Read Online My Single Friend by Jane Costello - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jane Costello
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Lucy.’
‘That’s very perceptive of you. And also . . .’
‘What now?’
‘I know your contacts aren’t ready yet, but why don’t you give Dom and Erin a surprise and do without your glasses?’
‘Because I can’t see.’
‘You’re exaggerating,’ I say dismissively.
‘Lucy, I’m almost blind. If I try to do anything meaningful without my glasses I risk injury or death to anyone within a twenty-five-yard radius.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous. Now,’ I continue, straightening his shirt, ‘at least you’ve dressed okay, that’s one thing.’
‘Thank God for that.’ He looks secretly pleased.
‘Don’t get too carried away.’ I spin him round. ‘Now get your head under the shower and wash off that gunk.’
‘Aye aye, sir.’
‘Then do exactly as Anton showed you.’
‘Yes, boss.’
‘Remember – like your lover has run her hands through your hair.’
‘I’m not sure I’d like to meet this lover,’ he says. ‘Her hair obsession sounds a bit disconcerting.’
‘Hurry up, Henry!’ I giggle, as he closes his door behind him.
Dominique and Erin arrive twenty minutes later.
‘I found this woman loitering outside,’ says Dominique, nodding at Erin.
‘I was having a cigarette before I came in,’ Erin replies. ‘I don’t like to smoke in other people’s houses.’
‘I thought you’d given up,’ I say.
‘I have. Well, had . Not very successfully, as you can see.’
‘What does The Lovely Gary think about it?’ asks Dominique.
Erin cringes. ‘Don’t ask. You know what a Nazi he is about smokers. Oh, I have to give up.’
‘Yes, you do,’ I agree. ‘Though I’m sure he loves you despite your faults.’
‘Yeah, I think he does.’ She smiles happily.
As Dominique and Erin go into the living room, I pour everyone a glass of wine, put some pizzas in the oven, go through to join them and put the iPod on shuffle.
‘How did it go after we left today?’ asks Dominique keenly. ‘I’m dying to see Henry’s hair.’
‘And his new glasses,’ adds Erin.
‘Are you going to have a stream of women battering down your door?’ grins Dominique.
I pause and wonder how to break this to them gently. ‘This might not be as easy as we thought.’
Dominique narrows her eyes. ‘Why? What went wrong?’
‘Nothing went wrong as such,’ I reply. ‘It’s just . . . this sort of thing doesn’t come naturally to Henry.’
‘Tell us something we don’t know.’
‘I think he needs coaxing out of his shell.’
‘What are you trying to say, Lucy?’ asks Erin.
I sigh. ‘Look, it’s obvious Henry doesn’t feel comfortable with his new look yet.’
‘Didn’t Anton do a good job?’ asks Dominique.
‘Yes, he did,’ I stress. ‘Though I suspect Henry’s interpretation of his instructions weren’t what Anton had in mind. The annoying thing is he didn’t need to touch his hair after today.’
‘What about the glasses?’ asks Erin.
‘There are no glasses. None suited him.’
‘None?’
I shake my head. ‘But it’s not all bad news – he’s having contacts.’
‘Oh.’ Dominique perks up. ‘Well, that could be good. The Clark Kent effect.’
‘Perhaps.’ I bite my lip. ‘But don’t expect too much tonight. Seriously. If you’re hoping for Daniel Craig to walk in, you’ll be disappointed.’
‘We get the message,’ says Dominique. ‘Keep our expectations low. Story of my life.’
‘Good evening, ladies. Anyone care for a top-up?’
As we spin round, Henry is at the door with a bottle of chilled Chablis. The iPod shuffles to the opening bars of ‘Love Machine’ and I do a double-take.
‘Bloody hell !’ exclaims Dominique. Erin holds her hand over her mouth.
Henry has sorted out his hair – it now looks better than when he walked out of the salon – and ditched his glasses. This is the first time I’ve seen the whole combination. I’ve got to admit: he looks hot.
