‘Don’t panic, I’ve got the clothes.’ Chrissie pulled the bag out from under her coat and tossed it to her. ‘I’m not sure what’s in there, though, ’cos our Tina came home and I just had to grab whatever was closest to hand.’
‘I wish you’d just asked her,’ Leanne said guiltily as she pulled two dresses and a skirt and blouse out of the bag and laid them on the bed. ‘I’ll be looking over my shoulder all night in case she sees me and recognizes them.’
‘Don’t worry, I heard her having a row with her latest wallet, so she won’t be going anywhere near any restaurants tonight,’ Chrissie assured her. ‘She’s broke, so she’ll probably just go to the pub and cadge drinks.’
Relieved to hear that, because she could just imagine Tina yelling, ‘Hey, bitch, get my clothes off!’ in the middle of the restaurant, Leanne held one of the dresses up against herself and turned to Chrissie.
‘I’m not sure about that colour on you,’ Chrissie said thoughtfully. ‘Try the other one.’
Leanne reached for the second dress, and Chrissie pursed her lips. ‘Not bad. Now try the blouse.’
Leanne held up the blouse and raised an eyebrow.
‘The colour’s better, but I’m not sure about the frilly neck,’ Chrissie mused. ‘I think I’m too used to seeing you in your goth gear.’
‘Goth gear?’ Leanne gave her a bemused look. ‘Since when have I been goth?’
‘Since you apparently decided it was illegal to wear anything except black and grey,’ Chrissie teased, getting up and hobbling into the kitchenette. ‘Try the second dress on while I make a brew,’ she called over her shoulder as she filled the kettle. ‘Then I’ll do your make-up.’
Leanne cast a worried glance at the clock as she slipped out of the dressing gown and stepped into the dress, muttering, ‘God, I’m never going to be ready on time.’
‘If you’re late, he’ll just have to wait,’ Chrissie said as she reached into the cupboard for cups. Frowning when she noticed the debris on the ledge, she said, ‘What the hell have you been doing in here? It looks like a building site.’
‘Look up,’ Leanne said, struggling to zip the dress.
Chrissie gazed up and muttered, ‘Shit!’ when she saw the hole in the ceiling. ‘When did that happen?’
‘It was like that when I got home last night. Roger tried to blame me for not telling him the roof was leaking, but I have told him. He just doesn’t listen.’
‘Typical!’ Chrissie tutted as she dropped teabags into the cups. ‘He’s fast enough to take your money, but you don’t see him for dust when something needs fixing. Subject of money . . .’ She wandered into the doorway. ‘What did you mean earlier about a problem with your rent?’
‘My benefits got sanctioned, so it hasn’t been paid this month,’ Leanne explained. ‘Roger told me this morning. Said I’ve got two weeks to get it sorted or he’s going to evict me.’
‘You’re kidding? Why have they sanctioned you?’
‘They said I missed an appointment, but I didn’t get the letters they reckon they sent out, so I didn’t even know about it.’
‘God, that’s awful. What are you going to do?’
‘Nothing I can do, apart from tighten my belt and pray my numbers come up on the lottery.’
‘I can always lend you some money if you need it?’ Chrissie offered.
‘Thanks, but I’ll manage.’ Leanne gave her a grateful smile. ‘If worse comes to worst and I get evicted, I’ll just have to go into a hostel. Which might not be so bad, actually,’ she added philosophically. ‘The council would have to give me a place if I was homeless, and I wouldn’t have to deal with any more creepy private landlords.’
‘I thought you’d already applied to the council?’ Chrissie asked, going back into the kitchenette when the kettle switched itself off.
‘I did, but then I got this place and lost my points.’ Leanne sighed, then shrugged. ‘Oh, well, there’s nothing I can do about it, so there’s no point worrying about it tonight. I’ll only end up on a downer and ruin my date.’
‘Ah ha!’ Chrissie said victoriously. ‘So you’re finally admitting it’s a date! I can read you like a flaming book, lady.’
‘Think what you like,’ Leanne shot back. ‘But it’s completely innocent as far as I’m concerned. Just two old friends having a chat and a bite to eat.’
