Page 43

“Thank you for volunteering to take the job, thank you for going, and thank you for taking care of that child. I don’t really know what else to say. You averted disaster and I’m very grateful.”

Not grateful enough to stay though, thought Jem. Not grateful enough to like me. Which was childish and petulant. She sat up a little straighter. “You’re welcome,” she said a little more softly and gently. “I wanted to help.”

Ellie gave a nod, registering that the tension in the room had changed. “I’m glad you were there.”

Jem didn’t really know what to say to that. She was disappointed, not that she’d had any reason to expect anything at all. But… but she’d never really been in this situation before. She was suddenly trying to think of reasons for Ellie to stay. Even if that just meant looking at her from across the room.

Which was completely ridiculous. She was a grown adult, she could take no for an answer, obviously.

“I, um, sent you the menus from the two caterers I saw today. They’re both good, I preferred the second, but you should go through the menus and see which possibilities you think are best.”

“Right,” Jem said. “Right, I’ll do that.” Maybe.

“Alright then, I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes. Tomorrow.”

Ellie stared at her for what felt like half an eternity and then turned around and showed herself out.

The flat felt weirdly empty with her gone. Weirdly empty in a way it had never felt before.

And Jem felt weirdly empty.

What the hell was wrong with her?

She picked up a cushion and threw it toward the door. It didn’t even make it half the distance.

THE MENUS WERE so close to identical that Jem couldn’treally think of a reason to choose one over the other. So she was busy making a list of the dishes that she thought should be served when her phone rang.

“Jem, darling, where on Earth are you?”

Jem grinned. “Annabelle? What’s happening?”

“Only the greatest party since, well probably since last weekend, to be honest. We’re at Benton’s.”

Benton’s. Hmm. Jem could see the neon now, could feel the leather of the bar stools. There was a champagne fountain, a specialty of the house. Now that she thought about it, there was a dress she’d picked up last week sitting in her wardrobe that would be perfect for Benton’s.

“So where are you?” Annabelle persisted.

Jem’s eyes caught her computer screen. She’d made half the list she needed. She sighed. She should really finish this. Ellie would be pleased if she sent it tonight, she could tell. Not that she was kidding herself. This wasn’t exactly the most important part of the plan, she was pretty sure that Ellie had already decided on the food.

Still though, it’d make a good impression. Ellie might smile. She had dimples, just small ones. Jem sucked on her teeth. “I’m at home,” she said.

“Right, you can be here in an hour then,” said Annabelle.

“Actually…” Jem wasn’t sure what to add to that sentence. It wasn’t like she’d turned down an invitation like this before.

“Luca’s here,” said Annabelle temptingly. “He was definitely asking about you. I’d say that you’ve en-tranced him.”

“Yeah, I’m not so sure about that.”

“Does that mean that you don’t want to en-trance him?” Annabelle said, voice sharp.

Shit. “Not really, he’s not my type,” Jem said quickly.

“What is your type then, Jem? I swear, I’ve introduced you to every eligible man in the city and you turn your nose up at them.”

“I suppose I’m just looking for something special,” said Jem, aware that sounded weak.