Page 9 of The Happy Hour
Jess had got used to her near-solitary existence in her shared flat with Terence. She was, for the most part, happier on her own anyway. For a long time, she had daydreamed about her future in those terms: about one day owning her own home by the sea, big enough for her to adorn with beautiful items (though not sinister hares) and perhaps share with a scruffy dog; going for walks along the beach; maybeone day levelling up from her Etsy shop to running her own gift shop.
Right now, she and Lola both lived in Greenwich and saw each other at least every other day, and that was what mattered to Jess. They very rarely annoyed each other.
‘I was thinking of invading the market sometime next week,’ Lola announced, her back turned as she drowned teabags in boiling water, and Jess remembered that it was actually verypossible to be annoyed with her friend.
‘For your video?’ she asked.
Lola chuckled. ‘I don’t need any more cushions, do I?’
‘You don’t,’ Jess agreed.
Lola’s passion was playing the violin; after years of being first violin in a community orchestra, she wanted to branch out on her own, to do something more than play classical pieces as part of an ensemble. Jess knew she was biased, but she loved listening to her friend play, especially since she’d turned her focus to folk and rock music, transforming modern tunes that she knew well into pieces that sounded magical on the stringed instrument. She should be making a career out of it, not having it as a hobby while she worked all hours in a pub.
‘You really think the market’s the best setting?’ Jess asked, for probably the tenth time since Lola had told her her idea.
‘Of course.’ Lola crossed her arms. She was wearing a thin grey long-sleeved T-shirt and navy jogging bottoms, and still managed to look chic. ‘You’re always going on about the weird and wonderful things that happen there, so what better place for my video? TikTok will lap it up.’
‘Things do happen there.’ Jess scrunched her nose up. After today, that felt like an understatement. ‘It’s just...’
‘Just what?’ Lola stirred milk into her and Jess’s tea, leaving Malik’s black.
Jess thought of the people who worked at the market. Gentle, quiet Enzo with his delicate filigree jewellery; Susie who ran Better Babies, all the items on her stall plush and desirable, her bright smile hiding her insecurities; Roger, who aimed for cavalier but was as strait-laced as they came. She wasn’t sure how much they would love being thrust into the limelight in Lola’s TikTok video – Lola, who was loud and confident and captivating. But then, Jess wanted her friend to get the success she deserved; she wanted to support her. ‘Are you going to prepare everyone first? Explain what you’re doing?’
Lola put the milk back in the fridge. ‘I’m going to do better than that, I’m going to getyouto explain it to them.’
Jess closed her eyes. ‘I knew this would happen.’
‘Of course you did. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve already primed them for my appearance.’
Jess huffed out a laugh, and her gaze fell on the digital clock on Lola’s oven, the display stuck blinking at 00:00, as if it hadn’t been reset after a power cut. She thought of the solid half-hunter in Braden’s small hand, the way he’d clutched it possessively while Roger explained its provenance.
She accepted her tea from Lola, in a cream mug withWorld’s Best Friendin rainbow letters on the side. It had been a birthday present, one Lola had insisted stayed here, the gesture – that she would always be welcome – meaning so much more than the mug itself. She followed Lola into the living room, her thoughts on fire.
The half-hunter. Ash and his ridiculous pigeon story. The reminder that she was seeing him again sent a swift, sharp thrill of excitement through her. She settled on the sofa and Lola held out a share-sized bag of Doritos that looked as though it might have been stuffed between the cushions for a couple of days. She hadn’t eaten anything since wolfing down a peanut-butter muffin after she’d got back from her impromptu break, so she wasn’t about to turn them down.
‘Hellooo, Jess?’ Lola waggled the crisp packet and she realised she’d had her hand in it, hovering, without actually taking any crisps.
‘Just wondering how many dust bunnies I’m going to find in here.’
‘We opened it last night,’ Lola protested.
‘And I had a clip on it until an hour ago,’ Malik added, slightly out of breath from his spot in front of the TV.
‘Five-star hygiene rating then.’ Jess grabbed a handful and shoved it in her mouth.
‘So, about my video,’ Lola said. ‘Let’s do it together, OK? You can introduce me to everyone, I can sell the magic of featuring in my TikTok, and ask people if they’re happy to be involved. You’re, like, royalty there, so if they know I’m your friend, they’re much more likely to say yes.’
Jess scoffed. ‘You’re overestimating my influence over everyone.’
‘I bet I’m not. And anyway, I’ll give them a demo.’ Lola waved her hand as if it was a done deal – and perhaps it was: she was charismatic enough without a violin tucked under her chin. When she started to play, people went positively misty-eyed.
‘Who’s filming it?’ Jess asked.
Lola’s smile was slow and catlike, and Jess’s stomach swooped.
‘No,’ she said. ‘No way.’ She didn’t think she could shake her head any more vigorously. ‘I have zero video skills. My Instagram reels for the shop could have been made by achild.’
It was Lola’s turn to scoff. ‘A child genius who’s done an Instagram Secrets course. And this is TikTok. You hold up my phone, point and shoot. Ta-da!’
