Lucy in the Sky by Paige Toon

Author:Paige Toon [Toon, Paige]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: General, Fiction, Contemporary Women
ISBN: 9781847390431
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2007-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

‘I can’t believe we swung this trip to Italy together!’ Chloe laughs, as we perch on stools at a trendy bar in the Porta Ticinese area of Milan and order a couple of vodka sours with passionfruit–or vodka sour alla maracuja, as they soon become known to us. Italian barmen show off their cocktail-mixing skills in front of us. We want to ignore their posing but they are quite pretty to look at.

It’s a sunny, late Saturday afternoon and Chloe and I arrived in Milan this morning. We’ve been wandering around the cathedral and the Galleria for a few hours and have just been at our hotel getting ready. We’re going for the full works tonight. I’m wearing a knee-length, dark green dress which skims my curves and Chloe is in tight black trousers and a sparkly silver top. We’re both wearing kitten heels. My hair is curling loosely just below my shoulders and Chloe has partially tied her long blonde hair back with a couple of clips. We look pretty hot, even if we do say so ourselves. And judging by the looks and wolf whistles these Italian men are giving us, we can’t be too far off the mark.

‘Thank you for asking Mandy.’ Chloe beams.

‘You’re very welcome,’ I reply. ‘It wouldn’t have been any fun on my own and I’ve been meaning to come out with you and Gemma after work for ages.’

‘Have you really?’ She looks pleased.

‘Yes, truly. I’m sorry, I just never seem to get round to it.’

‘Too busy going home to your lovely boyfriend.’ She grins.

‘Mmm.’

Actually, it was odd with James last week. He seemed a little distracted after Easter and wouldn’t open up to me about it. To be honest, I’d been feeling preoccupied since my chat with Mum, so I didn’t really want to press him. He did say his dad–a lawyer too–is trying to persuade him to retrain as a criminal lawyer. I hate the idea of him defending rapists and murderers and the like.

‘More likely petty thieves,’ James said, but I didn’t feel at all reassured. I hope he tells his dad to piss off, interfering old sod.

Two drinks later, Chloe and I are still at the first bar, and haven’t yet set off to meet the Luigis.

‘Shall we bother with dinner?’ I ask. We had planned to go for pasta but we’ve been too busy stuffing ourselves with the free aperitivi.

‘Nah. Let’s just try to score another plate of these mini pizza thingies,’ Chloe replies, turning to work her charms on the barman.

By the time we arrive at Gianluca’s bar–named simply Eliza, after his wife–we’re both feeling decidedly tipsy. We’re ushered through the main room to the VIP area, which is dark and sumptuous, with low-level lighting and a dark grey and silver bar. We spot Gianluca immediately, over in a black velvet booth, surrounded by stunning women. One petite dark-haired girl in a slinky dress drapes her leg seductively over his thigh. Eliza is nowhere to be seen.

‘What shall we do?’ Chloe whispers.

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