Chapter 7
Seven
CLARA
W hile I was sitting amongst what felt like my entire wardrobe, attempting to pack, there was a loud knock on my door. When I managed to navigate my way out of the piles of clothes and made it to the door, I opened it to find Rachel talking to Jesse.
He was half standing in his front door, holding a suit jacket still in its bag, out for Rachel’s appraisal. She smiled at me when she saw me.
“Your boy is wearing purple. How complementary of him,” Rachel said, throwing a wink at Jesse. Pink bloomed up his neck as he zipped the garment bag back up.
Lucy was an interior designer, and as a result, all of us had picked up various bits of knowledge along the way. Specifically, the colour palette. A complementary colour to purple was yellow. The colour of the bridesmaid dresses. It was likely a coincidence, as the dress I handed to my parents had been completely covered. But still, what a coincidence.
“I’m sure you didn’t come over here just to hound my neighbour,” I said, ignoring Rachel’s implications.
“You’re right, I didn’t. This was just an added bonus.” She patted Jesse’s arm before she walked into my flat, leaving Jesse and me still half-standing in the corridor.
“It’s a nice colour,” I offered. The pink on his neck deepened.
I wondered how far the flushing went down his body, which then led to thoughts of what else I could say that would make him turn that colour…
“Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Jesse’s voice cut my thoughts off.
“See you tomorrow.”
Jesse closed his door, and I turned back into my flat.
“ It’s a nice colour ,” Rachel mocked.
“Shut up! Why are you even here?” I asked, determined to get Rachel off the subject of Jesse, purples and yellows.
“In a sec. Have you done something to this place?” She did a full three-sixty.
“You’re standing where the sofa used to be.” It had been nearly two weeks since it went missing, and I was still annoyed every time I acknowledged it.
“Are you going to tell me where the sofa has gone? If I remember correctly that thing nearly ended your relationship with Lucy.”
“No, that was the colour of the bedroom. And Drew took it.”
I walked to the bedroom, not looking at Rachel as I passed her.
“What do you mean Drew took it? How did he take a whole sofa?” Rachel called out behind me.
“He came to get his stuff, and when I came back, the sofa was gone. I’m not going to ask him for it back. End of.”
Rachel appeared in my room and perched on the only part of the bed not covered in clothes.
“Do you think he did it on purpose? To get you to speak to him?” she asked quietly.
“It’s always possible, but it’s not working. I am not going to beg him for a sofa back.” I exhaled a sharp breath. “I still don’t know why you’re here,” I pointed out.
“Two reasons. One, it’s my turn to check on you.”
“I’m still fine.”
“Okay. Second reason, can you check if Jesse can drive? I know the original plan was for your dad to come and get you, but Becky figured that if she could save Darren the trip, she might as well.”
It had been so long since Becky had cause to do so in my life, that I forgot she was a meddler.
Dad had volunteered to come and get me. He liked driving, and he would always come to get me if I needed him. But that wasn’t good enough for Becky now that I wasn’t flying solo.
I would let her have this one because the prospect of being in a car with Dad and Jesse was way less appealing than the prospect of being in one with just Jesse.
“I’m pretty sure he can, but I’ll double-check.” My eyes caught on my covered bridesmaid dress. “How are you packing your dress?”
“I fit a steamer in my suitcase. It cost me some clothes, so please pack accordingly as I will be borrowing, and you and your thick-thighed goddess body are my only hope. You’re welcome!”
I threw a random, singular sock at her. “Did I thank you?”
“You should, Little Miss Throw-everything-in-a-suitcase-at-the-last-minute-with-no-care-for-how-creased-they-may-get. Now you don’t have to worry about anything. Including this.” She pulled a box of condoms out of her bag and threw them in my still-empty suitcase.
I scoffed. “Won’t need them.”
Rachel hummed. “Sure you won’t. Do you still have those pink trousers?”
I nodded and pointed to where they were resting at the top of the pile of clothes next to her. She plucked them from the pile and added them in with the condoms. “I’ll leave you to your panic packing. I’ve gotta go see Lucy. Can you let me know about the car?”
“Yeah, I will. Hey, can you ask Lucy to pack that purple tennis dress she stole from me? I want it back.”
“Will do. See you tomorrow. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Rachel was gone before I finished speaking.