Read Online Always Something There to Remind Me by Lilian Kendrick - Free Book Online

during office hours on Monday and someone will tell you what happens next. Well done on getting through.’
    ‘Thank you,’ I gasped, turning to Des who was beaming at me. ‘I’m through to the next round!’
    Outside the room we stopped and Des hugged me. ‘I knew you could do it.’
    ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’
    It was meant to be just a quick kiss to express my gratitude, but somehow it didn’t quite work out that way, and when Trudi came looking for us five minutes later we were still lip-locked. She coughed to attract our attention and we sprang apart, somewhat flustered.
    ‘Trudi! I got through …’
    ‘I was just congratulating her …’
    ‘Thank God for that! I thought she’d passed out and you were administering mouth-to mouth resuscitation! Well done, Lydia. Now are we going out to celebrate, or is three a crowd?’ She was smiling, but there was an unmistakable note of sarcasm in her voice. I slipped my arm through hers and smiled.
    ‘What could be nicer than celebrating all together? I want to buy drinks for my two favourite people.’
    We found a cosy little pub a few streets away with a jazz trio entertaining the lunchtime patrons. I bought the drinks and we settled in a corner and made small talk. When Des went to the gents, Trudi seized the opportunity to speak her mind.
    ‘What is going on with you two?’
    ‘What do you mean?’ The bubbles in my Diet Coke were fascinating and I couldn’t take my eyes off them.
    ‘You’re not still claiming that you’re just good friends, are you? You’ve always told me everything; what’s the big secret this time?’
    ‘There’s no big secret and nothing to tell you that you don’t already know. We’re friends.’
    ‘And the clinch? What was that all about? It was certainly friendly.’
    ‘He was congratulating me and I was thanking him.’
    ‘Well, I must say, you certainly seemed very grateful from where I was standing.’
    At that moment Des returned. He placed his hands on my shoulders and squeezed past me to get to his seat. ‘Sorry, love. It’s a tight fit,’ he said. I glanced at Trudi who was raising her eyebrows.
    ‘Almost too close for comfort,’ she said.
    * * * * *
    Dear Diary,
    What a day it’s been! I can hardly wait to find out what the next stage of the auditions involves. I’m sure I’ll be out after that, but it’s great to have got this far. It’s more than I expected when I started out on this hare-brained plan. I can’t believe how fast it’s all been happening.
    Trudi didn’t want to hang out with us this afternoon. I think she has a real problem with Des. She said she had work to do at home and left the pub after one drink. We stayed for a while longer, then Des drove me home. He came in for a while and we checked the stats on the fanzine website. It’s taking off quite well. We have thirty members! Still no reply about an interview with Josh, but I can’t expect to have all my dreams come true, can I?
    Des left at 5 p.m. He’s going to a stag ‘do’ tonight. I walked him to the door and we kissed goodbye. It’s odd, really. I don’t know why we actually decided all this kissing was such a good idea. I mean, it’s not as if we’re a couple or anything; we’re just friends. Not that it worries me. He’s a good kisser and there’s never any pressure to take things further. I’m pretty sure neither of us wants to complicate our lives that way! No, kissing Des is sweet and safe and totally uncomplicated, so it’s OK, isn’t it?

Chapter 14: Storytelling
    ‘It’ll be fun. I might even have a go myself.’
    We were on our way home from the writing group and Des was trying to talk me into joining a group night out to a storytelling event the following week.
    ‘I don’t know. I’m not sure I fancy the idea at all. I mean storytelling’s for kids, isn’t it?’
    ‘This won’t be. I’ve been to a few of these things before and really enjoyed them. They have professional