Chapter Nine
Toby
“There we go. That’s come out very nicely,” Eileen said with a pleased nod as she smoothed out the front of my waistcoat, walking around me with her pincushion in hand. “We can adjust the lacing on the back if we need to. Just in case you change shape in the next few weeks with all the training.”
“Thank you. It’s beautiful,” I said, my fingers tracing lightly over the elaborate beading and embroidery on the deep-gold material.
It was a truly gorgeous garment, and I couldn’t imagine how many hours of work had gone into it.
When I’d first seen the sketches of the design at the end of October, I’d known it was going to be stunning, but the finished pieces were even more incredible than I could have imagined.
I was tempted to ask if I’d get to keep it afterwards. I didn’t think I would, but I supposed there was no harm in asking.
“You’re welcome, love. That colour looks nice on you. Trousers are a good fit too—just do a little twirl and bend for me. How do they feel?”
I did a couple of squats and wiggled around, trying to remember some of the ways I needed to move my legs during the routine.
It was better to find out now if they’d rip and expose my underwear on national television.
Perhaps it would be good to find some that were a similar dark green, just in case.
Although there were shorts attached to my dance shirt to keep it smooth, so I guessed they’d have to rip too before anything was exposed. And the chances of that happening seemed quite low.
Not impossible, though… so maybe I’d get some green pants just in case.
“Very comfortable! They’re perfect,” I said with a grin, doing another spin and looking over at Nico, who was being fitted next to me. “What do you think?”
“Very nice. Very handsome,” he said, the expression on his face the same approving one he gave me when I did something well in rehearsals.
“Thanks. I could say the same about you.” I gestured at the gorgeous deep-red tailcoat he was wearing, with gold epaulets and appliqué that complemented the pattern on my waistcoat.
He had black trousers with a gold stripe down each side and a white ruffled shirt, and all together it made him look like a sexy, rugged Christmas pirate.
Would it be inappropriate to suggest he throw me over his shoulder and carry me away?
Yes, but that didn’t stop me thinking about it anyway.
“Cheers,” he said, shooting me a smirk that made my chest flutter wildly. How could he not think he was a cocky bad boy when he pulled out moves like that?
Eileen let out a satisfied hum as she looked between the pair of us. “Good, good. I’m pleased with both of those. You’ll look nice together. Don’t you think, Sandra?”
“Very nice,” said Sandra, looking up from where she was adjusting the hem on Nico’s trousers and nodding in agreement.
“You two always know how to make me look sexy,” Nico said.
“You don’t need any help,” Eileen said with a wry smile as she patted my arm. “All right, love, you can get changed again. Don’t worry about putting everything back on the hanger. Just bring it all out with you and I’ll sort them.”
“Thank you,” I said as I ducked behind the screen to change back into the jumper, trousers, and boots I’d been wearing.
I still couldn’t believe we’d already reached our final costume fittings and that the taping was only two weeks away.
It all seemed to be going so fast, and I wanted time to slow down so I could savour it a little bit more.
The days seemed to have dissolved into a blur, and I’d started to find myself practising at every possible moment, whether that was up and down my kitchen, around the living room while I watched TV, or in the studio while I tried to focus on writing next summer’s big hit single, which was a little difficult to do while there were Christmas lights outside and frost clinging to the window.
I was less sore, though, and it seemed like my muscles were finally adjusting to the amount of extra work I’d asked them to do.
Carefully, I removed my costume and redressed myself, and when I stepped out from behind the screen, I handed all the pieces to Eileen, thanking her again for all her hard work.
Nico had also disappeared to get changed, and I hovered by the door to wait for him. We hadn’t said anything about doing something together afterwards, but it felt rude to leave without him.
Besides, I liked spending time with Nico.
And maybe this was a chance for us to hang out outside of the training room.
Although doing what I wasn’t sure. Perhaps we could get some lunch…
or a cup of coffee. I had a beanie in my pocket I could use to disguise my hair, and that usually did a fair job of throwing people off.
