Heart (10 page)

“We went shopping for his mum’s birthday and I saw a dress. Next thing I know, it’s being delivered. I tried to tell him to take it back but he kissed me. And…” I was struggling to find the words to explain what had gone on. Were there words which could make sense of it?

“Right, get off this bloody phone and onto Skype. I need to see as well as hear this. You’ve got two minutes,” she added before hanging up.

Exactly two minutes later, still working out what to say, I hit answer on my laptop. As soon as I saw Cass’s smile, I breathed with relief. It would be okay. She would help me sort this mess out. Someone needed to.

When I picked up the notecard, which had somehow materialised under my door during the night, I was relieved to find that at least I had a Garrett-free day to try to get my head clear.

Stood in the shower the next day, I paused just before I shaved my legs. Was shaving a sign that I was expecting something to happen? I remembered the time I had sometimes spent getting ready for a date with Jake, knowing I was unlikely to be the only person enjoying the fruits of my labours. Part of the joy was in knowing there would be a moment when he caressed my leg or nuzzled my skin, making me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. When I wasn’t going to be seeing him, I was a little less meticulous about body hair. I don’t mean that I would sport a full-on leg beard, but I didn’t worry about it every day.

Viewing visible leg and underarm shaving as being for public benefit, rather than for Garrett, I carried on. The rest of the beautifying was for
my
benefit. It had been a while since I had had the excuse to glam up and I wanted to feel special.
For me.

I dried and curled my hair into loose waves whilst listening to a soundtrack of 80s disco, a guilty pleasure acquired from Mum. Other than applying a little more eyeliner and mascara than usual, I opted to keep the rest of my makeup fairly minimal. I wanted the dress to be the focus of attention, not me. Thinking I would need to touch up my nude lip gloss during the evening if we were eating, I went to put it in my handbag. And realised my black, slouchy hobo was not the bag I needed to go with the dress. Still in my dressing gown, and less than half an hour until I was being picked up, my options were somewhat limited.
Ruby!

Quickly putting on a pretty, but not overly sexy, lilac knickers and bra set, I slipped the dress on and paused to look in the mirror.
You’ll do, girl.
Propping my door open, I ran barefoot across the hall and knocked on Ruby’s door.

“Hey, neighbour,” she greeted me before looking me up and down. “Cinderella, you seem to have lost your shoes. If you fit mine, does that mean we get married and live happily ever after?” I smiled at her friendly innuendo.

“Sorry, but I’m already taken tonight. I’m after a favour. I haven’t got a bag which looks anything like halfway decent with this dress, and I’m going out in a few minutes. Do you have anything I can borrow?”

“Ah, so you want me to play Fairy Godmother, not Princess Charming? Boo you! Let’s see what I’ve got,” she said, wandering over to her wardrobe. The doors opened to reveal a treasure trove of colour and textures. Ruby sifted through the contents of a few shelves before pulling out a silver box clutch, coated in sequins. Looking closely at it, I saw there was a skull of slightly-darker sequins on one side, giving it enough edge to stop it being twee.

“Any good?” Ruby asked.

“Perfect. My shoes are silver so it will look great. You’re an absolute godsend!” She handed me the bag and I gave her a hug.

“So, who’s the lucky guy, then? I’m assuming it’s a guy?”

“Yes, it’s a guy,” I laughed and she pouted. “Some guy from my Lit class. It’s our first date tonight,” I confided.

“Oh, that’s good. I thought you were going to say that American I’ve seen drop you off. You’re better keeping away from him.” My heart raced. I didn’t want to embarrass Ruby with her incorrect assumption but needed to know what she meant.

“Garrett? What do you mean?”

“Oh, one of my friends is in his media class and says he is a complete sleazeball. Tried it on with someone in the first week and got all funny with her when she said she wasn’t interested.” Considering that I was intending to tell him the same thing, this got me worried. “I was surprised when I saw you with him, to be honest. I’m glad you’ve found someone else,” she added with a smile.

“I haven’t,” I whispered. “I’m going out with Garrett tonight.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. My mouth just runs away from me sometimes. I didn’t mean to offend you, you know that?”

“Of course I do. No offence taken. I’d better be going. Thanks for the bag. I’ll bring it back tomorrow.” I started to cross the hall back to my room.

“Whenever. And, Neve? Be careful.” I waved my hand in response, unsure of what to say.

Once I had my shoes on, I sat nervously on the edge of my bed, my mind about as calm as a tempest-swept sea. I picked my phone up, wrote an apologetic text to Garrett but didn’t immediately hit send. I knew what Ruby had said, but Garrett was my only real friend; without him, I would be back to being Billy No-Mates again. Although there was no spark between us, I hadn’t felt unsafe around Garrett. I was hoping that, once I’d lain to rest his hopes of a relationship, I could still salvage a friendship from this. Who else did I have?

A short blast of a car horn disturbed my mental meanderings. Looking out the window, I saw a Jaguar parked outside the door to my block and Garrett signalling to be let up. I went to the intercom and buzzed him up, wondering what was going on with the different car.

