Page 23 of Pyg

11

TELL YOUR FACE

L eaning over the marble-topped island in Maggie’s gleaming kitchen, Alice reached for a caper from the ramekin next to the chopping board.

“Oi,” Maggie said, slapping Alice’s hand away.

“Ouch! No need to hit.”

“Well, no need to be so bloody uncouth all the time.”

“I’m starving.” Alice stuck her bottom lip out, even though that never worked on Maggie.

“It’s almost done. Just drink your wine and keep your fingers to yourself; I never know where they’ve been.”

Alice tutted and took a mouthful of wine, the flavour crisp on her palate. She held the long stem of her glass between her fingers and twirled the pale liquid around.

“This is a nice one.”

Maggie sipped from her own glass. “Mmm, it is. That’s why I told you not to bring the cheap stuff.”

Alice pulled a face. “I’ll have you know, I’ve tasted some of the finest wines.”

Maggie scoffed. “Didn’t Fran practically force you to drink red all the time?”

“She didn’t force me, exactly. But yeah, she isn’t a fan of white unless it’s fizzing.” Alice grinned to herself, remembering Fran’s white shirt sprayed with the Merlot she’d choked on that time in The Dog & Duck. And the hot night that followed in the room they’d booked on a whim. They’d ended up staying the whole weekend, and it’d been lovely, at least until Fran’s mood had changed.

She’d never been truly at ease with Fran. Their time together, although mostly enjoyable, somehow felt make-believe, like Alice was an actress in a play with stunning sets and elegant costumes — and Fran directing her this way or that. Alice had never been in control, merely reading the lines and hoping she didn’t fluff them, although inevitably, she always did.

Maggie pulled a steaming dish from the oven and fanned it with her oven glove before prodding at the contents with a knife. “Almost ready.”

“Thank goodness. I’m going to pass out if I don’t eat soon.”

“You pretty much ate a family-sized bag of Monster Munch by yourself when you arrived.”

“I’ve been very active today. I went to the gym.”

Maggie tilted her head. “You joined a gym?”

“No, I said I went to the gym. I took one look at the membership prices and left. But it’s the thought that counts, right?”

“Um, I’m pretty sure that doesn’t apply to working out.”

Alice waved away Maggie’s reasoning. “When I got home, I did a YouTube workout.”

Maggie raised an eyebrow, as if waiting for the punchline.

“Seriously, I found my old yoga mat under the bed, as well as a lot of dust, which I vacuumed whilst I was down there. And I did a HIIT workout.”

“Wow! I’m impressed. You’re going to ache like a bitch tomorrow.”

“No, I should be fine. I stretched before and after.”

Maggie gave her a smug grin. Alice wasn’t going to tell her that she was right, that the muscles in her thighs and arse cheeks were already burning in protest against her deciding to use them again. Alice shifted her weight, grateful for the plush cushioning on Maggie’s counter chairs.

“I can add you to my gym membership if you like?” Maggie offered.

“Really, you’d do that?”

“Yeah, of course. It’ll make me feel less guilty about all the times I don’t go. And when you get a new job, you can put something towards it.”

“You know I probably won’t, though.”

“Yeah, I know, but isn’t it the thought that counts?” Maggie chuckled and nodded to Alice’s empty glass. “More wine?”

Maggie passed Alice the bottle from the fridge and turned her attention to serving up their meal. Alice’s phone screen lit up, and her heart bounced. She grinned at the screen as she read Ash’s text. Despite refraining all day from texting her, and resorting to exercise to distract herself, Ash hadn’t strayed far from her thoughts.

Hey! Hope you’ve had a good day. Did you get some rest? Remember doctor’s orders! Just about to start my shift. I’ll try to check on George and let you know how he’s doing. Looking forward to our non-date tomorrow X

Big kiss. Even though they were just friends, it was good to have someone new around. Someone new, who felt like they’d always been there. And unlike Fran, Ash actually made Alice feel good about herself.

Good day, thanks. I rested a bit, but also did a workout and I’m about to eat some broccoli. Isn’t that what doctors like to hear?

Best not to mention the wine and Monster Munch.

Have a good shift and say hello to George from me. See you tomorrow X

Big kiss back at her , but the energy of something left unsaid thrummed through Alice’s fingers. Was it weird that she’d missed her? Seriously, how could you miss someone you hadn’t even known existed five days ago? …or perhaps it was Ash who’d always been missing?

No, stop it.

She had missed her though, and the urge to tell her was strong, which was ridiculous because Ash had made it clear she just wanted to be friends. Still, Alice couldn’t shake the sensation of the spark between them. George had only been half-conscious and he’d noticed it too, so…

“I know that look, Al. Please tell me you’re not texting Fran.”

Alice snapped her head up and took in Maggie’s concerned frown. “What? No! She doesn’t have this number and I’m not a complete moron… it’s just Ash.”

“ Just Ash?”

“You know, the doctor you met at my place the other day.”

“Oh, I thought you said that wasn’t anything?”

“It’s not.”

Maggie raised her eyebrows and chuckled. “Tell your face that.”

Alice flushed with heat. “Stop it. It isn’t like that. Ash just wants to be friends.”

“And you?”

“Yeah, me too. I could do with a friend right now.”

Maggie passed a full plate over the counter and Alice’s mouth watered as she took it, inhaling the delicious aroma of baked salmon.

“Just be careful, Al.”

“I am house-trained, Mags!”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “Not with the plate. With your heart. Give yourself some time. Fran was toxic. You need to heal from that.”

“I know, and I am. I honestly feel so much better already, and it’s only been a few days.”

After the initial heartache, followed by the shock of Jeremy’s revelation, something inside Alice had lifted. Even when she’d been considering a future with Fran, it hadn’t ever felt real. There was always something hazy and intangible about it. But now, at the point where everything was so uncertain, possibilities were blooming inside her.

She’d just denied it, but she felt an undeniable pull towards Ash, with her kind nature and buoyant confidence, which would never be too much because she was also adorably bashful. And there was the soft lilt of a Northern accent Alice hadn’t even known she found attractive until it came from Ash’s very kissable lips. She’d thought about Ash’s strong arms more than once and how they’d feel wrapped around her, whilst those capable hands explored her body.

“Mmm,” Alice groaned.

“You like it?”

“Huh?” Wide-eyed, she looked at Maggie across the table.

“The salmon?”

“Oh, yeah. Delicious.” Alice speared another forkful and steered it into her mouth.

Of course, her older, wiser sister was right — she should slow and steady herself, not yield to her tendency to dive headlong into situations and relationships… wasn’t it that which had made her such easy prey for Fran?