Chapter 15 NANCY
BY THE TIME I GOT HOME, I was ready to crash.
I hadn’t managed to shake a queasy feeling after the awkward post-date encounter with Alex.
Despite analysing data well into the evening, it had sat on my mind, leaving me with a pounding headache and a bowling ball in my gut.
I rubbed my belly as I walked to the red brick tower, checking my phone, which had no messages.
Why was I surprised?
Alex had kissed me with such intensity, it was as if his life depended on it—or that’s how it felt.
But then, what did I know? He was the only person I’d ever kissed.
He probably kissed all his dates with the same passion.
I shoved down the ruffled feeling that image left me with and pushed through the door.
There was no way Alex would contact me after that embarrassment.
Being cock blocked with a boner was not on any guy’s first date wish list, let alone the duke’s heir: suave, sophisticated, and accustomed to women with experience.
Nope, all I’d managed to do was make work awkward for the foreseeable future. Nice one, Nancy.
Sighing at the still-faulty lifts, I turned to climb the stairs.
But by the time I rounded the eighth floor, I had to stop.
Dizziness was building, and my breath was coming fast. I rested on the concrete steps until my head stopped spinning before making slow progress the rest of the way up to fourteen.
As I lumbered up the last flight, our neighbour Winston came through the hallway door accompanied by his loyal Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Princess.
“Nancy!” he exclaimed in his Caribbean lilt, still wearing his oil-stained mechanic’s overalls. “How’s the motorcycle?”
I smiled. Winston always asked about the bike first. It was professional pride. “It’s purring like a kitten.”
“Any trouble, you come see me.” He gave me a wide grin.
“Course, I’d never go anywhere else.” I crouched to give Princess a scratch behind the ear while she manically groomed her bits. “You okay?”
“Irie. Chelsea’s on a winning streak.” He turned. “Your mama said you’re working in the City.”
No surprise there. Winston had always had a soft spot for Mum.
He’d pop in for a cuppa at lunchtime and usually end up tinkering with something or other around the flat.
Though from what I could tell, nothing more had happened between them.
“Yeah, for Goldfields. We’ve got an audit at Toverton Tower at the moment. ”
“That right? In a skyscraper? Fancy!” He gave a hearty laugh. “Gyal, you’re as smart as they come. Knock ’em dead!”
“I’ll do my best,” I called behind me. “Have a lovely evening. Bye, Princess!”
When I entered the flat, Jemima, Kim, AJ, and Mum were waiting.
The Weeknd blasted from Capital FM while Jem danced around the lounge, expertly balancing a glass of white wine.
Her honey-blonde braids swooshed around her waist as she bopped about with her usual flair.
She must have come straight from work, as she was still suited and booted, ready to take on the world and everyone in it.
“Crap, I forgot you were coming over.”
“You really know how to make a girl feel wanted.” Jemima laughed, motioning for me to dance.
I put up my hands in retreat. “Sorry, I’m wiped out.”
“Long time no see, fam.” AJ strolled over with his usual cheeky grin, looking fresh with a crisp drop fade and dark thatch of curls on top. He brought me in for a tight hug.
“Lovely to see you. I thought you had a gig tonight.”
“Yeah, got an act I’m promoting in Hackney. I’ll be off in a minute.”
“Sounds like it’s taking off.” AJ was always one to carve his own path. We’d had that alike since we started primary school. Except where I was studious, AJ was the class clown, more likely to be found freestyling in the playground during break than in the library like me.
“It’s got potential.” He shrugged with an all-knowing smile. “I know it’s late, but I got you something for the new job.” From behind his back, he revealed a mini cactus in a pink ceramic pot.
I took it, bemused. “As a reminder to stay sharp?”
AJ flicked a look back at Jemima. “See, I told you she’d get it.” Jem rolled her eyes. “She said I should’ve got a lily or something, and I was like, ‘mi gyal’s practical’. You don’t need to water a cactus.”
I laughed and leaned in for a kiss. “I love it.”
“You best get going, or you’ll be late,” Jemima interjected.
AJ checked his phone. “Yeah, better shift. Sorry I can’t stay for dinner, Tracy.”
“Next time, love.” Mum came in for a hug.
AJ turned for the door and received a sharp cough. He quickly spun one-eighty, grabbed Jem’s waist, and brought her in for a kiss. “Shall I come by later, putus?”
“Dunno, maybe,” Jemima said, a little crabby.
“You know I’ll put in the work.” He raised an eyebrow and shifted his hands to her ass.
