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Paige gave it some thought. They were two peas in a pod personality wise, so she guessed it made sense. She also suspected Mya was acting as Connie’s spy, no doubt reporting back on how Paige was.
‘Anyway, yes I think a makeover would be just the thing, thanks Sophie.’ Connie sipped her drink, and Paige got the distinct impression, gift or no gift, that that was what Connie had wanted all along.
‘Erm hi.’ The awkward hello came from behind Paige and she swung around so fast at the sound, knowing immediately who the voice belonged to, that she nearly pulled her neck. Why was she here?
Paige was stunned, but Sophie must have shot out of her chair because she was over and on Melanie with a huge hug before Paige had even taken a breath. Paige felt her spine strain and yet she was unable to move from the twisted position around the chair as she watched Sophie wrap her arms around Melanie, and Melanie one-arm hug her in return, but with one of the biggest smiles Paige had ever seen. Not just on Melanie but on anyone. For a second, Paige felt something tug in her chest. It wasn’t quite jealousy, not quite resentment. But Melanie had never smiled like that for Paige. The closest she had gotten was when she gave her the designs Seb had knocked up, and even that hadn’t been her idea. Then again, Paige hadn’t exactly been charming. Hell she’d barely managed nice. Paige needed to sort herself out. What had she ever really done to deserve a Melanie Megawatt Smile? The strange feeling in her chest grew bigger until everything else in there felt too tight and restricted.
‘Everyone,’ Sophie announced after letting go of Melanie, ‘this is Melanie.’ And there was something in the way she announced her name, or maybe the eyebrow raise that closely followed it, that made everyone around the table go, ‘Ohhhh’ in a synchronised way that felt like they had all practiced. Paige scowled at them.
‘Here, sit down, I’ll just grab another chair,’ Sophie said sweetly. Melanie slowly sat down next to Paige and by this point Paige had to spin back around again on her chair. Slowly she repositioned her spine to match up with her legs. But then she realised just how closely she was sat next to Melanie. Their legs were inches apart and Paige would have sworn that even through her ripped denim she could feel the heat of Melanie’s skin. Seats were pushed back, shuffled and rearranged until Sophie had positioned herself between Melanie and Marcus. Connie elbowed her in the ribs, and as Paige gasped and turned, Connie winked. Flashing a quick grimace in the universal non-verbal code for shut up, Paige relaxed her face before turning once more, and quickly noticed that it was oddly quiet, and Sophie was giving her a strange look.
‘Oh erm, right,’ Paige started not quite sure why she was the one introducing Melanie when it was clear Sophie had been the one to invite her. ‘So, you know Sophie, and presumably you know Marcus too then?’
‘Not in real life,’ Melanie responded with an instant blush.
Marcus smiled and leaned forward. ‘Lovely to meet you in real life then.’ Again, Paige studied Melanie’s reaction as she smiled back and returned the sentiment.
‘Then we have Polly and Bailey.’
‘I’m really going to embarrass myself here, but I saw you guys on Sophie’s socials on her wedding day, and immediately followed you, Polly, so I feel like I know both of you too. Congrats on the song writing, by the way, I take it it’s going well?’
‘Thank you so much, Melanie, you’re so sweet. And yes, I suppose you could say that.’ Polly smiled, and Bailey nodded.
‘It’s going so well that she’s officially not allowed to say.’ Bailey winked at everyone as he threw an arm around Polly’s shoulders and kissed her hair.
‘I might have signed over one of my songs to someone. It’s no big deal, it might not even happen, and I don’t want to jinx it so let’s just leave it at that?’ Polly said before her face disappeared into Bailey’s biceps.
Sophie quickly ran round and hugged Polly, before Connie continued, ‘And I’m Connie, Bailey’s second wife, although he doesn’t know that yet, also known as Paige’s gran. Nomad of the sky and seas, soon to be internet superstar, and for the next few weeks flatmate of Paige’s.’
Sophie and Marcus laughed, Polly tried, and Bailey quickly drank as Connie leaned over Paige and grabbed a hold of Melanie’s hand. Paige knew what was coming; she also knew she couldn’t stop it. But as Connie not so gently pulled Melanie’s hand closer still, turning it so that she could closely study her palm, Melanie really had no choice but to rest her other hand on Paige’s thigh or else be toppled off her seat altogether as she was pulled closer over Paige towards Connie.
‘Sorry,’ Melanie muttered. Paige grunted. Words momentarily escaped her, as all her attention turned to the warm hand burning her thigh. Melanie was still in her work attire of pencil skirt and shirt, and in order to avoid looking at Melanie’s legs, Paige instead studied the wall across the other side of the room. Taking a breath, she tried to steady herself, but instead all she could smell was the shampoo that Melanie must use in her hair, which was still scraped back, and Paige still didn’t know what it was like when down and for some reason was desperate to know. Was that mango she could smell? Whatever it was, it was delicious, and making her mouth water. She took in a deep breath. Trying to steady her heart, trying to get herself grounded, and not at all to get another hit of her scent. That would be weird. Instead, Connie’s voice cut through her thoughts.
‘Yes, yes, you see here this line here, tells me you are very successful. Very dedicated. I said the same to you, Sophie, remember?’ Connie didn’t wait for a response. ‘Hmm interesting you see here, you like being busy.’ Again, Connie didn’t need the confirmation. ‘But there’s some confusion there, maybe it’s not that you like being busy as such. Hmmm. Keep an eye on that. Your love line is interesting too. You’ve had a hard time before — I have something similar on mine.’ Paige focused in on the conversation, hoping she’d misunderstood the reference, as Connie continued, ‘But there are brighter times ahead and that love line looks very healthy to me from here on out.’
And with that, Connie let go of Melanie’s hand, and Melanie pushed a little on Paige’s thigh before she lifted off again to regain her balance and was once again able to sit properly on her chair. Well, once she’d done the ritual of slight raise, skirt adjustment, back down and glasses up face manoeuvre.
‘Oh, do me next please, Connie,’ Polly asked.
‘Remind me to bring my tarot next time, darling.’
‘Hey boss, you guys want more drinks?’ Belle appeared, and Paige was grateful to have something else to focus on as she stood. ‘Yeah, I’ll come and help.’
‘Hi, I’m Belle.’ Belle leaned over Paige, her hand out to shake Melanie’s hand. What was with this lot tonight? You’d think they’d never met anyone new before. Shaking hands now? Really? Why were they all being so weird?
‘Erm, hi. I’m Melanie.’ From the surprise in her tone, Melanie wasn’t sure what was going on either.
‘Oh, I know, it’s lovely to meet you properly. What can I get you to drink?’
Paige studied Melanie trying to use her gift to weigh up what Melanie might say versus what she might want. It used to work with her friends. They might ask for one thing but really Paige knew they needed something else. But with Melanie, she couldn’t figure it out. She suspected she was a rosé kinda girl. Maybe prosecco.
She continued to watch as Melanie leaned up, trying to see what was available. ‘Oh erm, I’d love an IPA please, whatever you recommend.’
See, Paige hadn’t been expecting that, and with the unnecessary and yet still painful reminder that she was broken, Paige didn’t say anything else as she followed Belle back to the bar, but her mood, not high to begin with, tanked even further and she felt the sourness returning.
‘I like her, boss,’ Belle began.
‘I’m not sure why you’re all being so weird around her,’ Paige grunted out.