Nico would still be recognisable, though… and our partnership for the Christmas special had already been announced, so if people saw him, there was a chance they’d put two and two together.
I didn’t know what the reaction to the announcement had been because I avoided any and all social media like the plague unless absolutely necessary, and paid people to deal with it for me.
I did have a phone with social apps on it, just in case, but largely it lived in a drawer in my studio and I used a bog basic flip phone designed for kids.
I was well aware that everyone online had opinions about me, and I didn’t need them shoved in my face twenty-four hours a day.
“You look very deep in thought,” Nico said and I jumped because I hadn’t realised he’d been standing in front of me.
“Shit! Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” I said, putting my hand on my chest as my heart leapt wildly. “This is why I can never watch horror movies. I get distracted and then the jump scares frighten the life out of me.”
Nico grinned. “I’ll make sure I announce my presence next time.”
“Please do. Although preferably without an airhorn.”
“Weird choice but okay. Do you think I randomly have an airhorn in my pocket?”
“No, but you can never be sure. Dai got hold of one once and used to try and sneak up behind us and blow it near our ears. Security removed it very quickly.” Mostly because Haru and I had lovingly threatened to shove it up his arse if he tried it again. He’d conceded, but only just.
“I’m not surprised,” Nico said with a soft chuckle. “Should we ask the studio security to check him for one at the door when he comes to the taping?”
“That is tempting,” I said, stroking my chin as I pretended to think about it. “But no, I’d rather not cause a scene.”
“Probably for the best. I can already picture the headlines: Pop Star Removed From Studio For Carrying Weapon.”
I sighed with amusement because he wasn’t far wrong. People would spin things however they wanted for clicks, the truth being completely arbitrary in the matter.
“So,” Nico said as he glanced at his watch. “What’re you doing now?”
“Not sure. I was going to suggest lunch, but I don’t really know if I can go out without being noticed and I don’t want to cause trouble. I’ve got Mo, obviously, but I really don’t want to throw him into it without notice.”
While Mo was currently just my driver, he was also a trained personal security specialist who Malcolm had hired to come with me to everything. Mostly I’d declined his presence, though, because I’d only thought I’d need it for the taping and any public appearances.
Especially because the building the dance studio was in had their own security and could only be buzzed in and out of with a keycard or someone on reception, so it seemed silly to ask Mo to hang around all day.
I was sure he had far more interesting things to do than sitting in the corner of a studio watching me learn to dance.
“Mo’s still around, though, right?” Nico asked. “I’m assuming you weren’t planning to randomly get the bus home.”
“Of course, he’s waiting outside.” As much as the bus sounded fun, I wasn’t about to give Mo and Malcolm kittens by disappearing on them. And I didn’t want to cause Mo any problems when he’d given me so much space.
“Okay, give me two minutes,” he said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Let me see what I can do.”
I watched with curiosity as he wandered out into the hall, animatedly chatting to someone.
I didn’t know who he was talking to and I couldn’t hear what he was saying without getting closer, which I didn’t want to do because it would look kind of creepy.
He seemed to know whoever it was well, though, because he was smiling and laughing, one hand waving in the air as he gestured wildly.
It was a side of him I hadn’t seen as much, and it made my heart flutter because that was a Nico I needed to see more of.
“All sorted,” he said when he walked back to me a few minutes later, a pleased expression on his face. “Let’s go and get some food.”
“Can I ask where?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“What about security? Can I bring Mo?”
“Don’t worry, it’s all taken care of. Place we’re going knows how to handle that stuff and they’ll be fine with Mo coming in too. It’s going to be great, I promise.”
I stared at him as he took my hand and pulled me towards the front door.
All I could do was trust him. And I did.
“Nico! Ah, you’re looking so well.” A beautiful-looking man in chef’s whites greeted us as we stepped inside the cosily lit bistro, the rich smells of cooking making my stomach rumble.
There were a few people around, but since it was a Wednesday lunchtime it wasn’t too packed. But the way the chef and his staff were standing around us made it hard for people to get a good look at who’d walked through the door.
And with Mo at our backs, nobody was coming in after us either.