Page 77 of Date with Destiny

The inevitability hits Mikey and he nods sullenly. ‘Fine, I’ll tell her.’ His bravado mask comes up and he rolls his eyes exaggeratedly. ‘Jeez, you’re making such a big deal over all of it. It was just a bit of fun.’

‘No,thiswas a bit of fun!’ I say, smiling widely. ‘Now, off you fuck, you cheating knobhead. And please do lose my number forever, won’t you?’ I slam the door in his face and turn around to my cheering audience. ‘Drink?’ I suggest, laughing as they all cheer even louder.

‘You were amazing!’ Shawn says admiringly as we collapse on the sofa with wine. It’s the first time he’s given any indication that he likes me. ‘You did so well!’

‘Thanks!’ I declare happily. ‘That felt really good.’ I glance over at him. ‘And seriously, Shawn, thanks for telling me about the cheating.’

He puffs out his chest, looking thrilled. ‘Of course. You’re my sister.’

‘Thanks,’ I say, surprised by the warmth between us. I actually quite like this side of him. Underneath the vanity and ego and monstrous toxic masculinity, I suspect he’s got a decent heart. He was horrified by what Mikey was doing, and he called him out on it. And he backed me up hard out there in the hallway. Maybe he’s not such a bad dude after all.

Who would’ve thought the one guy in all of this who’s turning out to be an OK person would beShawn?

Or maybe my benchmark these days is just really,reallylow.

Myfanwy flops down next to me, swigging wine. ‘Hey, you really were brilliant back there, Gin, scolding that knobber. I know you don’t like confrontation, but you’re really good at it!’ She laughs and I join in.

‘I want you to know that I’ve heard you; I listened to everything you said,’ I promise with sincerity. ‘I know you were completely spot on about all of it and I’m determined to be better. I’m working on pleasing myself instead of other people.’ I grin and she pulls me in for a cuddle.

‘It’s only because I want you to be happy,’ she tells me, sounding a little bit emotional.

‘I know that,’ I reassure her. ‘And I’m sorry I’ve been such a broken record about these six predictions.’

‘Maybe stop thinking about them as a curse, and instead as a gift?’ she suggests, and it reminds me of my visit from Aunt Diane.

‘I’m trying,’ I nod. ‘And I’m going to get control of my life. I’m going to speak to Celeste.’

Myfanwy raises an eyebrow. ‘Wow.’

‘I want to give the new store a few more weeks,’ I explain. ‘It’s open now, so it’s too late to stop it. Plus, she is technically my boss…’ I pull an awkward face. ‘So, I’m going to give the expansion my best try. I’m going to sell the crap out of these hideous new accessories.’ Myfanwy snorts at this. ‘But if it’s not working out, I’m going to be so brave, Myfe, you’llsee. I’m going to talk to her about her, er, flaws she might have…’

‘Byflaws, I assume you mean her refusal to respect any of your boundaries?’ Myfanwy giggles and I nod.

‘I do indeed mean that. But I at least owe her my best efforts for now on this expansion plan. I want the company to succeed.’

‘That’s fair enough,’ Myfanwy nods. ‘And in the meantime, I have an update you are not going to believe.’

I sit up straighter, checking furtively around the room for Sonali. ‘About Project Proposal?’ I ask in a whisper and she shakes her head.

‘Nope! And can I just say, for the record, that it’s beenkillingme holding onto this info when we weren’t speaking.’ I turn to face her, leaning an elbow on the edge of the sofa.

‘It killed me too—’ I begin but she shushes me.

‘I don’t mean because I missed you.’ She rolls her eyes. ‘IsupposeI missed you.’ She grins. ‘But I wanted to tell you: the funfair guy finally got back to me!’

‘No way, my god!’ I gasp, almost spilling wine across my lap.

Myfanwy mirrors my excitement. ‘It turns out the fortune teller woman travelled with them for quite a few years but she left a while back…’

‘Oh.’ I’m disappointed, but not surprised. Myfanwy gives me a cheeky grin and I realize there is more.

‘He told me that the reason she left was that she gotdiscovered. She now does readings on a random small fry, localnetwork in East Anglia. She does her psychic readings for an audience now.’ I audibly gasp and her smile gets wider. ‘That’s not even the best bit,’ she continues, looking mischievous. ‘Guess what her name is?’ I feel my brow furrow as Myfanwy bursts out laughing. ‘She’s called Crystal.’ She pauses dramatically, adding: ‘Crystal Ball.’

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

‘This couple came in the new store the other day – she’s pregnant,’ I begin, staring blindly at the TV screen in front of us. ‘They were called Clive and Irene and said they want to name their kid after both of them.’

Beside me, I feel Myfanwy cock her head. ‘Hmm, so that would make it…’

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