‘You’re working on that?’ he asks. ‘Does Bianca know?’
My stomach jumps and I quickly hide the design again.
‘No,’ I say, my face burning as if I have been caught red-handed doing something incredibly seedy.
Jack looks back at me, bemused. ‘Why not?’
I click open my emails and angle my shoulder away from Jack, trying to feign great importance.
He really doesn’t seem to understand this whole workplace scenario. I’m starting to think he used to work as some kind of celebrity socialite. Or, like, as a spy.
‘You should show her,’ Jack says, leaning back into his seat. ‘I think she’d like them.’
‘I can’t.’
Jack frowns. ‘Why?’
I shrug my limp shoulders, my face prickling with embarrassment. ‘Well,’ I flounder, ‘she’s busy. I will show her one day.’
Jack pulls out his phone and stands back up. ‘Fair enough,’ he says. ‘What are you doing this weekend?’
I click on an email and tap a lame response.
‘Nothing much,’ I say, my eyes flitting between my screen and his face. ‘Why?’
I hit send flamboyantly, when my eyes jolt back to the screen.
Argh! I just somehow added two kisses onto the end of that email! Like some sort of office creep!
‘I think we should do the cycling in Hyde Park,’ he says, ‘it’ll be fun.’
‘Sure,’ I reply, desperately trying to work out who I just accidentally flirted with.
Oh no. It was Colin from accounts! He’s about fifty and happily married with three children. Great. Just what I need. The office Christmas party will be fun for me this year.
‘Oh!’ I pull my eyes away from the screen and face Jack as he goes to leave. ‘I spoke to Amy. She’s happy to go ahead with the run. You know, being a sponsored thing.’
Jack’s face lights up.
‘Well, let’s get planning, then,’ he says. ‘We can start at lunch. You’re free for lunch today, right?’
‘Sure,’ I say mildly as Jack walks out of the door.
‘Great,’ he says, ‘see you at twelve.’
‘See you then.’
*
I lean forward on the bike slightly as it wobbles. My jaw clenches and my fingers grip the handlebars as the bike rolls over a patch of crisp leaves scattered on the ground.
So, you know the saying ‘you never forget how to ride a bike’? That saying that everyone says all the time? The saying that is pretty much a fact, it is said so often?
Well, what if I have forgotten? What if I can’t remember what to do?
I try not to stare at my rigid feet, rooted to the floor, as Jack cycles up to me, grinning.
‘Ready?’ he says, pedalling slightly forward.
‘Yes, wait!’ I bark madly as he starts to wheel away from me. ‘Do you know where you’re going?’
Jack stops and grins at me. ‘Yeah,’ he says, ‘we’ll cycle round the park once and then we’re stopping at the pub on the corner.’
‘Right,’ I say. ‘Wait!’ I yell again as he scoots forward again.
Jack turns his head and raises his eyebrows expectantly.
‘Just,’ I mumble, ‘wait for me. I don’t know how good I’ll—’
Jack laughs. ‘Nobody is bad at riding a bike, Georgie,’ he shouts over his shoulder, and with that, he speeds off through the park.
Desperate to keep up, I ram my feet into the pedals and push off through the park as the bike rocks dangerously.
Oh my God. Am I doing it?
Jack glances over his shoulder and flashes me a smile. My stomach turns over as I feel a laugh creep up my spine.
I look up at a sea of vibrant trees stretching above and swaying gently in different shades of yellow and orange. Rays of sunlight seep through the gaps between the leaves and beat against my skin. I shake my head as the wind tickles my ears and plays with my hair, spiralling behind me. My chest rises and falls as I pedal, and for the first time in weeks, the tight knot around my heart isn’t there. I feel happy.
I catch Jack’s eye as I speed up towards him.
I feel happy being with him.
‘Come on,’ he grins, ‘slowcoach. I thought you were supposed to be a runner.’
I cycle up next to him and smile.
‘I was just enjoying the view,’ I say.
Jack shoots me a look, his face still etched into a large smile. ‘You know,’ he says, ‘I have never done this before. I lived in London for seven years and I never did this.’
I shake my head. ‘Me neither.’
‘It’s fun!’ he adds loudly, arching his back as we roll down a slight hill. ‘I never did anything fun.’
