Who's That Girl? by Alexandra Potter

Author:Alexandra Potter [Potter, Alexandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General
ISBN: 9781848941335
Google: IUdwHZHGVhYC
Publisher: Hachette UK
Published: 2009-09-16T16:00:00+00:00

We leave early.

'Babysitters,' grumbles Vanessa, pulling a face in apology as we stand outside on the pavement.

'If we're not home by ten, it goes into triple time,' adds Julian, raising a rueful eyebrow.

'Crikey, I'm in the wrong job,' chortles Miles, slightly flushed from too much champagne.

'No worries.' I smile, giving Vanessa a hug. 'I need an early night anyway.'

Which is true. I do. Especially after last night. And it doesn't matter that it's my birthday, does it?

I mean, so what? It's just another birthday. It's not like I'm disappointed or anything silly like that, I think, as we all say our goodbyes.

Waving them off in a black cab, Miles and I walk to my car.

'Are you OK to drive?' he asks as I beep the lock and slide into the driver's seat. Miles doesn't own a car. He says having one in London is like throwing money down the drain and is always nagging me to use public transport: 'Just think,' he always says, 'with all cash you save you could invest in an ISA.'

Which is true. I could.

Then again, I could also buy a fabulous new handbag.

'Because the number seventy-two goes straight from here.'

Miles has the bus timetable ingrained on his brain. On our first date he took me out for dinner, but he refused to take a cab to the restaurant - even though it was raining and I was wearing a new pair of shoes. A pair of nude suede strappy sandals.

Well, they were nude suede. A ten-minute walk to the bus-stop and one packed bus-ride later and they were more of a sludgy grey and completely ruined.

'I'm fine.' I nod, turning the ignition. 'It's a five-minute drive. Plus I only had a glass of wine.'

'And champagne,' he reminds pointedly, clicking on his seat belt. He begins adjusting his seat with the electronic levers.

'Oh, yeah,' I remember uncomfortably. Indicating, I pull out into the main road.

'Though you left most of yours,' he adds, still fiddling with the levers. His seat starts whirring forwards, then backwards and forwards again.

'Well, I couldn't drink and drive, could I?' I say lightly, as I start negotiating the traffic.

'We could have caught the bus,' he replies stubbornly. His seat reclines too far and he begins trying to hitch it more upright. 'It goes straight from here.'

'Yes, I know,' I reply. I'm starting to feel slightly rankled. 'You said.'

Suddenly there's a loud crunch and his seat jack-knifes backwards.

'Miles, will you stop it?' I gasp impatiently.

'Stop what?' he replies innocently. 'I'm just trying to get comfy.'

'I know, it's just—' I break off and take a deep breath. I don't know what it is, but I feel all nervy and on edge. 'Sorry, I didn't mean to snap,' I apologise quickly.

'I know.' He smiles and touches my hand affectionately.

I feel horribly guiltily. God, what's wrong with me? Miles is being so sweet. Why am I behaving like such a grumpy old cow about everything?

'Don't worry, we won't be doing this for much longer,' he says cheerfully.

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