Page 24 of Faking It (and falling in love)

“Anyway,” said Nisha, “what do you think of it? I’m trying to learn to cook traditional Indian food for the first time.”

“It’s really delicious,” Philippa told her.

“People always assume that because I’m mixed race and my name is Indian, I was taught to cook this stuff from birth, but I really wasn’t. My dad raised me, and he was a Brummie through and through, so aside from regularly visiting Balti houses, it was all beige food for me and him,” said Nisha.

“I think you’ve done a fantastic job, Nisha,” said Chrissie, putting a hand on her partner’s shoulder and kissing her on the cheek.

Philippa thought back to the school trip, where the pair had pretended to be simply colleagues and friends, when it was abundantly clear something more was going on between them. Things had moved on a lot since then.

“How’s the training going?” asked Philippa.

“Oh, really well,” said Chrissie. “I wasn’t sure I’d be capable of upskilling from being a teaching assistant to being a teacher, but actually it’s been really enjoyable.”

“She’s really good,” said Nisha. “I don’t half miss her as my TA, though!”

“I bet,” said Philippa. “All those longing glances across the classroom…”

“Oi!” said Nisha. “As if we ever did that!”

They all laughed, thinking back to the previous year.

“And how about you?” asked Chrissie.

“The million dollar question,” said Philippa. “Everyone’s desperate to pair me up. I’m enjoying just being me, really.” She took a breath. “But there might be someone, although I’m not entirely sure where it’s going.” Chrissie and Nisha waited expectantly.

“Oh yes, you mentioned you’d met someone the other day, but you weren’t sure,” said Chrissie, filling the silence.

“I’d love to have something like what you two have. You’re so lucky to have found each other,” deflected Philippa.

The couple looked at each other and smiled. “See,” said Philippa. “You’re altogether too cute, but I like it. My time will come.”

“You’re not going to spill any details, are you?” said Chrissie, looking back at Philippa.

“Nope,” replied her friend. “I have to have some secrets.”

“Fair dos,” said Nisha, “but the minute anything becomes official, you have to tell us. Promise?”

Philippa laughed. “I promise.”

Chapter Eighteen

“Help!”

The single word lit up on Philippa’s phone and instantly had her attention. She was about to meet with Sienna to review a few cases but quickly picked up the phone.

The message was from Alex, and Philippa’s mind immediately raced. She was desperate to know what had happened, where Alex was, and what she had to do to help her. Had she been in a car accident? Been mugged? Kidnapped?

She waved her hand at Sienna through the glass windows of her goldfish bowl office, indicating she needed a couple of minutes. She smiled at the younger woman apologetically. Sienna put her thumbs up and returned to her desk.

Phone still in her hand, Philippa texted back a business-like: “What’s wrong?” The bouncing dots of a response appeared, and Philippa relaxed slightly. If Alex was able to respond, at least she wasn’t at death’s door.

“I need a date ;) x” came the reply, eventually. Philippa rolled her eyes and put down her phone. She was annoyed. She was also a tiny bit amused. But mostly she was annoyed. What grown woman did that kind of thing? She sighed. Well, at least shedidn’t need to race in to perform some kind of daring rescue, although she was aware that there were few situations in which a family solicitor tended to be called upon for that sort of thing.

Philippa resolved not to respond until after her meeting. She had standards, after all.

Sienna came back to her door and Philippa ushered her in. “Hi, boss,” said Sienna.

“Oh, do stop calling me that,” said Philippa, with a smile. “It makes me sound like some kind of mafia kingpin. Or queenpin.”

---