‘I’d be more inclined to believe that if you ever actually were friends,’ Chrissie scoffed as she carried their brews in. ‘The way I remember it, you hated his guts.’
‘I didn’t hate him. I just didn’t really like him. But I might have, if I’d given him a chance.’
‘Well, you certainly seem to like him now,’ Chrissie said as she placed the cups on the table and took her make-up bag out of her handbag. ‘Come on, then . . .’ She sat on the bed and patted the space beside her. ‘Let’s get that face sorted.’
‘Not too much,’ Leanne cautioned as she perched on the edge of the mattress. ‘I don’t want it caked on.’
‘You mean like Sally Walker doing her Coco the Clown impression last night?’ Chrissie snorted, narrowing her eyes as she squeezed a blob of foundation on to the back of her hand. ‘I was looking for the cameras when I saw the state of her; thought they must be filming TOWIE or something.’
‘I thought she looked all right,’ said Leanne, trying not to squirm when Chrissie smeared the liquid over her face.
‘From a distance, maybe. But I bet she looked like a right slapper up close. No wonder Jake denied he’s seeing her. He must be ashamed.’
‘Well, if he is seeing her, I’ll soon find out,’ said Leanne. ‘And that’ll be that.’
‘We’ll see,’ Chrissie said knowingly. ‘Close your eyes.’
Leanne did as she’d been told and squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t wear much make-up as a rule; just a bit of lip gloss, and maybe a touch of mascara if she was going somewhere special. But Chrissie had to wear it every day for work, so she was much better at applying it.
‘There you go,’ Chrissie said when she’d finished. ‘Take a look and see what you think.’
Leanne stood up and gazed at her reflection in the mottled mirror hanging above the derelict fire.
‘Oh, wow,’ she murmured. ‘I look so different.’
‘You look fan-bloody-tastic,’ Chrissie corrected her. ‘That purple eyeshadow really brings out the green of your eyes, and your lips look so lush I’m tempted to snog you myself. If Jakey boy doesn’t go gaga when he sees you, he needs his flippin’ head testing.’
Suddenly nervous, Leanne stepped back to get a full-length view. ‘You don’t think I’m showing too much cleavage, do you?’ She tugged at the dress’s low neckline.
‘Behave!’ Chrissie snorted. ‘I’d forgotten you even had boobs, it’s that long since I’ve seen any flesh below your chin.’
‘I’m not that bad.’
‘Yes you are, but at least you look decent tonight – for a change.’
‘I’m not sure I feel comfortable.’ Leanne frowned at her reflection.
‘You make me laugh, you,’ Chrissie said wearily. ‘You’ve got absolutely no idea how gorgeous you are, have you? I would literally die for a figure like yours. And don’t even get me started on your hair and your face. You’re like some kind of exotic ballet dancer, and I’d hate your guts if you weren’t my best mate.’
‘No, you wouldn’t,’ Leanne chuckled, sitting down and reaching for her boots.
‘Er, I don’t think so!’ Chrissie snatched them out of her hand and dropped them in disgust. ‘They’re absolutely minging.’
‘I haven’t got anything else,’ Leanne protested. ‘Only trainers and flip-flops.’
‘Here . . .’ Chrissie picked up her own shoes and passed them over. ‘But don’t scuff them, ’cos they cost me seventy quid. And that’s with staff discount, so you can imagine how much they really cost.’
‘I don’t like heels,’ Leanne complained as she slipped the stilettos on and tentative
ly stood up.
‘They look a damn sight better than these clodhoppers,’ Chrissie grumbled as she pulled Leanne’s boots on and plodded heavily over to the armchair to get her coat. ‘And don’t you dare laugh, or I’ll make you swap back.’
Leanne bit her lip. She loved her comfortable old boots, but as she watched Chrissie clumping around in them now, she had to admit that they’d had their day.
‘Come on, then.’ Chrissie made her way to the door. ‘I’ll walk you to the corner.’
‘You don’t have to,’ Leanne said, slipping her jacket on and slotting her keys into her bag before following.
‘Oh, but I do!’ Chrissie grinned as she stepped out on to the landing. ‘If you go arse over tit in front of lover-boy, I have got to be there.’