My eyes flick over to him. He never speaks about his life before we met. He catches me looking at him and suddenly the smirk is back.
‘Come on,’ he says, ‘the pub is just up there. Let’s race.’
My stomach lurches.
‘Race?’ I repeat. ‘No! I’m just getting the hang of pedalling!’
Jack laughs. ‘Oh, come on!’ he says. ‘I’ll make it interesting. If I win the race,’ he says, ‘you have to show Bianca your designs on Monday.’
My stomach flips over.
‘If you win,’ he continues, ‘then I’ll take you on a proper date.’
‘Excuse me!’ I say, grinning. ‘Both of them are a treat for you.’
He laughs and a frisson of excitement pings through me.
‘Ready?’ he says.
I narrow my eyes in competition.
‘Go!’ he cries, and he shoots off.
I gape at him. ‘You didn’t say “set”!’ I shout at the back of his head. ‘That’s cheating!’
I pedal in tight circles, propelling my bike forward across the dusty path. Excitement leaps through my chest when I spot the pub as we spin round another corner. I glance over at Jack as I speed up to draw level with him, side by side.
‘Ha!’ I shout triumphantly. I pump my legs hard as a zap of determination cues a fresh wave of energy, and I shoot past Jack. I spin the bike round as I reach the pub and throw my arms into the air.
‘I did it!’ I pant. ‘I won!’
Jack skids to a halt next to me, his mouth curling in a smile. ‘Date it is,’ he says, ‘lucky you.’
I shoot him a look. ‘Lucky you, more like,’ I say pointedly.
He meets my eye and my heart flips over again.
A date with Jack. Is that a good idea?
He looks up at the pub. ‘Are they already here?’
I nod. After discussing the charity run with Amy and Tamal, we decided to meet so we can start planning it properly. It was Tamal’s idea. As we walk towards the pub entrance I feel a flutter of nerves. Why am I nervous about them meeting Jack?
Covered in old thatching and peppered with strings of ivy, the fat pub sits on the corner of Hyde Park. As we push our way in, I’m greeted with a fresh wave of warmth and a light smell of coffee that swirls up around me. I spot Tamal and Amy instantly, perched in a corner and huddled around a board game. Amy’s face is crumpled into a deep laugh and Tamal has his arms coiled around hers, like two snakes entwined. I beam at the sight of them. I haven’t seen Amy laugh like that in weeks.
‘There they are,’ I grab Jack’s arm and point towards them.
Jack smiles. ‘She looks like you,’ he observes as we make our way over.
I feel a warm glow stretch inside me at this. I love it when people say I look like Amy.
Tamal looks up as we reach their table and Amy wipes her streaming eyes with the back of her sleeve, still buckled over in giggles.
‘Hey!’ Tamal beams, enveloping me into a hug. He pulls away as his eyes land on Jack. ‘You must be Jack?’ he says, holding out a hand for him to shake.
I grin at Amy and notice her eyes are firmly locked on Jack, a slight smirk playing with the corners of her mouth. Jack shakes Tamal’s hand and turns to Amy.
‘This is Amy,’ Tam
al gestures, and Amy holds out her arms for Jack to bend down into a hug.
Amy smiles. ‘Hi,’ she says, as he lets her go, ‘nice to meet you.’
We both sink into the squishy pub chairs opposite Tamal and Amy, who are pink-faced and still slightly giggly, as if they are two teenagers who have been caught kissing at school.
‘I’ll get some drinks,’ Jack says. ‘Do you guys want any?’
Amy and Tamal shake their heads.
Jack turns to me. ‘Gin and tonic?’
I nod and Jack goes to the bar.
Amy shoots me a suggestive look.
‘Ordering your drink for you?’ she sings. ‘That’s very coupley.’
Tamal snorts into his pint and Amy laughs again, her eyes flitting to Tamal.
I roll my eyes at her. ‘What’s wrong with you two?’ I say.
Tamal shakes his head, putting the pint back down. ‘Nothing,’ he says. ‘We were just playing Scrabble and being childish—’
‘You were being childish!’ Amy interjects, jabbing Tamal in the ribs. ‘Erection is a word. You can erect a building, or a . . .’
