggested they watch the latest game together, surrounded by candlelight and the tangy crunch of Doritos, hoping to finally take things to the next level.

Celtic were currently two nil up against Hearts, and Harry was in his element, shouting at the television and then turning to Katy, who would mirror his reactions. When the final whistle blew, he relaxed back on the sofa and pulled her over for a kiss.

‘I think you’re my lucky charm, do you know that?’ he said, kissing her forehead lightly.

‘I think you’re mine, more like! We are smashing theseason so far!’ she replied confidently, having also spent an overwhelming amount of time analysing the league table and the possible outcomes of upcoming fixtures over the next few months.

‘I don’t mean with the football, Katy.’ He paused, looking more serious, ‘I mean with everything. I am so happy with you and how things are going. It’s the happiest I’ve been in God knows how long.’

A warm gush of excitement swept over her, and she beamed back, dying to ask if he was happier now than with his ex-bird when they were travelling in Australia. ‘I am, too. I don’t think I can remember the last time I felt so connected to someone, Harry,’ she admitted.

He agreed enthusiastically. ‘You are literally the female version of me. We like all the same things! It’s so weird, isn’t it?’

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