Page 34 of Promise Me Ever After
“I could definitely help with that, if you’d like?”
I sensed Darcy wanted to be involved in the arrangements. Music to my ears, to be honest. I wasn’t the best at organisation outside of work so the more people to take things off me, the better. “That would be perfect, thanks. Could you maybe suggest some people to invite as well? I don’t really know all her friends.”
“Hmm.” Darcy drummed her fingers on the counter. “She had some friends in Bristol, but I think she’s distanced herself from them because of Russ. I think she’s grown friendly with Ems Berry, I’m sure she’d come.” She pulled out a notebook from underneath the till and grabbed a pen with some kind of cat-mermaid creature on top. I watched the creature wobble around as Darcy scribbled down a bunch of ideas. “So, we’re making this a surprise party? Good idea. Georgie’s not the best at being the centre of attention. The less she knows about it the better.”
“And you’ll pretend to be taking her out to dinner or something?”
Darcy nodded. “Absolutely. There’s a new restaurant she’s been talking about going to. I can tell her we’re going there.”
I cocked my head. “Then maybe I can actually take her there after her birthday? Another treat?”
“You really like her, don’t you?” Darcy smiled.
“Yeah,” I admitted. “Yeah, I do.” This new something-more-than-physical emotion took some getting used to. One night with Georgie had turned everything I thought I wanted on its head.
She looked me up and down as if scrutinising my suitability for her sister. “You said something about a present?”
I nodded. “I’ve never bought presents for women apart from my mum and sister.”
“Well, trust me, Georgie will not want anything you’d buy for them!” A laugh shot out of her mouth. “And although an Itsy Bitsys’s gift card would benefit me, I’m one hundred per cent sure Georgie’s taste isn’t pink and fluffy unicorns.”
“Damn, and I was going to get her that keyring.” I pointed over at the stand where the little girl from earlier had been so excited about her new toy.
The door opened and a gaggle of teenage girls chattering pushed their way into the shop. Darcy called a greeting to them as they oohed and aahed over the contents of the store. I stepped to one side, giving them space to look around, my gaze checking out the products on offer as well. From what I knew of Georgie, she definitely wasn’t a froufrou kind of woman. While Amber still delighted in all things pastel and glittery, she was a good seven years younger than Georgie. I needed something sophisticated, something that suited a strong, thirty-year-old.
“Jewellery,” Darcy said, her voice raised so I could hear her over the girls’ chatter. “Not a ring, that’s too much. Don’t want Georgie getting the wrong impression.” She winked.
A ring certainly hadn’t been on my radar. Neither had jewellery. It implied something serious. While it might be some day, it certainly wasn’t yet.
Darcy waved a hand. “When this lot have gone, I’ll show you a couple of the things she might like.”
The girls milled around, occasionally looking over in my direction. I swear at least two of them checked me out. They were probably around fifteen—jailbait, no way would I go there. I shifted from foot to foot, waiting until they bought something and left.
“Your boyfriend’s hot,” one of them said to Darcy as she rang up their purchases, a chorus of giggles coming from the other girls.
“Oh, he’s not my boyfriend,” she said, her eyes darting to me. “He’s my sister’s boyfriend. And you’re right, he is hot. She’s a very lucky girl.”
Heat pricked my cheeks.What the fuck?
15
Georgie
“How are you settling in?”
Tess’s question caught me off guard. She’d asked me to come in early to talk through a new rota she was thinking of trialling during the quieter winter months. It made a change from working for a chain, where discussion wasn’t an option and they often implemented routines which hadn’t been checked and wouldn’t work. It was also useful information for me for when I got around to opening my own restaurant. We sat at the table closest to the bar, papers strewn across the surface.
“Um, yeah. Good.” I kept my answer deliberately vague and tried to keep my features neutral. It had been a couple of days since Alex had cooked for me and we’d ended up kissing. A lot. I’d checked and he wasn’t meant to be working tonight. Which meant if Tess did end up asking any other awkward questions, I wouldn’t have to lie and risk her finding out what had happened between us.
“Are you getting on okay with everyone? The guys in the kitchen, other waiting staff?”
“I think so. Has someone said something?” My nails dug into my palms; hands hidden underneath the table. I didn’t think I’d done anything to make someone complain.
“No, not at all!” Tess laughed. “You’re doing a fabulous job. It makes such a change to have someone who’s worked in a faster-paced environment who can teach others how to be more efficient.”
“Thank God for that. I didn’t want you to think I was interfering.” Or picking up tips for my own place, I added silently. “You guys have had this place running forever.”
“Too long sometimes, if you ask Ellis.” She reached over and touched my arm. “I also wanted to say thank you for going along to the Fortunes for Favours event. I hadn’t a chance to speak to you about it before. Did Alex do okay?”
