Page 22 of Three's a Crowd
He pulled back to look her in the face, his smile warm and assured, as if he was just exchanging pleasantries with an oldfriend that he’d not seen for ages. This was for Adam’s benefit, she guessed.
He really was an excellent actor.
‘Yes, I’m fine, thanks. Um, how are you?’ She appreciated the apology, but didn’t know quite how to feel about it. So, he wanted to be here as little as she wanted him here?
His body, in such close proximity to hers, was causing frissons of long forgotten need to spiral through her.
She cursed her jumpiness. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she was still affected in any way by him.
‘I’m great, thanks. This is Lola,’ he said, turning to indicate the woman who had followed him into the room. She was, of course, absolutely beautiful. A sheet of strawberry-blonde hair fell around her slender shoulders and her bright-green eyes gave Daisy an inquisitive, appraising look before she smiled at her.
‘Hey there, I’ve heard so much about you,’ she said, in a melodic southern States accent.
Daisy just smiled back weakly, feeling even dowdier than she’d anticipated.
‘Anyone fancy a cup of tea?’ asked Adam, breaking the strange atmosphere.
‘I’ll have Earl Grey, no milk, no sugar,’ said Lola, turning to beam at Adam, who, by the look of him, seemed entirely enchanted by her mesmerising exquisiteness.
‘Just an ordinary one for me: milk, two sugars. Thanks, Ad,’ Zach said.
‘Okay, back in a sec,’ Adam said, dragging his gaze away from Lola to leave the room.
Daisy frowned after him. ‘Er, feel free to sit down,’ she said to Zach and Lola, who were hovering by the sofa, ‘and tell me what you’ve been up to.’
‘Oh, well, Zach’s been incredibly busy, the poor darling, finishing up the show,’ Lola jumped in, delicately positioningherself on the sofa cushions and drawing her legs up in a becoming, model-like pose. ‘It’s a good job we work together because otherwise we’d probably never see each other,’ she drawled, her gaze wandering around the room, taking in the rather worn furniture and faded decoration, her nose just the tiniest bit wrinkled. ‘Been here a long time, have you?’ she asked.
‘A couple of years,’ Daisy replied. Lola’s condescension was already making her hackles rise.
Just chill, she’s probably really nice and just a bit nervous about meeting Zach’s oldest friends.
‘Hmm,’ said Lola, without interest, turning to smile at Zach. ‘Are you okay, darling, not too tired from the drive?’ she asked, running her brightly painted nails down his arm.
‘I’m fine,’ Zach answered gruffly, not meeting her eye. He turned to Daisy. ‘So, Diz, where are you working at the moment?’
‘Flash FM. I’m a broadcast assistant, but training to be a producer,’ Daisy said.
‘Oh yeah? What does that involve?’ he asked.
Daisy started to describe her job to him, aware the whole time of how unglamorous it must seem compared to the life he and Lola had been living in the States. She kept stumbling over her words and was acutely aware of Lola staring at her, her eyebrows raised.
Luckily, she was saved from further humiliation by Adam returning with the tea.
‘Here we go. So, Zach,’ he said leaning over to pass the cups around, ‘how come you’re moving back to England now?’
‘I’ve been offered a part in a play in London, which is the perfect move for my career right now. I’ve missed acting on the stage. And, to be honest, I’ve missed being here too. California’s great, but England’s my real home.’ He took a sip of his tea in contemplation.
‘And have you got a job lined up too, Lola?’ Adam asked, his eyes appearing to wander momentarily from her perfectly made up face to her pert breasts.
‘Not yet, darling, but I’m sure something will come up soon. I just couldn’t bear to be so far away from Zach.’ She turned and gazed at Zach with a look of absolute adoration.
Daisy wished she could turn to Adam and covertly pretend to stick her fingers down her throat at the sickliness of this. How could Zach, of all people, possibly fall for someone as superficial as this? Or was she being a bitch? Maybe she was just jealous of Lola’s utter confidence in herself. She really must try harder to be nicer. She barely knew the woman, after all.
‘So, I’ve booked this great restaurant for tonight,’ Adam said, clearly also feeling the need to change the trajectory of the conversation. ‘It’s just round the corner, so not far to walk.’
‘Round the corner fromhere?’ Lola said with what sounded very much like distaste.
‘Yes.’