Amy’s words are lost as another wave of laugher engulfs her. Tamal shakes his head, his eyes twinkling.
‘How was the bike ride?’ he asks. ‘Where is the list? You need to tick it off.’
I pull my bag on to my lap and take out the list as Jack reappears, carrying two drinks.
‘Thank you,’ I say to him as he puts my drink down in front of me. ‘I owe you one.’
Tamal looks down at the list, which is covered in large multicoloured ticks.
‘Wow,’ he says, ‘you’ve done quite a bit now.’
I feel my chest expand with pride. ‘I know,’ I say happily. ‘I think I’ll do it all before my birthday.’
I look at Amy and she nods at me. ‘I know you will,’ she says.
‘Also,’ Tamal adds, ‘I think you deserve some credit, mate,’ and he nods at Jack. ‘Georgia said you’ve been helping her.’
Jack takes a sip of his drink and smiles. ‘Yeah, it’s been fun.’
I beam at Jack and catch sight of Amy, who is glowing with happiness. I feel my face flush, and pull my attention back to the list.
‘We were thinking,’ I say, flattening the list on the wooden table, ‘about this charity run. Maybe we could hold it just before my birthday? As almost the final event of the list.’
Tamal nods. ‘Sounds good to me. I said to Amy I’m going to run it, and so are a few of my mates from work.’ He glances over at Amy and she beams back at him.
‘We should start fund-raising,’ Tamal continues. ‘Why don’t I set up a page online and we can all share it?’
I nod happily. ‘I think we can raise a lot of money.’
‘That does mean,’ Amy says, leaning forward to look at the list, ‘that you need to hurry up with that skydive.’
My stomach lurches at the reminder that it’s October.
‘My birthday is a good two months away,’ I mutter.
‘There’s a skydive on there?’ Jack asks, peering over.
‘Yeah,’ I say, shooting Amy a look, ‘Amy wants to kill me.’
‘We were talking,’ Tamal says, linking his hand back into Amy’s, ‘and we thought maybe the run could start at Amy’s school.’
My eyes dart over to Amy. ‘That’s a great idea!’
Amy smiles, her cheeks blushing. ‘Yeah,’ she says, ‘the school were very supportive.’
‘We spoke to the head,’ Tamal grins.
‘This is so exciting!’ I cry.
Amy looks back at me, a wide smile lighting up her face and turning her eyes into large, sparkling stars.
‘I know,’ she grins. ‘I think it will be great.’
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Georgie’s list
Have a vindaloo on Brick Lane.
Take a Salsa class.
Do a skydive.
Go on a Tinder date.
Cycle around Hyde Park.
Run 10k.
Make the perfect Victoria sponge.
Go skinny-dipping in the sea.
Try skateboarding at Southbank.
Show Bianca your designs!
My peripheral vision is blurred as Natalie sticks her head round the office door. She slinks in, holding a large mug of black coffee. Her hair is coiled into a knot and she has a thick, patterned scarf wound around her head.
‘Sally in a meeting?’ she asks, wheeling Sally’s empty chair to my desk.
I shake my head. ‘Lunch,’ I say. ‘How are you?’
Natalie tucks her legs under herself and smiles. ‘Fine,’ she says. ‘How are you? How is Amy?’
I pick up my mug and nestle it on my lap.
‘Good,’ I say, a warm feeling of comfort stretching through my body. ‘She’s okay actually. She’s feeling okay.’
Natalie smiles. ‘I’ve come to say I’m going to sponsor you, for the run.’
I frown as I feel a flutter of confusion.
‘It’s in, like, two months, right?’ she says, taking a sip of her coffee.
‘Yeah,’ I say, furrowing my brow. ‘How did you know that?’
Natalie gestures over her shoulder. ‘It’s on the poster.’
I blink at her.
Poster?
I get to my feet and walk out of the office; Natalie follows. I peer around and suddenly spot several large, bright posters, plastered around the office.
Natalie cranes her head over my shoulder. ‘Did you not put them up?’
I shake my head, my eyes widening as I recognise the posters in more detail.
Those are my designs. I designed them, but I didn’t.
‘Hey, Georgie.’
