Chapter 21
It’s Friday night and instead of going to the cinema with Layla and Ezra as I was supposed to, I’m stuck in the office with Adam, finalising the artwork for the revamped community magazine that’s due for approvals first thing Monday morning. By the time we finish and send the files off to Kevin, it’s gone seven and I’m itching to get out of there.
‘Right. That’s it. I’m out,’ I announce as I shut my computer down and pack my bag. ‘I’ve had enough of this place. I’ve been here way past five every day this week.’
‘Yes, I know, I’ve been right here with you,’ Adam replies wryly, as he scoops up his helmet and keys. ‘I could do with a drink.’
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. ‘Well, enjoy the pub then.’ I switch off the lights and start heading towards the lift, and Adam follows me out, closing the door behind him.
‘What are you up to tonight?’
‘Nothing interesting,’ I admit reluctantly as we wait for the ancient, rickety contraption to appear. ‘My friends are about to head into the cinema and I won’t make it in time. My family’s gone to visit some relatives and Hamza’s got a work shindig so I’m actually thinking of going to the gym, that’s how lame I am. It’s better than going straight home, I guess.’
Adam looks horrified. ‘Er, no it’s not. You can’t gym on a Friday night after the week we’ve had. That’s it, you’re coming out with me.’
‘Oh, Adam, don’t start that pub stuff again,’ I implore as the lift pings its arrival and we step into it.
‘I’m not. We won’t go to the pub. We’ll go for shisha at our place in Bayswater.’
‘“Our” place?’ I raise an eyebrow.
‘Yeah, you know, where we bumped into each other that time.’
‘That doesn’t make it “our” place.’
‘Oh, whatever. Come on, let’s go.’
‘Hang on, I can’t go looking like this!’
I look down at my coffee-stained T-shirt, faded jeans and scuffed trainers. My face is barren too, devoid of even a lick of Vaseline and my hair is bordering on greasy. Look, it’s been a tough week.
‘You have a point,’ Adam agrees, as he surveys the hot mess in front of him.
‘Oi!’ I shove him a little harder than intended and he teeters, grabbing on to the handrail in the lift.
‘I’ll drop you to your house and pick you up after I’ve showered and changed. You have forty-five minutes to get ready, not a minute more, all right?’
‘OK! Fine! Let’s go!’
Riding on the back of Adam’s motorbike isn’t as scary as it was the first time, and I only squeeze my eyes closed for half a minute or so until I get used to it and start enjoying the thrill of it once again. I also love the fact that we don’t have to sit around in traffic. In fact, I’m home in ten minutes which is otherwise impossible. Maybe I should invest in one of these bad boys myself.
The house is dark and silent and I’m glad. I’ve spent most of the week avoiding or ignoring my mum and I don’t intend on breaking my vow of silence today. I shower in record time, spray loads of products in my hair and decide to side-plait it. Anything else is a waste of time because the helmet will flatten it out anyway.
My phone buzzes while I’m in the middle of getting ready and it’s a text from Adam telling me that he’s bringing a car, not his bike, and he’ll be here in fifteen minutes. Flippin’ ’eck, that changes everything. I pull the band out of my hair and tousle it up to give it some volume and hurriedly work on my face. I don’t have much time so I do the basics and then put on a grey silk top tucked into black leather trousers, a studded belt and an equally chunky bangle. I look at my shoes and, as I’m reaching for my usual flats, I change my mind and grab a pair of stilettos instead. I’m not walking tonight or riding on the back of a motorbike, so why not?
While I’m getting ready, I start to wonder if Hamza would have a problem with me going out for a casual shisha with Adam after all that drama at the event. It feels wrong hiding it from him, especially when there’s nothing to hide.
‘Hey, Hamza,’ I begin brightly, recording a quick voice message. ‘I know you’re at your work thing and I’ve just finished up myself. Adam’s suggesting we go for shisha to unwind after a mad week .?.?. I think we’re going to Bayswater. Call me if you fancy joining us after you’re done. But if not, I’ll see you and your sister tomorrow!’ There. See? Nothing shady going on.
Yes. I’m seeing his sister tomorrow Not only is the clock ticking with my mum’s ultimatum, Hamza’s vague one is looming over my head as well, and with the help of Yasmin, I’ve decided that the next course of action should be to meet his family. Well, one member of his family, anyway. I’m not ready to meet them all yet! I can’t say I’m looking forward to it, but it has to be done. I’m not going to be one of those girls who blindly agrees to marry some guy, only to find out that his mother’s a dragon, his sister’s a psycho, and they’re both hell-bent on making my life miserable.
Adam calls to announce his arrival as I’m putting my diamond studs in (a twenty-first birthday present from my parents), so I spray some perfume, grab my clutch and then walk down the stairs slowly and carefully. The last thing I want right now is to buckle and break my leg. Especially as I didn’t have time to shave. No paramedic wants to catch a glimpse of these gnarly thighs right now.
Parked outside my house is a swanky black Porsche, and I’m about to walk past it when Adam rolls the window down and wolf whistles.
‘How the hell can you afford a Porsche on your salary?’ I demand, opening the passenger door and then trying to get in as elegantly as possible in six-inch heels.
‘All right, talk about ruining the mood. I was going to tell you that you look bloody gorgeous, and then you talk about my tiny .?.?. salary?’