Leanne shoved her toward the stairs and followed her stiffly down, muttering, ‘I don’t know how you manage to walk around in these all day. I’ve only had them on for a minute and they’re already killing me.’
‘If you could see how good they make your arse look, you’d be begging me to let you keep them,’ Chrissie countered.
Speedy came out of his room just as they reached the first-floor landing. He looked Leanne up and down with a sneer on his face, then shouldered past her, muttering, ‘Fuckin’ state of it.’
‘She looks a damn sight better than you,’ Chrissie yelled over the banister rail as he trotted down the stairs. ‘And I’d get something for those spots before they turn into an extra head, if I was you!’
‘And you wanna go easy on the burgers before your arse explodes!’ Speedy shot back as he yanked the front door open and manhandled the bike out with its front wheel in the air, scraping the wallpaper in the process.
‘Nasty little shit,’ spat Chrissie. ‘How do you put up with him?’
‘I ignore him,’ said Leanne, holding tightly on to the wobbly banister rail.
Mad Maggie was in the hallway when they reached the ground floor, staring at a scuff mark on the wall. Snapping her head round when she heard them, she gave Leanne an accusing look. ‘Did you do this?’
‘Of course not,’ Leanne protested. ‘It’ll have been Speedy with that bike.’
‘I’ll thank you to remember that bicycles saved our lives in the war,’ Maggie informed her haughtily, before marching into her room.
Chrissie looked at Leanne and burst out laughing. Shushing her, Leanne clutched at her arm and stumbled out on to the pavement.
‘You’re living in a total madhouse,’ Chrissie spluttered as they made their way down the road.
‘If I ever start acting like them, shoot me,’ Leanne said, treading carefully as every tiny crack in the pavement threatened to send her flying.
‘What do you mean if?’ Chrissie quipped. Grinning when Leanne gave her a playful slap, she said, ‘So what’s the name of this restaurant Jake’s taking you to?’
‘He didn’t say. Why?’
‘I thought I might follow you, so I can keep an eye on you.’
‘Don’t even think about it!’
‘Oh, go on, it’ll be a laugh. I’ll stay out of the way so he doesn’t see me, obviously. And if you want to escape you can scratch your nose, then I’ll ring you and pretend there’s been an emergency.’
‘I won’t want to escape, and if you ring me I’ll ignore it.’
‘Only trying to help.’
‘Being nosy, more like.’
There was no sign of Jake when they reached the corner of Leighton Avenue. Afraid that he may have already given up on her because she was late, Leanne took out her phone to check if he’d tried to call her.
A deep rumbling sound suddenly filled the air, and Chrissie’s eyes widened when a black Audi A5 with full sports body-kit zipped around the corner and pulled up alongside them.
‘Jesus wept! He must be absolutely minted,’ she gasped when she saw Jake at the wheel.
‘Oh, God, I can’t do this,’ Leanne whispered as the driver’s side door opened.
‘Yes, you can,’ Chrissie hissed. ‘Unless you’re planning to do a runner in those heels?’
‘I can’t even walk in them, never mind run.’
‘Well, shut up moaning, then.’
Leanne took a deep breath and forced a smile when Jake stepped out of the car. He was dressed casually in trousers and an open-necked shirt, but even in the dim light it was obvious that it was quality gear.
As he walked round to them, Chrissie’s gaze dropped to his feet. ‘Oh, my God, are they Ferragamos?’
‘Pardon me?’ He looked confused.
‘Your shoes,’ she explained. ‘Sorry, I work in a shoe shop, can’t help myself. They are, though, aren’t they?’
‘No idea?’ Jake shrugged. ‘I just tried them on and liked them; didn’t think to check the label.’
When he turned to give Leanne a peck on the cheek, Chrissie mouthed, ‘Min-ted!’ to her friend.
Rearranging her face into a smile when they were both facing her again, she said, ‘Oh my, what a beautiful couple you make. If I didn’t know you, I’d swear Brad and Angelina were in town. I hope this restaurant you’re taking her to isn’t too flashy, Jake, or you’re gonna have the paparazzi swarming all over you when you come out.’
‘Don’t tell her where we’re going,’ Leanne warned. ‘She only wants to know so she can spy on us.’
