Free Styling Wellywood: A fashionable romantic comedy (Wellywood Series Book 2) by Kate O'Keeffe

talentless wannabes.”
    “ Long may they be too out of it on illegal powdered substances to notice gate crashers,” I add.
    We clink glasses, both warmed by the memory.
    Coming back to reality I say, “Ah, yes, but we’re no longer in London, are we? We’re stuck here in Wellington.”
    “ Well, you certainly seem to be making new friends already, Jess. Was that Scott Wright I saw you with before?”
    I feel a flutter in my tummy as an image of him leaning in to whisper intimately in my ear instantly clouds my brain.
    “ Ah, yes,” I stammer. “He was just here meeting some friends. Wanted to know if I’m coming to the session tomorrow.”
    I’m really h oping my voice doesn’t give away my thoughts.
    “ And are you?” Ben raises his eyebrows at me, a mischievous grin plastered across his face.
    “ I’d thought about it and if I have time then I’ll go.”
    I feel completely transparent, as though Ben can see right through my response and can actually hear my thoughts, screaming, “I want to shag Scott senseless with every fibre of my being!”
    I gnoring Ben’s obvious enjoyment at my discomfort I decide it’s safest to change the subject. “Hey tell me, what did you mean by saying how well I looked when I saw you on court today? It’s not like I’m recovering from some dreaded lurgy, you know.”
    He laughs. “No, I didn’t mean that at all. Just you look good. I guess I’d forgotten how cute you are since I’ve been back and I was happy to see you, that’s all.”
    “ Cute? Like a puppy?” I tease him, poking him gently in the ribs.
    “ Yeah, let’s go with that. Like a puppy.” He gives me a broad grin and I’m reminded of why I like him so much - he’s witty, fun and makes me feel good about myself. Not a bad combination in a friend, really.
    That and he makes me look good too and I’ve noticed a number of women in the bar checking him out and darting me evil looks as we’ve been sitting here.
    “ So, how’s it going with you? You’ve been back, what, six months now?” I ask him.
    “ Seven,” he replies, “and I absolutely love it. It’s so nice to be near my family, hanging with old friends. Wellington’s got such an awesome vibe to it, don’t you think?”
    H e looks so genuinely enthusiastic I really don’t have the heart to tell him by being back here I feel as though I’ve been forced into penal servitude and would seriously consider a week wearing a burka in Afghanistan as a viable lifestyle alternative right now. Well, maybe it’s not that bad, but you get my point.
    “There are some good things, yes. Like …” I search my brain for something to be positive about. “… the coffee. That’s great.”
    “ Oh come on Jess,” he replies with passion. “This place rocks! It’s the perfect city with everything you could want in one place but small enough to avoid big city problems, like traffic and pollution.”
    I shake my head at him , smiling at his obvious delusion as he continues. “And you have to admit it’s really funky, Jess. Come on. The murals, the sculpture, the waterfront? The place definitely has a cool, creative vibe to it.”
    “Are you thinking of running for Wellington mayor or something, Ben?” I laugh.
    His enthusiasm is very endearing but no one in his or her right mind would ever think this place could compare to a world-class city like London.
    “ Oh ha ha, Jess. You’re such a comedian,” he replies in good humour. “Have you hiked up Kau Kau, been out to the wilds of Makara, been out of Karori at all ? The harbour on a day like today is just stunning, don’t you think?”
    “ I’ll admit the harbour did look pretty good today. I’ll give you that. But are you telling me you don’t miss London?” I ask, thinking no, I hadn’t done those hikes, and nor was I likely to want to in the foreseeable future. I had better things to do.
    “ Do you know, I really don’t. What’s to miss? The traffic? The grime? The amount of my