I look round as Jack walks down the corridor holding a stack of posters. I grab one off him.
‘See,’ Natalie points, ‘it says it all on there.’
‘How did you . . .?’ I manage feebly. ‘These are my designs.’
Jack looks down at the posters, grinning. ‘I know!’ he says. ‘Don’t they look great?’
‘But how . . .’ I look up at him, ‘how did you get them? I didn’t design these posters.’
Jack smiles. ‘I took the designs you showed me from your computer and just made them into a donation sheet. Don’t they look great?’
A quick zing of annoyance zaps my chest, until I spot Natalie ogling the sponsor sheet in amazement.
‘Wow!’ Natalie breathes, looking at the posters in more detail. ‘Georgie, did you design these?’
I smile. I never show anyone my designs.
‘And look!’ Jack adds, gesturing to the poster pinned to the wall. ‘Look at the donation list!’
I move my eyes over to the poster and gape at the scrawled signatures and amounts, stacked down the sheet.
‘That’s only about a third of this building,’ Jack says, leaning against the wall. ‘I’m about to go down to accounts. They always have a lot of money.’
‘Not all of us,’ Natalie laughs.
‘And I’ve set up the Facebook event,’ he adds, ‘so we should get some more donations. I haven’t checked the page, but if all these people stick to these donations then we’ve got about a grand here already.’
‘This is amazing,’ I say softly, running my hand over the poster.
Jack pulls out his phone and starts walking down the corridor.
‘Glad you like it,’ he says. ‘I’ll see you after work, for that meeting with the school?’
I nod after him. ‘Right,’ I say, as he disappears down the corridor.
I pull my eyes back to the signing sheet as my mind starts counting the different figures. I can’t wait to tell Amy. She will be so excited. I’ve barely even spoken to some of these people.
‘So,’ Natalie says, breaking my concentration, ‘meeting up after work, are we?’
There is a hint of amusement in her voice, and her small mouth twitches into a suggestive smile.
‘Yes,’ I say, as we walk back into the o
ffice.
‘Will you admit that you fancy him yet?’
I drop back into my chair and shoot her a stern look, which breaks as soon as I catch her eye.
Natalie laughs loudly and slaps me on the leg.
‘I knew it!’ she laughs. ‘I bloody knew it. You are such a terrible liar. Thank God you have admitted it. Finally. Does Bianca know?’
‘No!’ I cry in horror. ‘Of course not.’
Natalie smirks. ‘Hmmm,’ she says, ‘well, be careful. Shagging the boss’s brother isn’t very professional, Georgia Miller.’
‘We are not shagging,’ I mutter, my face flaming.
Natalie straightens up, her smirk still firmly in place. ‘Well,’ she shrugs, ‘just be careful.’
‘I’d never have sex with my boss’s brother,’ I say pointedly, as she slinks back out of the office.
I open an email and gnaw my lip.
I can’t ever sleep with Jack, or have any form of real relationship with him, obviously. He is my boss’s brother. But then, where am I hoping this is going? What am I doing?
*
I look up at my high street bank, standing ominously on the corner of our grey road and looming over the other buildings like an oppressive school teacher.
I take a deep breath and duck my head inside.
I hate coming in here. But I made a pact with myself that I would have to physically come into the bank to access any of my savings, to stop myself from dipping into them every time I fancied some sweet and sour chicken.
As I walk inside, I am greeted by a comforting blanket of heat that engulfs me and a delicious smell of air freshener and pine cones. I unwrap my scarf quickly as the heat spreads up my back and join the winding queue, readjusting my bag on my shoulder.
My goodness, it really is lovely in here. If I run out of savings and cannot pay my rent (very feasible) then maybe I’ll just live here. I could fit under that desk easily. And look! It’s right next to the coffee machine! It’s like it’s meant to be.
I really should ask Bianca for a pay rise. The amount she expects me to live off is ridiculous. Maybe I’ll ask her when I show her my designs. If I ever actually do that.
‘Next.’
I step forward as I reach the front of the queue and hop into a little booth, with a woman propped behind her computer. She has blonde hair that is twirled above her head in an immaculate bun and a neckerchief spun around her neck. She smiles as I sit down and I smile back gratefully.
The List That Changed My Life Page 15