9 #3
Rosa closed her locker door so she could see Dani. “Dani?” Rosa stepped closer as she saw tears spring into Dani’s eyes and run down her face. “What is it?”
Clenching her eyes shut, Dani shook her head.
“Hey, come on now.” Rosa sat beside her and glanced at her phone. “Is it him? The ex?” Dani nodded. Nicole came over and crouched down as Rosa slipped her arm around Dani’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry, I just wasn’t expecting it,” Dani sniffed.
“I’ve avoided his calls and text messages because I know they’ll upset me.
But…” she wiped her eyes roughly and Nicole ran to the toilet to get some toilet paper.
“He emailed me and it caught me off guard.” She took the paper and blew her nose. “Thanks,” she muttered.
“What’s he say?”
“I only read the first line. But I need to read it. I can’t put it off any more.”
“Well if you’re sure? We’ll leave you to it. But if you’re not up in ten minutes, I’m coming down.”
Dani nodded at Rosa and forced a smile. Then both Nicole and Rosa left the changing rooms, leaving Dani staring down at her phone screen, and she started to read.
Dani
I cannot believe you need to communicate with me via a lawyer. I received the letter outlining your demands with regard to our home. True to Adam’s over-zealous efficiency, I presume that the three independent valuations he has attached are accurate. I would never have contested even one!
All I want is to talk to you. I want to explain, but you won’t take my calls or answer my texts.
I’ll do whatever you want, but please pick up your phone and talk to me.
I realise you are up in Leeds. If it means I come up in person for you to talk to me, I will, and if you won’t, then I’ll just come up anyway.
I can’t accept that after five years together you can write me off so completely.
I’m sorry, so deeply sorry that I hurt you. If I could change that, I would, in a heartbeat, but I can’t. I behaved badly but I don’t want to lose you. You mean the world to me. We don’t need lawyers, we just need to talk. Me and you. Please forgive me and call me.
I love you and I’m miserable without you.
Jez x
Dani sobbed quietly in the still of the changing rooms. She almost felt guilty for putting him through this.
He made her feel that way, even via an email, he still managed to control her.
The truth was, she missed him too. Her new job had distracted her and a lot of the reason she’d wanted to work as many hours as possible was that it kept her mind occupied.
At Chloe’s, she had time to think and she just didn’t want to.
She needed to distance herself from him.
It was the only way she’d gain perspective.
When she was with Jez, he consumed her totally.
She lost sense of who she was and now, being away from him, she realised to what extent he’d managed that.
She knew she’d have to call him, or at least send him a reply.
Dani looked again at the email. He’d threatened to come up if she didn’t.
Crap! She’d never be able to handle that.
She was in pieces over an email. To see him face to face, that would be almost unbearable.
She needed to keep him away from her, as much as possible, until she felt strong enough to face him.
Whatever happened, she had to reply, but she couldn’t right now.
She looked at the time. It was ten to five.
She put her phone away and headed to the mirror.
Shit! Her eyes were red and her face blotchy.
She retrieved her cosmetic bag from her locker and removed her morning’s make up and re-applied it.
She checked herself in the mirror as Rosa walked back into the changing room. “You okay?” Rosa asked softly.
Dani nodded. “Do I look like I’ve been crying?”
“No, not at all,” Rosa lied. “Come on, nothing like work to take your mind off everything.” Rosa rubbed her arm. “Or food! Capo made us pizza tonight.”
Dani grinned. “Pizza will definitely help.”
Dani worked around the restaurant quietly and efficiently, keeping herself busy. She was pleasant and professional throughout the evening, but Peter noticed that she was not her usual bubbly self. As Rosa came to the bar, Peter came up to her. “Is Dani alright? She seems a little off.”
Rosa’s eyes darted to Kuch, then over to Peter. “She just got an email from her ex and it upset her, that’s all.”
Peter glanced over to where Dani was taking an order and nodded. “Is she coming out with you tonight?”
Rosa’s face dropped and she cringed. “I forgot to tell her about our night out.”
Kuch pulled a face. “Rosa,” he chastised. “We can tell her anyway. She can borrow something of yours or Nicole’s to wear.”
“You’re kidding, right? She’s half my size and at least six inches taller!”
