Page 46 of Knowing You
‘I never knew your hair was curly. It looks amazing.’
‘You wouldn’t say that if it were yours.’
‘Seriously, why do you straighten it?’
‘It’s just a mass of frizz if I leave it to dry on its own.’
We chat about products that could make the most of my natural wave. We discuss the warm May weather and the novels we are reading at the moment. Then he leads me over to a chair in front of a huge mirror. Our reflections smile at each other. I wait for him to ask me where I’m off to tonight – but he doesn’t. Casey glances at his watch.
‘It’s okay. I’m not meeting my friends until seven.’
‘Oh, sure. That’s great, it’s just I’m due to be seeing someone at half past six.’
Of course a man like Casey wouldn’t be staying in. ‘You should have said. I hope I won’t make you late.’
‘No problem. I’ll have you looking tip-top in less than half an hour. So, you really want me to straighten it?’
‘Please.’
‘You out for dinner?’
At last he’s curious. I talk about the book club and the new bistro pub my friends had wanted to try. I speak up as he turns on the hair dryer in his hand. Luna jumps onto my lap and Casey goes to shoo her off, saying something about my dress.
‘It’s okay.’ I settle her down. ‘So, what are you up to tonight? Food? Cinema? Another Chapter Battle?’
‘None of those,’ he says and stops for a moment. ‘Drinks in a fancy bar. With Beatrix Bingham. She wants to meet me on her own.’ He runs his fingers through my hair and they brush against the back of my neck. ‘Is that normal? Shouldn’t my agent be there? She hasn’t even contacted him. She messaged me via Facebook.’
I stop stroking Luna.
‘Vi? What do you reckon?’
I can hardly speak. ‘Sorry Casey – could I bother you for a glass of water? Luna’s like a hot water bottle.’
Gratefully I drink from the glass he brings over. ‘It’s… not unheard of. I guess I contacted you aboutAlien Hearts. Although I was never going to be your personal editor, and the submission process hadn’t started then. Messaging you via Facebook does seem strange if she’s a real contender to work on this book with you.’
Now there was no questioning the rumours about Beatrix – confirmation as well that those popular social memes were right about people needing to take risks to be successful in life.
‘Maybe I should tell my agent.’
‘Definitely,’ I say and put down the glass. ‘She’s probably just keen, which is flattering, but you don’t want to come across as unprofessional.’
We chat about holiday plans. Casey’s always wanted to visit Cuba. This autumn I might visit Mum and Ryan in Spain. My mascara smudges as he makes me laugh. He asks more about Vintage Views and I talk about my friends and how recently I’ve felt as if we have less in common.
‘You don’t sound very excited about going out tonight,’ he says.
‘To be honest, I wish I could get out of it.’
Casey finishes the blow dry. ‘You look beautiful. It would be a crime to waste this hair by staying here with me and Luna and eating pizza.’
I catch his eye and my chest flutters. Regardless of any book deal, I want to get to know this man better.
Being brave, I ask, ‘Would it be bad of us to cancel our plans?’
‘There’s nothing wrong with being bad now and again.’
‘Are you sure? Although I think there’s something you need to know before we go up to your flat… my favourite pizza is ham and pineapple.’ Lenny used to hate that. He said such toppings were supposed to show imagination but only showed the opposite.
‘What do you know? Mine too. I blame my mum. She always drilled into us it was very important to hold onto your differences.’