Garrett rounded the corner to my room, looking devastatingly handsome in a charcoal-grey suit, silver tie and white shirt. His hair had been tamed even more than usual and his skin had that freshly-shaven glow. Yes, he looked fantastic. Yes, many girls would have been molten puddles just looking at him. No, I didn’t feel like that. Much.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said, leaning in to kiss my cheek. God, he did smell divine, though. “I’m glad you’re ready on time. I hate it when girls take too long to get ready. You look stunning in that dress. It was made for you.” He took my hand and made me twirl under his arm.

“I’m glad you approve,” I said, without thinking. Was I? Did his approval matter to me? He took my arm and led me away from the room. Away from Ruby and her concern.

“What happened to your car? Is this your weekend one?” I joked as we made our way outside.

“No, it’s Grandmother’s. I didn’t want to drive so she had Sam pick us up.”

“Sam?”

“Her driver.”
Her driver?
In what world do people have drivers? Not mine, that’s for sure. Probably the same world where people paid four hundred pounds for a dress.

“Oh,” was all I could muster as Sam opened the door and I sat in the cream-leather embrace of the Jaguar’s backseat. Garrett used the other door, shuffling along to sit close to me.

“Relax, we’ll be there in about ninety minutes.”

“What?” Yes, my voice did rise by at least an octave. “Where are we going?”

“We’re having dinner with Grandmother. We’ll be in central London by seven-thirty,” he calmly replied, before putting one hand on my bare knee. I picked it up and moved it onto his own knee.

“You didn’t think to tell me that was the plan? And why are we spending our first date with
Grandmother
?”

“It was supposed to be a surprise, honey. I thought you would like to experience something special. And Grandmother is a delight; you’ll enjoy her company, trust me.”

“Trust you? You’ve hijacked me! Nobody knows where I’m going. Take me back! Now!”

“See what I mean, Sam? She’s a real firecracker, isn’t she?” Sam looked at us through the rear view mirror and smiled. “You are perfectly safe, Neve. Sam used to be in the SAS and will do whatever it takes to protect you and your virtue this evening. Do you hear that, Sam? You are not allowed to let me take advantage of this beautiful young woman. Okay?”

“Yes, Mister Adams, whatever you say, Sir.” I swear he was laughing, but I honestly felt safer than I would have done in Garrett’s car so opted to count my blessings but angle myself slightly away from him. He chuckled and allowed me the space.

By the time we were in London, my bad mood was tinged with childish excitement at the sights as we drove over the Thames, past Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. Sam pulled the car under an illuminated canopy and parked. He was at my door before I could even read the sign outside my window: The Ritz.
The Ritz!

Sam opened the door and I found Garrett’s hand held out for me. I took it and allowed myself that moment as I stood outside. You know the one I mean: the one where Cinderella finds herself at the ball and has to pinch herself. That was me, stood outside the bloody Ritz!

“Thank you, Sam. I’ll let you know when we’ve finished dessert.”

“Of course, Sir. Have a lovely evening, Miss,” he added with a wink. Garrett took my arm and escorted me up the marble steps and through the entrance flanked by doormen. He clearly knew where he was going as he walked purposefully across the marble floor. I didn’t want to look like a complete fool, but my head was here, there and everywhere, taking in the huge crystal chandeliers and ornate mirrors which hung everywhere. Opulent. That was the word: opulent. And nothing like the world I was used to inhabiting.

“Table for Adams,” Garrett said to the man who mysteriously appeared as we made our way through an archway into what was obviously the restaurant.

“Of course, Sir, follow me, please. Your grandmother is already here.” We followed him over to the corner. There, sat in a cloud of purple, was a glamorous older woman, sipping a drink.

When we reached the table, Garrett leant in to kiss his grandmother on the cheek whilst the tuxedo-clad waiter held out a chair for me to sit on.

“Hello, darling, I’m glad you made it on time. I would have been forced to order another martini!” Her grin suggested she wished we had been late. “And this must be the beautiful Neve. My grandson was right: you are as pretty as a picture, darling!”

“Umm, thank you, Mrs Adams,” was about as much as I could muster.

“Oh, let’s not stand on ceremony. Call me Ester. What do you think of the venue for our little getting-to-know-each-other dinner?”

“It’s lovely. I’ve never been here before. I’ve heard of it, though,” I admitted.

“Now, come on, darling, there’s no need to be polite. It’s dreadfully trashy, but Garrett loves these old English haunts. It’s his American blood showing and I have to pander to it, don’t I, darling?” Garrett squirmed a little at the honesty of her appraisal and I had a moment of enjoying his discomfort.

Ester was fabulous company, filled with humorous stories about wealthy socialites. It was clear that her life was as exciting and eccentric as Garrett has told me. I was so amused by her anecdotes that I barely registered what I had eaten. The more she drank, the less discreet she was and her dislike for Garrett’s mum was very, very evident. Every time she became too personal, Garrett would steer the conversation back to safer territory, usually about the family newspaper business. It appeared that Ester was hoping he would stay in England and take over the business at some point in the future; Garrett was non-committal. Did he see his future here? Did that make a difference to me?