“AJ!” Jemima scolded.
He backed away with a grin and gave us a swooping bow. “Laters, ladies.”
I turned to the rest. “Are we having a quiet one?”
“Yeah, Tracy wants her nails done, so I may as well do everyone’s,” Kim said, unpacking her kit.
She’d trained as a beauty therapist after leaving school and was now working at a Chelsea boutique.
It was an occupation that fitted her perfectly.
She had the sort of glamour achieved through a flawless beauty routine and excellent fashion sense, but it was coupled with a natural, edgy appeal—long, poker-straight blonde hair and a cool manner made for the catwalk.
“Can you do my eyebrows too? I look like a yeti,” Jemima whined, already over the minor tiff.
Kim rolled her eyes in fake mockery. “I suppose, as we’re celebrating your big sale.”
“What’s this?”
“I just sold that flat on Cheyne Row for five million and banked ten grand in commission.” Jemima finished her glass and held it out for Kim to top up.
“Nice one, Jem.” She’d landed an admin job at a prestigious Kensington and Chelsea estate agent straight out of school and had worked her way up the ranks.
“You wanna glass, Nancy?” Kim offered.
“Nah, I’ll leave it.”
“You look a bit peaky, love.” Mum came over, looking concerned while simultaneously eyeing my motorcycle gear. She wasn’t a fan.
“I just need some sleep.”
“Dinner’s almost ready, but you could have a power nap.”
“It smells amazing, but my stomach’s playing up.”
Mum felt my forehead. “You’re cold. Have you eaten today?”
“Yeah, I had a big lunch.”
“Of course, your work do. How was it?”
“Good. Uneventful.” I shrugged, more than happy to keep those embarrassing details to myself.
“Where did they take you?” Kim asked.
I considered, but I couldn’t remember the eateries near Toverton Tower. They all tended to merge into the background when you never went inside. “Er…to that restaurant at the top of The Gherkin.”
Everyone stopped and stared at me.
“That’s fancy for a work lunch,” Kim said, her curiosity piqued. “Was it a special occasion?”
“Yeah. Goldfields were pitching to a potential client, so they wanted to schmooze them. You know what these corporate types expect,” I dug deeper.
“You have gone up in the world,” Mum said proudly.
“I’m gonna get changed if we’re chilling.
” I backed away to the safety of my bedroom and picked out my most comfortable lounge-wear: a teddy bear onesie with drawstring pompoms dangling from a fleecy hood.
Instantly more relaxed but still feeling tender in my belly, I rechecked my phone, still finding no message.
I put it on charge and turned it off, having had enough emotional torture for one day.
Just then, the angry buzz of our ancient doorbell travelled through the flat, followed a few seconds later by cooing, and then “Nancy!” bellowed at the top of Mum’s voice.
I scurried out and was met with an enormous display of dusky pink roses, blue delphiniums, and forget-me-nots.
I instantly knew who’d sent them. The colours perfectly matched the dress I’d worn today.
Busted! My gut clenched.
The three stood looking baffled.
“These are for you,” Mum said, barely able to see over the blooms. “Would you like to explain?”
I absolutely wouldn’t, but there was no getting out of it now.
How the hell did Alex find out our address?
I remembered saying we lived on World’s End in a council flat, but I hadn’t revealed anything more, and we kept our details off any public records.
No doubt his family had connections with the bigwigs at the council. I should’ve been more careful.
My internal conversation must have been written on my face because Mum was now looking warily at me. “You don’t seem pleased, whoever he is.”
I shook my head and tried to smile as I took the display. “It’s just a surprise, that’s all.”
“That’s usually the idea when someone sends you flowers, love.”
I nodded distractedly, placed the bouquet on the counter, and removed the note from the stalk.
Thank you for a wonderful lunch. I’d love to see you again.
Are you free tomorrow evening? A x
I smiled, running my thumb over Alex’s familiar cursive. So that was why he hadn’t texted. He’d wanted to surprise me with flowers to set up our next date.
“Oh my god, Nancy! Are you gonna say who they’re from? I’m dying here,” Mum admonished.
I turned to her pensively. “They’re from a guy at work. We met earlier this week, and…he took me to lunch today.”
“So all that about a work lunch was BS? When did you become such a dark horse?” She stalked over to the stove, and I rolled my eyes. Am I not allowed one secret?
“Are you seriously telling us you’re dating someone?” Jemima said in wonder.
“We had one lunch together.” I shrugged, contemplating hiding in my room for the rest of the evening.
