by Andi Osho
A few days later, Jemima watched the sky for ominous clouds, but there were none, just the red and golden shimmers of a beautiful spring sunset. Since the café, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her kiss with Chance. Were kisses meant to be that good? Well, she would soon find out. She smiled, as she arrived nervously at his place for their first official date.
‘Okay, don’t be weirded out, but shut your eyes – and no peeping,’ said Chance, as he opened the door taking her hand in his.
Jemima paused before screwing her eyes shut.
‘Don’t let me fall,’ she replied, flailing her free arm as she took one tentative step at a time.
She realised she wasn’t just physically searching for a foothold, but emotionally too. It felt as if she was standing on the precipice of a whole new world.
‘I’ve got you,’ said Chance as he coaxed her forward through his flat.
Jemima allowed herself to plant her feet with more certainty.
‘Okay,’ he said, still holding her hand, ‘now a small step down, and we’ll be in the garden. Then you can open your eyes.’
She gently placed each foot on the lower level, then slowly blinked her eyes open. Above, the sun had all but set leaving just a few rust-coloured clouds, and in front lay a blanket laid out with a full picnic.
‘I’m making you a Greek feast. Kebabs, tabbouleh, dolmadakia, hummus – I made that myself but, full disclosure, I bought the pitta,’ he said leading Jemima towards the blanket.
From the small grill he’d assembled, embers glowing within, to the champagne chilling on ice, it was perfect. And the flickering candles made Chance’s tiny back yard seem almost dream-like, a timeless sanctum into which they could both dissolve. Jemima’s hand went to her chest almost as though she were trying to slow her heart.
‘Just a minute,’ said Chance as he pressed play on his phone and cello music drifted from a wireless speaker.
‘Is that—?’ said Jemima straining to listen.
‘Your favourite, right?’
Jemima had never fantasised about romance but if she had, it would have looked like this.
‘You like it?’
‘I love it,’ she said.
‘Great, now, there’s one last thing,’ he whispered, drawing her close. ‘I think you are magnificent. You’re beautiful inside and out and I want you to know, I’ve got your back, okay?’
Jemima began to panic. Was he about to tell her he loved her or something else equally mad? Her palms went damp despite the nip in the air. Chance took Jemima by the hand and she tensed.
‘It’s okay,’ he said, standing in front of her. ‘You know I love—’
‘Wait—’ she said pulling back, casing her escape routes.
‘Jemima. Chill,’ he said.
She let his gaze bring her back down to earth and eventually her shoulders dropped. Unlearning those fear-filled impulses was going to be a long journey.
‘Sorry,’ she said, laughing at herself.
He smiled, unfazed by the minor squall that had passed through.
‘As I was saying. You know I love Beverly but I admire you so much for letting her go even though you don’t have to. So, to mark that, I thought we could have a ceremony,’ he said revealing a sky lantern he’d hidden away earlier.
On one of its papery sides Jemima could see the face of a woman she instantly recognised.
‘I hope this is how you imagined Beverly.’
‘You drew that?’ she said, blinking at the face staring back at her.
Chance nodded.
‘She’s… amazing,’ said Jemima soaking in Chance’s imagining of her leading lady.
This was the first time she had ever seen Beverly’s face. Her book covers had always been abstract images probably created by some marketing algorithm but looking at this drawing was like looking into a mirror – but one that reflected the past. Chance placed a box of matches in her hand as Jemima stroked Beverly’s face, feeling a rush of deep love and loss all at once. Maybe this was premature. There might be one last book she could squeeze out of Beverly. Eve for one, would be thrilled. But as Jemima looked at the face on the lantern, she knew this was the end of her journey with Beverly, not the beginning. It was time for a new adventure.
Jemima struck a match, its flame sending dancing shadows across the garden. She hovered it on the lantern’s wick. Within seconds Beverly had floated out of Chance’s hands and up into the night sky.
‘Bye,’ Jemima said as she watched her drift higher and higher.
She turned to Chance, snuggling close.
‘Did you make a wish?’ he asked, kissing her forehead.
As the lantern disappeared across London, she looked up at him and smiled. ‘I don’t need to.’
