AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘What, girlboss? But you’re such a girlboss. The girliest girlboss.’
‘I hate it so much. Like, it’s a visceral thing, I feel it in my bones.’ I can’t hold my laughter in, and she eventually joins, swirling her straw around her cup and shaking her head. ‘You’re ridiculous. I hope more people get to see the Ava I know. She’s my favourite.’
If you’d asked me six months ago if anyone but Max and Josie would ever know this version of me, it would’ve been a vehement no. But now, something’s loosened in my chest, and I’m not so sure it’s the same answer.
‘I’m working on it.’
19
someone remind me to go to the opticians
F I N N
‘I’ve looked this overa hundred times and I feel like I’m going in circles,’ I say to Julien.
We’re sitting on stools at one of the high tables in the common area of the office and I’m decidedly uncomfortable. It’s no City Roast armchair, that’s for sure.
‘You need to step away from it for a bit. You can’t make it any better if you’re staring at it from three centimetres away. Speaking of which, you need new glasses. You’re always squinting.’
He’s probably right. I’ve been staring at this document for hours, fuelled by gross coffee after gross coffee.
‘Finn, if it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen. You’ve still got a couple of weeks to sort it. You might have one of those faces that looks like it clocked out in primary school, but you’re deceptively smart.’
‘You’re making me blush.’
‘You’re welcome.’ He flashes a smile. ‘They’ll hire you. You’ve got this.’
‘I’ll look at it again later.’ I snap my laptop closed, giving up. ‘You know, I wasn’t even sure if I was going to apply at first. But I know I’d be good at it, and it just seemed like something I couldn’t pass up, you know?’
‘Yeah.’ He looks shifty, as if he’s considering his words. ‘And it’s got nothing to do with the fact it’s the same company your dad works at?’
‘It’s abranchof the same company. Which is a massive organisation. So no, it’s not related.’ I draw my finger through the ring of coffee my cup has left on the table and am glad for the tan from my aforementioned father that covers the heat rising to my cheeks.
‘Okay,’ Julien nods and starts peeling a clementine he seems to have appropriated from thin air. ‘Why, um, are you here, by the way?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You’re just usually in the coffee shop over the road. I feel like I never see you in the office anymore.’
I’m not entirely sure why I’ve avoided City Roast today. I think I wanted to get this work done away from Ava. It’s not that she’s intentionally distracting, I just sometimes find myself spending hours there and writing about five words. And maybe a tiny part of me doesn’t want her to see me and ask questions about what I’m working on.
‘I was in the mood for a change of scenery.’ I lean back and nearly give myself a heart attack when the stool goes off balance, catching myself just in time. ‘But the coffee here is shit. Really, really bad.’
‘Oh yeah I know, it’s hideous. But it’s also free, so…’
‘If Ava’s in a good mood—which, fine, isn’t often—she gives me free coffee. So it’s not as ba— oh!’ My gaze lands on someone in the lobby and I slide off my stool, much to the confusion of Julien. ‘Sorry, I’ll be right back.’
I wind through the tables to where a red-haired woman and her dog have just stepped out of an elevator. ‘Josie?’ I call out her name tentatively as I get closer and she looks in my direction, expression unreadable. ‘Hey, sorry, I don’t know if you remember me. It’s Finn, Ava’s friend. We met in the coffee shop a little while back?’
‘Oh my god, Finn, hey!’ Her face splits into a smile and she stretches her arms out for a hug. Clearly she and Ava have very different ideas about personal space. ‘Of course I remember you. You’re coming to the housewarming.’
I’d almost forgotten about the party, even though it was the basis of getting to know Ava in the first place. It feels like a lifetime ago. ‘I’ve been warming up my vocal cords for karaoke. I’ll be ready for any and all requests.’
‘As you should be. You know, we’ll probably need to tag-team convincing Ava to sing, but once she’s got a few drinks down her, that’s it. Performances you’ll never forget, I promise.’
Josie rolls up one of her cuffs that’s unfolded; a move I am all too familiar with. I can’t help but point it out. ‘Your outfit is really fucking cool, by the way. Is that weird to say?’
‘Not weird at all, you clearly have good taste. In all areas.’ She leans a hand on one of her hips before she speaks again. ‘She talks about you a lot, you know.’
