Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
The day of my second Blind Date with a Book event dawned full of promise.
I woke with the birdsong and lay in bed running through my plan of action over and over again until I was completely confident.
Nana Rose was a great one for having faith in the powers of manifestation, and while I was slightly more sceptical, believing that the universe had better things to do than worry about making things perfect for me rather than anyone else, I figured it wouldn’t do any harm to indulge in a bit of positive thinking myself.
I closed my eyes and pictured a happy crowd of guests mingling in the shop, faces beaming as they made new connections, shoulders weighed down by the bags of books resting on them.
Customers gathered around me, eager to share their delight at discovering their new favourite author in their new favourite bookshop.
Then the crowd parted, and Jack walked towards me, his linen shirt casually untucked with the buttons undone, his hand resting on the smooth skin above his heart in an attitude of humble apology.
His eyes raked my features, and I felt like he was seeing through to my very soul.
He reached forward and rang a bell, wanting to draw everyone’s attention to the important words I knew he had to say to me.
The bell rang again and I realised it was actually my phone ringing.
I blinked my eyes open, glad nobody had been privy to the strange turn of events in my imagination.
The very last thing I wanted to manifest was a sexily rumpled Jack, even if this imaginary version of him had been about to apologise for all the trouble he’d sent my way.
I scrabbled around to find my mobile which had somehow ended up on the floor.
‘Good morning. To what do I owe the honour of this early call from London’s hottest new journalist?’ I said, treating Flick to a very unflattering facial angle as I answered her video call.
‘London’s coldest new journalist more like,’ she replied, moving her phone so I could see the blanket she was bundled up in. ‘It might be practically July, but the grotty digs I’m being put up in did not get the memo. Did I mention the walls are mouldy too?’
She gave me a close-up of the dark bloom extending from the windowsill by her bed.
‘Grim. That looks uncannily like the protein shakes that Liam’s been sponsored to promote,’ I said, trying to make her smile. Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect. ‘Hey, what’s up?’ I asked, as her brow furrowed.
‘Is Liam well at the moment? He’s not sick or anything?’
‘Not as far as I know. He looked fine yesterday when he walked past the barge. He was on the phone, so we didn’t get a chance to speak. In fact, I assumed he was chatting to you.’
‘Ah. No. Not me, I’m afraid. In fact, I’ve had all of one text from him since I arrived here. Hence, me wondering if he was sick. Just sick of me it would seem.’
‘Aw, Flick, I’m sure it’s not like that. It’s scientifically impossible for anyone to be sick of you. Maybe he’s busy with a big video coming out or something.’ I wasn’t making excuses for Liam, just trying to make my friend feel better.
‘No, it’s definitely not like before, when he’d drowned his phone. I’ve tried calling but each time it went to voicemail after only a couple of rings, and you know what that means. It’s not like he owes me. We hadn’t gone official or anything, but…’
But Flick had a track record of falling hard and fast, and the fact I’d essentially set them up with each other could have made her even more susceptible to the idea of developing a serious relationship with him.
I was furious Liam was messing her around like this.
He was responsible for his own behaviour, but it didn’t make me feel any less guilty about him ghosting my best friend.
‘Do you want me to have a word with him?’ I said. ‘I can’t understand why he’s ignoring you.’
She laughed bitterly. ‘Out of sight, out of mind. I guess I’m not worth remembering about when I’m not on the scene. Please don’t say anything about it to him. I feel humiliated enough as it is.’
‘Flick lovely, you’re kind and caring, a super successful powerhouse of a woman, and drop-dead gorgeous to boot, if we’re going to be superficial about it.
If Liam can’t recognise he’s hit the jackpot by meeting you, then frankly he doesn’t deserve the honour of even having your number.
’ I jabbed my finger towards the screen to emphasise my point.
‘Mmm,’ she said doubtfully. ‘You’re biased because you’ve been my best friend forever and have developed a Stockholm syndrome-like attachment to me.’
I snorted in disbelief. ‘Am I going to have to come up to London and make you see sense? Stockholm syndrome isn’t even a proper thing.
I read an article in a scientific journal which argued it’s a constructed concept.
I’ve got a copy in the shop, and I’ll send it to you if you like.
You’re wonderful and I refuse to hear otherwise. ’
Flick rolled her eyes. ‘Only you would read a scientific journal for fun.’
‘It was part of some house clearance stock I got at the beginning of the year. I was drawn towards it, and now I know why. Will you admit that I know what I’m talking about?’
‘Fine, Molly Bramble is very wise. Please don’t make me start repeating mantras about being a strong and confident woman.’
I examined her features closely. ‘Maybe not right now. But I can think of a few choice phrases about Liam I’m happy for you to chant back to me.’
That at least provoked a small smile.
‘That’s more like it,’ I said. ‘Time to send in the big guns.’ I moved my phone across to Hilda’s bed and treated Flick to a close-up. ‘Say hello to your Aunty Flick.’
Hilda leapt to her feet, setting the boat gently rocking.
‘I’m here, sweet girl,’ called Flick from the screen. Hilda sniffed it in confusion, making my friend laugh. ‘You two are the best tonic,’ she said.
‘We miss you.’
‘I miss you as well. But today I shall distract myself by attending a residents’ meeting on mansard roof extensions. It’s all kicking off in this borough of London, let me tell you. I’m actually feeling nostalgic for Oxford’s low traffic neighbourhood dramas.’
‘You’ll write the best article ever and bring an exciting new perspective to the debate,’ I said, keen to continue rebuilding her confidence.
‘I’ll try my best. As for you two, best of luck for the Blind Date night tonight. May you sell all of the books. And if Liam dares show up to find the next love of his life…’
‘…I’ll shove him in the canal, don’t you worry,’ I promised.
We blew air kisses to each other and said goodbye.
‘Poor Aunty Flick,’ I said to Hilda. ‘No, actually, I’m not going to feel sorry for her as she’s clearly better off without him.’
I briefly considered texting Liam to ask him what he was playing at, despite Flick’s wishes, then decided to choose a more productive path.
Time to do something I should have done a while ago.
I did an internet search for Prasinos Viridis Protein and started scrolling through the reviews.
The ones on the first few pages were full of praise, but as I read more, I started to get a feeling of déjà vu.
They weren’t identical, but the phrasing was similar enough to make me suspicious.
Then about seven pages in, I stumbled on a Reddit thread called Boaty Liam protein scam and what I read shocked me.
Dozens of people had posted saying they’d written comments on his sponsored videos about being made sick by the smoothies, but their warnings had been deleted, and they’d been blocked from following him.
What was he playing at? I berated myself for not acting on my gut instinct after seeing his behaviour while recording the ad.
Liam was not the man I thought he was. He’d hurt my friend, and he was clearly hurting a lot of other people too by promoting a dodgy supplement.
What else might he have been lying about?