Epilogue
The girls
Jemima surveyed the beer garden, eyeing up the table of guys ahead of them.
‘What about the one in the navy top with the cute dreads?’ Jemima said turning to Simi.
‘There’s already a special new someone in my life… Ellen,’ said Simi sipping her prosecco.
‘Finally, you’re sampling some lady lurve,’ said Meagan raising her glass.
Jemima tutted. ‘It’s her therapist, you wally.’
‘You don’t know what you’re missing.’ Meagan shrugged with a grin.
As the sun set on the warm May day, the girls sat, side by side on their wooden bench observing the early evening drinkers. Simi slipped her arm through Meagan’s and reached for Jemima’s hand as they shared a knowing smile.
Meagan snuggled close, leaning on Simi, ‘What about the tall one in the paisley shirt?’
Simi giggled. ‘Honestly. I’m looking forward to being on my own.’
‘Good. That was a test,’ Meagan laughed. ‘Every now and then I like to see.’
‘Well it’s been two months since the game and I haven’t cracked yet. Anyway, you shouldn’t be worrying about me. We should be talking about your date – with one Todd Paxton,’ Simi said as she and Jemima fluttered imaginary fans like Elizabethan courtiers.
‘Last name terms at last. Must be serious,’ Jemima simpered.
‘Well, now my office is finished, I needed a new challenge,’ Meagan winked.
The girls laughed knowing that she and Todd would be a challenge – for each other. At least now Meagan had abandoned her ‘plan’, her love life was an open road rather than electrified rails that could not be deviated from.
‘And how are things with Chancellor?’ said Meagan making a meal of saying his full name.
Jemima’s cheeks flushed at the mention of him. From their first date until now, it had been – amazing. It wasn’t easy but Jemima had pushed through old habits and in doing so, allowed something new to emerge, for one, the feeling of being on the same team.
‘It’s… great.’ She grinned.
‘Oh, Jem, I’m so happy for you and I’ve been thinking, I want you to have this,’ Simi said.
She reached into her bag and pressed something cool and smooth into Jemima’s hand.
‘This will make what you have last and last.’
Jemima looked down to see Simi’s beautiful rose quartz crystal glint back at her.
‘But, Simi, you’ve had this for years,’ she whispered.
‘And now it’s yours. He adores you. I want you to go for it,’ said Simi hugging her.
‘You sweet, sweet girl. Thank you,’ said Jemima as she felt Simi’s blessing in her embrace.
‘Look at you two,’ Meagan cooed as she patted them both.
As they eventually untangled themselves, Jemima snuck a peek at them all, contented and peaceful, oblivious to the hubbub around them. She hated the thought of disturbing this moment but there was one final piece of business she could no longer put off. She pulled two hardback copies of her book from her bag, and placed them on the table. Eve had kindly rush-printed them but now the books were in front of her, Jemima’s anxiety had returned with a vengeance. While Simi and
Meagan had agreed in principle to the publication, she had no idea how they’d react finally seeing it in print. Simi picked up one of the books and flicked through its crisp, white pages.
‘So many words,’ she said in quiet awe.
Meagan stared at her copy, drumming her fingers on its thick cover.
After an age she winked at Jemima. ‘Congrats, babes. I will read your books from now on.’
Jemima laughed out of sheer relief. This was everything she’d wanted but daren’t hope for – no resentment just pure love which she felt in overwhelming abundance. Her throat constricted as she searched for what she had to say next, words that could ruin all this.
‘I need to tell you something,’ she said. ‘Well, a couple of things actually. This is definitely the last Beverly Blake book.’
‘What? No!’ gasped Simi.
‘Why?’ Meagan asked running her hand over the cover. ‘She means everything to you.’
‘She does but it’s time to let her go and I couldn’t ask for a better sendoff than this,’ Jemima said. ‘But would you guys check the first page?’
‘Go on, Sim. I haven’t got my reading glasses,’ said Meagan.
‘You don’t wear glasses!’ said Jemima.
‘Oh, Jem. I’m not a reader. If you don’t know that by now, we ain’t gonna make it,’ Meagan squawked.