“Well, he’s serious if he sent you those. They’ll cost at least two hundred quid,” Kim said, ever knowledgeable about anything with a luxury price tag.
“Err, deets, please! What’s he like? How old? Is he hot? He must be rich to send you these.” Jemima danced over to smell the bouquet.
“Tall, white, brown hair, athletic, twenty-eight,” I mumbled, rubbing my gut.
“Are you giving us a police lineup?” Kim laughed.
“Oh. My. Days. Li’l sis, you’re blushing!” Jemima poked my side.
“Oye! Shut up!” I swatted her arm away.
“Leave her be, but you will tell me everything.” Mum turned from the stove and squeezed my arm, softening. “They’re lovely, and you deserve them, yeah?”
“You should invite him to Ride for your birthday next week,” Kim proposed with glee, and I shot her a ‘thanks a lot’ look she was used to. She smirked. “We’d love to meet this mystery man.”
I smirked back. “And give him the third degree.”
“And check he’s good enough for you. You’re a catch, girl. Ain’t no giving it away to some creep.” Jemima sniffed the heady scent.
“You don’t give me much credit.” Despite Jem being nine and ten months older than me and Kim, respectively, and therefore our ‘big sis’ as she liked to say, she sure could put her foot in it. “I’ll ask him, but I don’t think it’s his scene.”
“What would be his scene?” Jem fished.
“I don’t know. I’ve not heard the music he listens to. Maybe something classic. He’s kind of an old soul.”
“Is he posh?” Kim asked.
“Yeah, he lives in Chelsea.”
Kim tilted her head sardonically. “As do we.”
I rubbed my belly. I wasn’t sure if it was the romantic surprise, the inquisition, or the unsettledness that hadn’t left me since the passion in the back of the car, but I was feeling worse by the second.
Mum immediately noticed. “Y’alright, love?”
“I don’t feel great.”
“I’ll serve up in a minute. You probably need a meal.”
The smell of rich and spicy coconut curry shot through me. It was the last straw. I bolted to the bathroom and promptly vomited.
“Nancy!” Jemima ran in with Mum.
“What the hell happened?”
“I don’t know.” I knelt, trembling on the floor as my heart pounded.
“I’ll get some water,” Kim called from the kitchen.
Mum looked at Jemima with familiar concern. “Let’s get her into bed.” The pair took me by the arms and helped me up.
“I’m okay, honestly,” I said, feeling clammy all over.
“No, you’re not, and you’re staying right here.”
“Mum, I’m not a little girl.”
“Tough! You’ll always be my little girl. Now, stay put.”
Kim brought in the water and put it on the bedside table. “Do you want us to go?”
“No, don’t leave because of me. Just hang out and do your nails.”
Kim stroked my arm. “It’s fine, babes. It’s been a while since you’ve had an anxiety attack, but they’re bound to still happen here and there, especially if you’ve started dating.”
I stared at her in shock. How did I not put it all together myself? I knew what this feeling was. It had been over four years since my last attack, but it was plain as day now that Kim had said it.
“If you girls don’t mind, we’d better call it a night.”
“Course, Tracy, we’ll leave you be,” Kim said.
“Text me, yeah?” Jem squeezed my hand.
“Will do. Thanks, you two.”
“Anytime, anywhere, anyhow.” Kim gave me a pearly grin, and I managed a small smile.
“You’re the best.”
“We know!” Jemima hollered as they left.
Mum sat on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling now?”
“Pretty pathetic, to be honest.”
“Hey, none of that,” she said softly. “You know what I think?”
“What?”
“That you’re courageous as always.”
“For being ill,” I sighed.
“For being brave enough to go outside your comfort zone.” Mum stroked my hair, and I met her eyes. “I’ve got a family cut and colour for most of tomorrow, but I can rearrange.”
“No, don’t cancel. I’ll stay in bed and sleep it off, and I can call you if anything happens.”
She looked ready to protest, but in the end, she conceded. “Okay, love, but you ring me if anything feels off.”
“I will. Promise.”
Mum rose and kissed me on the forehead. “Wake me if you need to.”
“Okay… I love you.” I squeezed her hand, the girl inside wanting her to stay, but I let her go after a few moments.
“I love you, too. Get some rest.” She turned off the light, plunging the room into darkness.
I waited a moment before switching on the fairy lights hanging from the headboard.
Twenty-two, and I still need a night light.
With a sigh, I pulled the satin bonnet over my curls, hugged my pillow, and let exhaustion take me.