Venice.’
‘Really? I’m in that area too, right by the canal.’ Will recited his phone number, and she entered it with difficulty into the phone. All that alcohol didn’t exactly aid accuracy.
Will got to his feet, swaying slightly. Emma hid a smile—it was nice to see she wasn’t the only one feeling the effects of the night. ‘I’ll be off, then. Please say goodbye to Alice and Chaz for me.’ By the slurping sounds emanating from the kitchen, they’d progressed well beyond drinks.
Smoothing back her unruly hair, Emma stood, too. What she wouldn’t give for a mirror right about now! She could only imagine the state of her makeup.
‘Okay.’ She faced him uncertainly, nerves fluttering in her belly. ‘Well, er … ’bye.’
Will smiled, his eyes crinkling up in the way she was beginning to love. ‘’Bye. I’ll see you tomorrow—or rather, today.’ As he leaned over to kiss her cheek, Emma breathed in the scent of his lemony cologne, feeling the scratch of his stubble against her skin. A wave of desire washed over her and she pulled back, the intensity of emotion jolting her into action.
‘Good night,’ she croaked out as Will shrugged on his coat, lifted a hand, and closed the door behind him.
CHAPTER NINE
‘W akey, wakey!’ Alice’s chipper voice rang from the kitchen like a hammer battering the softest part of Emma’s skull. ‘Come on, I’ve got just the thing to help hangovers. Full English!’
Groaning, Emma slowly raised herself into the sitting position. Every muscle in her body ached like she’d run a marathon, and she couldn’t raise her eyelids more than halfway. Glancing around the roo m from her precarious perch on Alice’s sofa, she took in the empty wine glasses and half-smoked cigarillos— had she smoked ?
What time was it, anyway? Forcing her eyes wide open, she rummaged in her handbag until her fingers closed around the mobile. Oh, a voice mail. Who could that be? Probably Will calling to cancel, she thought, before remembering she was supposed to be positive. Ah well, it was way too early for Pollyanna.
Sighing, Emma punched in the access code. There was a pause, then her mother’s voice echoed down the line. ‘Just calling to check in. It’s been a while since we’ve seen you. We’d love to have you and George over for dinner sometime.’
Emma’s heart dropped. She still hadn’t filled in her mum on George or the minor detail that she was now unemployed. And when was the last time she’d visited the house? She couldn’t even remember.
‘By the way, I found a whole load of your old sketchbooks when I was cleaning out a cupboard upstairs. I’ve popped them in the post to you.’
Emma’s mind flashed to the hours she’d spent sprawled on t he be d, drawing. She’d loved the satisfying scratch of the pencil on the pad, the way she could pour visions from her head and onto the paper, bringing them to life. It’d be cool to flip through those pages again, as if she could see inside her younger self.
‘Your father was so proud of your talent,’ the message continued. ‘He used to say you’d be the next great architect or designer.’ Her mother’s voice caught, and Emma jerked in surprise. This was the first time in ages her mum had mentioned her dad. Usually, he was a no-go area.
What would he think of how her life had turned out? He’d be impressed at her accomplishments, but he’d always said people shouldn’t live to work—they should work to live. Emma definitely hadn’t followed that mantra. Well, except for last night. She winced as pain pounded her temples.
‘Ems! Come on, eat your breakfast before it gets cold!’ Alice’s voice interrupted her thoughts, and Emma clicked off the phone. She’d call her mother later.
‘I’m feeling a bit delicate today,’ she said to Alice, creaking her way slowly into the kitchen. The smell of bacon and coffee made her stomach turn over.
Alice shook her head. ‘Mate, last night was epic .