Nicole snorted behind Kuch and he smirked, “It doesn’t matter, she can wear whatever she has. I think she needs a change of mood.”
“You coming too, Chef?” asked Kuch.
Chef twisted his mouth. “Just for a bit.” Kuch smiled and nodded.
By eleven o’clock, La Casa had emptied. The kitchen staff were already down in the changing rooms and the restaurant staff were finishing off.
“Come on, come out with us. It’ll do you good.” Rosa was almost whining.
“I haven’t anything to wear and I’m really not good company tonight.” Dani scrunched up her nose. Rosa felt bad for her, especially as it was her fault Dani hadn’t known.
“You can wear your new boots. You said they go with anything,” she coaxed. Dani lips curled a little. “Come on. It’ll be fun. Drinking, dancing, flirting…” insisted Rosa.
Dani sighed, “So I’m going out in leggings and a sweatshirt?”
“And fabulous boots, don’t forget the boots.
” They’d made their way into the changing rooms. Carmen was just grabbing her jacket.
Dani stared at her in total surprise. Gone were her chef’s whites and bandana.
Her tiny frame was squeezed into a black halter top and skinny jeans, and she wore sky-high black ankle boots.
She’d styled her short blonde hair into dishevelled spikes and her makeup accentuated her blue eyes.
“Wow, Carmen, you look amazing!”
“Thanks.” Carmen blushed at the compliment. “You’re coming, right?”
Before Dani could answer, Rosa grabbed her elbow. “Yes, we’ll see you there.” Rosa opened up Dani’s locker and looked inside. “Okay, let’s see what you’ve got.”
Kuch slouched against the wall by the smoking table as he waited for the girls to get ready. He heard Jerome’s car pull up. Within a moment, Jerome was walking around the wall. “Hey Kuch. What are you doing out here?”
“Waiting for the girls to get ready.”
“I came to get change from the safe,” Jerome explained. “I’ll see you there, then.”
“Sure,” Kuch nodded and Jerome strode in through the back door, almost bumping into Nicole coming out.
“Ready?” Kuch straightened up expectantly.
“Not quite. Have you got another shirt, apart from the one you’re wearing?”
Kuch creased his brow and looked down at his apple green shirt. “Um, no. I’ve a couple of tops though. Don’t you like it?”
“I love it, just Dani’s nothing to wear and I’ve nothing spare and Rosa’s things don’t fit her – Dani’s too tall. I thought she could wear your shirt over her leggings.”
“Oh. Um, okay.” Kuch stubbed out his cigarette and Nicole grabbed his face and kissed him hard on the lips.
Kuch wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back, and for a moment, they forgot where they were.
The sound of Jerome’s footsteps alerted them and Nicole pulled away, stifling a grin.
Within a few seconds Jerome came out carrying a large bag.
“Still waiting?” Jerome asked.
“Yeah, women, eh?”
Jerome grinned and shook his head as he disappeared around the wall.
“That was close,” muttered Kuch.
“We’re gonna have to tell everyone sooner or later.” Nicole picked up his hand and toyed with it.
“Yeah, but I don’t fancy your cousins’ inquisition. They’re gonna freak and I really just want to enjoy what we have without the drama.”
Nicole kissed him quickly on the lips. “I know, you’re right. Come on, go change and give me your shirt.”
“THERE, YOU SEE? It looks perfect,” Rosa beamed.
“The boots are fabulous,” added Nicole.
“Yeah. One of the best feelings in the world is wearing new shoes. That and slipping into clean sheets,” sighed Dani.
“I can think of a few more,” sniggered Rosa. Dani and Nicole laughed.
Dani looked at herself in the mirror. Kuch’s shirt was secured with a gold chain belt Nicole had and was open to the waist. Dani wore a black vest she’d worn under her sweatshirt, that matched the black embroidery down the front of the shirt.
Her leggings and, of course, her new boots, completed her look.
“Come on. It’s almost midnight.”
Dani grinned. She had to admit she didn’t look bad. The smoky eye makeup helped. Dani hugged Rosa and then Nicole to express her thanks, glad they’d cajoled her into going out. After the day’s events, it was exactly what she needed. A chance to forget – even if it was just for a little while.