Page 51 of The Happy Hour
‘Hello, Ash.’ Lola stood and gave his hand a firm shake. ‘Jess has told me a whole lot about you.’
‘You, too,’ Ash said. ‘I’m glad I found you: I didn’t realise this was our activity for today.’
‘I asked Wendy to send you here when you got to the shop. Lola and Spade are planning a new TikTok video, and we’re going to... uhm, I’m going to see if Wendy will let me sell some of my prints in the shop, to help Enzo out.’
It had been after their kite-flying on the heath, as they’d been walking back to the market, that she’d told Ash about Lola’s music, and the way her plans had expanded once Spade had got involved and Enzo’s predicament had become clear.
‘You’re going to sell your work in the shop?’ His face lit up. ‘Jess, that’s brilliant.’
‘Only if Wendy agrees to it.’
‘Of course she will,’ he said. ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’
‘You can sign a release form, in case your pretty face ends up in one of our videos and we start getting international acclaim.’ Lola waggled a piece of paper at Ash.
He took it with a rueful grin. ‘Of course. Wouldn’t want me suing you for a cut when you get your five-album record deal.’
Lola laughed. ‘He’s smart, your man.’
Jess felt her cheeks flame. ‘We’re nearly done here,’ she said to Ash. ‘You don’t mind?’
His gaze softened, his voice low when he said, ‘As long as I’m with you, I don’t mind what we do.’ Then, to the whole table, ‘Anyone want a drink? I could do with a coffee.’
‘Treat yourself, get a beer.’ Spade pointed at the pub. ‘They do a great local ale.’
Ash glanced at his watch. ‘Better not, but I’m happy to get one for anyone else.’ He collected tea orders from Susie and Kirsty, and went inside the pub.
‘OK,’ Lola murmured to Jess while Spade regaled the others with a story about a brewery tour that had got out of hand, ‘you didn’ttell me he was utterly gorgeous.’
‘I thought it would be better for you to see for yourself,’ Jess said, her insides fluttering.
‘Are you going to take it outside your hour, like we talked about?’
‘At the very least, I’m going to get his number.’ There had been so many tiny, inconsequential things Jess had wanted to tell him over the last week, and not being able to had felt like an emotional strait-jacket. She was on the verge of having to start aDear Ashjournal.
He returned with the drinks and sat next to her, sliding his long legs over the bench.
‘Hey.’ She turned towards him.
‘Hello.’ He smiled. ‘Good week?’
‘It’s been full of meetings,’ she said. ‘This is our second in six days, so I’m worn out.’
Ash laughed. ‘That’s far too many meetings. What about—’
‘Felicity!’ Jess blurted, cutting Ash off. The other woman had appeared behind Spade and Kirsty.
‘Hello, my dears,’ she said. ‘This looks like fun.’
‘Come and sit down, Felicity,’ Susie said. ‘We’re helping Enzo out, having a nice chat. You should join us.’
‘Oh, I...’ Felicity clutched the collar of her jacket.
Jess tried to quell her panic. It wasn’t surprising that the other traders knew her; it made sense that Felicity didn’t just visit No Vase Like Home when she came here. But the confirmation made Jess nervous because of what she knew, and now here was Ash – who she’d told everything to – and Felicity in the same place. But what could she do? She didn’t want to leave her out. ‘We’d love you to join us,’ she said firmly.
Spade patted the bench next to him. ‘I’ve seen you around. Are you another market ghoul, like me and Ash?’
‘A ghoul?’ Felicity looked shocked.