Henry heads to Dominique and pours wine into her glass,
‘That’s very perceptive of you. And also . . .’
‘What now?’
‘I know your contacts aren’t ready yet, but why don’t you give Dom and Erin a surprise and do without your glasses?’
‘Because I can’t see.’
‘You’re exaggerating,’ I say dismissively.
‘Lucy, I’m almost blind. If I try to do anything meaningful without my glasses I risk injury or death to anyone within a twenty-five-yard radius.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous. Now,’ I continue, straightening his shirt, ‘at least you’ve dressed okay, that’s one thing.’
‘Thank God for that.’ He looks secretly pleased.
‘Don’t get too carried away.’ I spin him round. ‘Now get your head under the shower and wash off that gunk.’
‘Aye aye, sir.’
‘Then do exactly as Anton showed you.’
‘Yes, boss.’
‘Remember – like your lover has run her hands through your hair.’
‘I’m not sure I’d like to meet this lover,’ he says. ‘Her hair obsession sounds a bit disconcerting.’
‘Hurry up, Henry!’ I giggle, as he closes his door behind him.
Dominique and Erin arrive twenty minutes later.
‘I found this woman loitering outside,’ says Dominique, nodding at Erin.
‘I was having a cigarette before I came in,’ Erin replies. ‘I don’t like to smoke in other people’s houses.’
‘I thought you’d given up,’ I say.
‘I have. Well, had . Not very successfully, as you can see.’
‘What does The Lovely Gary think about it?’ asks Dominique.
Erin cringes. ‘Don’t ask. You know what a Nazi he is about smokers. Oh, I have to give up.’
‘Yes, you do,’ I agree. ‘Though I’m sure he loves you despite your faults.’
‘Yeah, I think he does.’ She smiles happily.
As Dominique and Erin go into the living room, I pour everyone a glass of wine, put some pizzas in the oven, go through to join them and put the iPod on shuffle.
‘How did it go after we left today?’ asks Dominique keenly. ‘I’m dying to see Henry’s hair.’
‘And his new glasses,’ adds Erin.
‘Are you going to have a stream of women battering down your door?’ grins Dominique.
I pause and wonder how to break this to them gently. ‘This might not be as easy as we thought.’
Dominique narrows her eyes. ‘Why? What went wrong?’
‘Nothing went wrong as such,’ I reply. ‘It’s just . . . this sort of thing doesn’t come naturally to Henry.’
‘Tell us something we don’t know.’
‘I think he needs coaxing out of his shell.’
‘What are you trying to say, Lucy?’ asks Erin.
I sigh. ‘Look, it’s obvious Henry doesn’t feel comfortable with his new look yet.’
‘Didn’t Anton do a good job?’ asks Dominique.
‘Yes, he did,’ I stress. ‘Though I suspect Henry’s interpretation of his instructions weren’t what Anton had in mind. The annoying thing is he didn’t need to touch his hair after today.’
‘What about the glasses?’ asks Erin.
‘There are no glasses. None suited him.’
‘None?’
I shake my head. ‘But it’s not all bad news – he’s having contacts.’
‘Oh.’ Dominique perks up. ‘Well, that could be good. The Clark Kent effect.’
‘Perhaps.’ I bite my lip. ‘But don’t expect too much tonight. Seriously. If you’re hoping for Daniel Craig to walk in, you’ll be disappointed.’
‘We get the message,’ says Dominique. ‘Keep our expectations low. Story of my life.’
‘Good evening, ladies. Anyone care for a top-up?’
As we spin round, Henry is at the door with a bottle of chilled Chablis. The iPod shuffles to the opening bars of ‘Love Machine’ and I do a double-take.
‘Bloody hell !’ exclaims Dominique. Erin holds her hand over her mouth.
Henry has sorted out his hair – it now looks better than when he walked out of the salon – and ditched his glasses. This is the first time I’ve seen the whole combination. I’ve got to admit: he looks hot.
Henry heads to Dominique and pours wine into her glass,
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