‘I’ll read it! Just be quiet!’ insisted Simi.
Simi carefully pressed her book open. She scanned the title, usual copyright information and page one details no one ever reads. ‘Wait, I’m not spell-checking, am I?’
Jemima pointed to the acknowledgements. ‘Here.’
Simi read the brief paragraph then gasped as tears welled.
‘What is it?’ said Meagan. ‘Read it out loud!’
Simi wiped away her tears, clearing her throat. ‘“And lastly, I dedicate this novel to my dear, darling companions, Simi and Meagan, without whom this book would not be and neither would I. You are my sheroes, my muses, my heart and I love you.”’
Jemima watched Simi and Meagan stare at their dedication. She had named them and as heartfelt as it was, this yanked them out of anonymity.
‘Is this okay?’ Jemima said flushed with doubt. ‘I can get your names removed. It’s not too late.’
‘I can’t believe it,’ murmured Meagan looking at Simi.
‘Me neither,’ Simi replied unable to peel her eyes from the page.
They both turned to Jemima and screamed, ‘We love it!’
‘We’re in a published book! We’re in a published book!’ Simi sang as she danced around their table, clinging to Meagan.
‘Come through, Jem-J!’ cackled Meagan, yanking Jemima out of her seat to dance alongside them.
Jemima exhaled, the release immense. It was okay. It was all okay.
‘Honestly, that was not necessary but thank you,’ said Meagan as she smothered Jemima with kisses. ‘You really are a gem – Ha! Look at me, making one of your puns!’
‘I’m so flipping happy!’ Simi said as she jiggled and gyrated around.
It didn’t matter that people were staring. It didn’t matter that they were the noisiest group. All that mattered was they were together and would be for a long, long, long time to come.
The Dating Game – The Rules
You never ask someone out for yourself.
No fibbing or exaggerating about the person you’re finding a date for.
No falling in love (good luck with that).
No vetoing a date someone has got for you.
No one gets left behind – so no dates on the night of The Game.
No breaking the law!
No side pieces.
If you and your fellow wingwomen go out and play The Dating Game, be bold, be careful, be lucky – hit me up on Instagram (@theandioshow) and let me know how it goes!
Acknowledgements
Firstly thank you, my glorious readers for taking time out of lifing to read my debut novel. It means the world to me. I never got to do a stand-up DVD (ha, DVDs, remember them?!) so I’m thrilled to have created this little piece of me for you.
And trust me, this book has a ton of me in it. I won’t spoil your fun guessing which bits but there are a lot. However, even though there’s a lot of me in this book, it wouldn’t have been possible without my incredible team so let me take a moment to thank each and every one of them.
Thank you, Charlotte, my amazing editor who encouraged, advised and supported this newbie through the twists and turns of creating my debut novel. To Lisa, Katie and the HQ and Harper Collins team, thanks for everything including taking a punt on me. You changed my life. I’m a bloody author now. I mean, what?!
Anja, thank you for helping me make sense of this jumble of words and for your patient encouragement. You made a seemingly impossible task, possible. And, thanks for being a gorgeous mate too!
A huge thank-you to Richard Scrivener, my literary agent who put this whole thing in motion. Richard, you’re more than an agent, you’ve been a friend and ally through this whole thing. Thank you too to my glorious talent manager, Victoria. Guuuuurl, you rock. What a journey we’ve had. Here’s to ten more years! And Robbie and Tim at Beaumont PR, thanks for helping the world hear about my three favourite girls, Jemima, Simi and Meagan.
Yo, Tedd. Muchas Gracias for the Spanish translation.
And lastly some personal thank-yous. My friends on FB and IRL who have been there for me, read my book updates, sent prayers, good wishes, and congrats as I’ve progressed along this journey, you’re the best. I couldn’t have done this without you. And p.s. the ‘book questions’ comments threads gave me jokes. If you know, you know.
And to my gorgeous family, you’re unbending love and support got me to the finish line and beyond. Mum, Zeke, Phil, Sarah, Charly, Emi, Xander, Julia, Harrison, Bisi, Funso and Demi - you give me life! Love you all.
About the Publisher
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