Chapter 18
ERROL’S EMPORIUM, MANHATTAN
If ‘avant-garde’ combined with ‘dangerous liaison’ had a fragrance, the interior of Errol’s Emporium was it.
In Luca’s opinion anyway. Always, when he stepped into this space filled with rails and racks of everything from retro disco garments to something Jacob Elordi in Wuthering Heights could have worn, he was hit with both nostalgia and new beginnings.
As always, it was busy, clientele rummaging through the lines like it was T J Maxx.
‘This place is cool,’ Phoebe said, immediately stepping over towards a rail of dresses.
‘This place is weird,’ Gabriella said, eyes darting about the room like perhaps she was looking for an escape route from here too.
‘We aren’t going to be shopping in this part,’ Luca told her, scanning the space for his friend, the owner.
‘Is that so?’ boomed a voice from behind him. ‘And what part do y’all think y’all gonna be shopping in?’
Luca turned around and grinned at the six-foot-three black man who had apparently buzzed his hair and dyed what was left orange since the last time he’d seen him.
‘Errol, my man,’ he greeted, gathering him into a back-slapping hug.
‘How you doing?’ He let him go, surveyed the denim dungarees over the kind of tie-dye T-shirt that he felt should be outlawed.
‘I’m alive! Not that you would know. It’s been months, Marcello.’
‘Manning,’ Luca corrected, heat gathering as he side-eyed Gabriella to see if she had heard. Unclear.
‘And now you need a favour?’ Errol powered on, toying with the headphones snug around his neck.
‘I am a paying customer,’ Luca reminded him. ‘I have a budget.’ He lowered his voice. ‘For something more than what’s up here.’
‘Why are you whispering like I don’t run a business of legitimacy?’ Errol stared directly at Gabriella and it was only then Luca realised he hadn’t introduced them.
‘Hi,’ Gabriella said, waving a hand. ‘I literally have no idea what I’m doing here so, right now, legitimacy is about as important to me as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s comfort at night.’
‘Whoa, girl, I hear you,’ Errol said, grinning.
‘Errol, this is Gabriella Felix. Ms Felix, this is my good friend, Errol Dalton.’
‘Gabriella Felix. Girl, I thought I recognised you. Zero Fucks Given. Hold up, what’s the tagline again… No wasting, waiting or hesitating.’
Luca watched Gabriella nod, a little embarrassed, maybe? Of her work?
‘I am a fan of your mantra,’ Errol said, holding out his hand. ‘It’s the very reason my hair is orange.’
‘Oh, wow,’ Gabriella said. ‘That’s quite the accolade you’ve just given me.’
Errol laughed – that high-pitched squeak that made everyone around him feel good. ‘I like you already!’ He turned his attention back to Luca. ‘So, what are we doing here, Luca?’
‘You know what we’re doing here,’ he answered.
‘I don’t actually,’ Gabriella remarked. ‘But some of those shiny shirts over there are starting to terrify me and they might actually blind Phoebe if she gets too close.’
‘I also sell sunglasses,’ Errol told her. He turned back to Luca. ‘So, you. How do you know I have what you want?’ He stuck his hands on his hips.
Luca took a deep breath. ‘Actually, I don’t know.’
‘Oh shit,’ Errol answered. ‘You’re in trouble.’
‘Not trouble. Just on a timeline.’
‘How long do we have?’
‘The event’s tonight.’
‘Luca!’ His name was said like the yelp of an injured puppy.
Quickly, Luca put his hands on his friend’s shoulders and pressed firm. ‘Errol, you’ve got this.’
‘I don’t got this and I don’t need to got this. I can say no.’
‘But that would make you a very bad friend.’
Errol sucked air through his teeth. ‘You know I’m a sucker for a story of desperation.’
‘Then let’s go,’ Luca said.