‘Grass!’ Chrissie snorted. Then, sighing, she hitched the strap of her handbag over her shoulder, and said, ‘Oh, well, if you’re not going to let me have any fun, I might as well go home. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,’ she added, giving Leanne a quick hug. ‘And I’d so do him!’ she whispered before letting her go.
Leanne waved her off before turning back to Jake.
‘You look incredible,’ he said, opening the passenger-side door and offering his hand to help her in.
‘Thank you,’ she replied shyly, thinking that he didn’t look half bad himself. And his aftershave smelled divine.
Chrissie had just likened him to Brad Pitt, but Leanne thought he was more like Johnny Depp. Either way, he was one of the most handsome men she had ever met, and she had a feeling she was going to enjoy this non-date date.
6
The restaurant was situated on a little backstreet, a couple of minutes’ walk from the city centre. The perfect gentleman, Jake held the door open when they got there, and then pulled out her chair for her before taking his own when the waiter had shown them to their table.
‘Would you like something to drink before ordering?’ the waiter asked, handing a menu to each of them.
Ordering a bottle of white wine, Jake opened his menu. ‘Ben recommended the scallops, so I’ll have them for starters,’ he said, skipping straight to the main courses. ‘Then I think I’ll have a rib-eye steak and chips. What about you?’
It was a long time since Leanne had been to anywhere quite as posh as this and she felt suddenly self-conscious at the thought of eating in front of him. Nervous of ordering anything that required too much chewing, or – worse – that she was likely to spill down herself and ruin Tina’s dress, she said, ‘I’ll have the tuna salad, please.’
‘No starter?’
‘No thanks.’ Leanne closed the menu and pushed it aside. ‘I’m actually not that hungry.’
It was a lie, because she hadn’t eaten all day and the aromas that were drifting towards her from the surrounding tables were making her mouth water. But she could have fed herself for a week on the cost of one course, and she didn’t want him to think she was taking advantage just because he’d offered to pay.
When the waiter had brought their wine and taken their food orders, Jake sat back in his seat and gazed at Leanne across the table.
‘This is so weird.’
‘Weird?’ she repeated, shivering when the candlelight picked out the threads of gold in his eyes. ‘How so?’ She reached for her wine and took a sip.
‘Us, sitting here, about to have dinner together,’ he explained. ‘I never thought I’d see you agai
n, never mind get you to agree to come out with me. But here we are. I must say I’m still surprised you’re not married, though. You’re way too beautiful to be single. Or are you divorced?’
Leanne shook her head.
‘No near misses?’ Jake raised an eyebrow.
‘Only one,’ Leanne admitted. ‘But it didn’t work out so I called it off.’
‘His loss, my gain.’ Jake gave a slow smile. ‘Anyone I’d know?’
‘No.’ Leanne shifted in her seat and gripped the stem of her glass a little tighter. ‘He’s from London originally. We met at a party and just sort of took it from there.’
‘Love at first sight?’
‘Kind of, I guess. At least, I thought so at the time.’
‘So what happened?’
‘The usual.’ Leanne shrugged. ‘We got engaged, moved in together, talked about starting a family. Then he screwed another woman in our bed, and I came home early and caught them. I’m sure you can guess the rest.’ Pausing, she took another, much longer swig of her wine before throwing his question back at him: ‘So what about you? How come you’re not married?’
‘Never really fancied it, to be honest,’ Jake replied, giving her a piercing look as he added, ‘Guess I must’ve been waiting for the right girl to come along.’
Unable to stop herself from asking the question that had been on her mind all day as the expensive wine began to loosen her tongue, Leanne said, ‘And what about Sally? Are you really not seeing her, or did you just say that to get me to agree to come out with you?’
‘I thought we’d cleared that up?’ Jake frowned.
‘We did, and I do believe you,’ Leanne assured him. ‘It was something Chrissie said.’
‘Oh, yeah? And what was that?’
‘Just that you probably wouldn’t admit it if you were seeing Sally, in case it put me off.’
‘Not my style,’ Jake said coolly. ‘I would have told you, and then I’d have split up with her and asked you out again when it was all over.’
‘That’s not good,’ Leanne chided. ‘Then I’d feel guilty for making you break up with your girlfriend.’
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