Page 66 of Date with Destiny

I cannot believe I said those things. OUT LOUD. To him! Having already been rejected by him a couple of months ago, I basically requested another rejection. I asked him for a confirmation! I pretty much begged him to explain that he doesn’t fancy me.

Jesus Christ. I can never speak to him again.

And of course, I may not have to, I realize, remembering what he said about leaving the store. I’m in shock that Celeste has let him go. He’s been such a great addition to the team; it makes no sense.

I groan as I roll over – thankfully in my own bed – and consider the rest of the evening. I’m surprised to find that, mortification aside, I still have the same clarity and certainty I felt last night. I still feel totally sure that it’s over with Daniel.

And I remember that I am a unicorn.

The thing I have lost, sadly, is some of the bravery I felt about it all last night.

It all felt very easy and straightforward but this morning I don’t have any clue onhowto move forward with this new certainty. How do I tell Daniel I don’t want to be with him anymore? What words do you use to cushion that? What time of day do you go for? What place do you meet that will make it better? Honestly, I’m kind of starting to understand why he just packed his bag and ran away. Sadly, I don’t think I really have that option. Not when I have a sister who constantly tags me into places online.

I moan again slightly.

Someone moans back and I jump a little as a shape moves at the bottom of the bed. It takes a moment for the memory to come back to me. Myfanwy stayed over.

Another shape shifts on the sofa bed. Oh yes, so did Sonali.

‘Morning,’ I say sleepily.

After my life-changing revelation last night about Daniel, not to mention my humiliating encounter with Zach, I wasn’t exactly my horniest self for Mikey. We all came down pretty fast and decided to call it a night, with Mikey running off sharpish. So, after all my careful pre-planning to get some, we did not sleep together. We didn’t even kiss, actually.

‘How are we feeling?’ Myfanwy says in a yawn, stretching out to the ceiling. Thankfully, it’s not neon white or moving, I note. I was slightly concerned that could be my new normal.

‘Not too bad,’ Sonali yawns back and I nod blearily.

‘Surprisingly good,’ I confirm. ‘Maybe drugs are the way to go from here on out.’

‘I can’t see any problem with that,’ Myfanwy comments dryly.

‘God,’ Sonali sighs. ‘Last night was a bit dramatic.’

Myfanwy fists her eye, picking at a stubborn bit of sleepy dust before fixing her gaze on me. ‘I can’t believe you had three men there fighting over you.’

I shake my head vehemently, then regret it. I’m a little fragile.

‘If anything, I was fighting for their attention, Myfe.’ I throw my face into a pillow. ‘I threw myself at Zach.’

‘AtZach?’ Myfanwy looks amused. ‘Well, I saw that coming a mile off. But I thought you were just mates now? Didn’t he tell you at Diane’s wake that he just wanted to be friends?’

Muffled by the pillow, I reply, ‘He did, but after all the shrooms, I decided it would be a good idea to check.’

‘No one saysshrooms.’ Sonali sounds bored.

‘Ooh.’ Myfanwy’s tone is impressed. ‘That’s verymenof you, Gin. Refusing to take no for an answer. How embarrassing.’

‘Yes, thank you for that,’ I tell her into the pillow. I sigh now, sitting up. ‘And Mikey ran off at the end, so I don’t think he’s very interested either.’

‘I think that was Shawn’s fault actually,’ Sonali comments and I narrow my eyes at her.

‘What do you mean?’

She raises her eyebrows. ‘Didn’t you see them having that argument?’

Shaking my head, I sit up straighter. ‘What? Are you serious? Why is that man always getting into fights with strangers!’

‘He’s an arse,’ Myfanwy comments dryly. ‘What is Toni doing with him?’

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