Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn (19 page)

‘Well, don’t just stand there; we have a shop to open. What the bloody hell have you been doing all morning?’

Bonnie glared at Linda, but she simply burst into laughter and went to put the mop away.

Nine

‘You’re going out?’ Paige asked with more than a hint of suspicion in her tone. ‘Where?’

‘I do go out, you know,’ Bonnie said as she looked at her through the mirror, fastening an earring.

‘I know but…’

‘Twice in one month?’ Bonnie raised an eyebrow. ‘Is that what you were going to say?’

‘Course not. It’s just weird.’ She folded her arms across her chest. ‘Do I have to go to Jeanie’s? Why can’t I have Annabel here? Why do I have to sleep at Jeanie’s? You won’t be that late, will you?’

‘I don’t know how late I’ll be. There’s no harm in seeing your nan, she’ll be happy to have the company.’

‘She’ll make me watch rubbish films.’

‘Take a book or something.’

Paige frowned.

‘Alright, take your ipad then.’

‘Can’t I stay here? Tina and Mike are just next door if I need anything.’

Bonnie turned around. ‘You can’t go knocking for Tina and Mike every five minutes. They have lives of their own, you know.’

‘Yeah, but they don’t mind. Tina’s dead nice; she’s said loads of times that they always wanted kids so they like having me around.’

‘For the occasional five minutes at the end of a school day, not in the evening when they’re trying to relax.’

Paige scuffed her shoe against the doorframe with an irritated pout. Bonnie looked up from rummaging in an old stained make-up bag for the right lipstick.

‘Surely the prospect of going to your nan’s can’t be that bad.’

‘It’s not that…’

‘What then?’

Paige shrugged silently.

‘If I didn’t know you better, Paige Cartwright, I’d say the reason you want to stay here is to check that I come home tonight.’

‘MUM!’ Paige groaned.

‘I’m right then?’

Paige paused for a moment. ‘Ok,’ she said finally. ‘Who is he?’

‘He?’

Paige looked her up and down meaningfully. ‘Usually, if it’s a drink with a mate – which you never do, by the way – you wear your jeans; you don’t dress up like that unless it’s a special occasion. You’re going on a date, right?’

Bonnie sighed as she straightened her dress. In the end, she had gone for a forest green lace number with a fitted bodice and flared skirt. It had a vintage look about it and Bonnie had always felt that it was one of her most useful dresses, one that she could wear tarted up, or dressed down, as she had done tonight by keeping the accessories to simple silver jewellery. ‘Does it matter if it is a date?’ she asked.

‘Depends who it is.’

‘I think that’s my business.’

‘Not if you’re thinking of moving him in.’

‘Of course I’m not thinking of moving him in,’ Bonnie replied wearily.

‘So you admit that you’re going on a date then?’

‘One date. Just to see how it goes, and I very much doubt there will be a second one to be honest.’

Bonnie thought about the meeting that Max had scheduled in with Sarah for the following evening. In the end, she and Max had decided that there was no point in beating about the bush, and they had made their date for the Saturday night, so that Max could arrange to see Sarah on the Sunday. Bonnie wasn’t sure how she felt about this arrangement. On the one hand, they had both agreed that this date was purely to appease Linda. At least, that was Bonnie’s reasoning behind it. She still felt slightly uneasy about how Max seemed a little too keen on the whole thing. Bonnie had been furious about the fridge stunt, while Max seemed faintly amused. But his insistence that he was still going to see Sarah afterwards rankled with Bonnie more than it ought to. He had made it clear that he was not meeting Sarah for any reason other than that she had asked him to, and to draw a line under their relationship once and for all. But still… what if Sarah persuaded him to take her back?

Bonnie shook her negative thoughts away. What did it matter? She had been trying to get Max a girlfriend anyway, so what if Sarah was the perfect one after all and he just couldn’t see it?

‘Whatever,’ Paige said, and disappeared into the living room.

A moment later, Bonnie went to find her. She was sitting on the sofa with a sheepish grin.

‘Ok, what have you done?’ Bonnie asked, narrowing her eyes.

‘There’s been a slight change of plan…’

Bonnie’s hands went to her hips. ‘What?’

‘Jeanie says she’ll come over here.’

‘You phoned her and told her to come here?’ Bonnie’s frown deepened.

‘What does it matter where she looks after me as long as she does?’

‘Because… it means dragging her out on a cold night, it’s not fair.’ Bonnie didn’t add the real reason she wanted them both out of the way safely at Jeanie’s house. Max had offered to pick her up and she didn’t want either of them to start asking awkward questions when they saw who her date was with. If she could have them both tucked away at her mum’s house before Max arrived, that would be perfect.

‘Phone her and tell her to stay put,’ Bonnie said, checking her watch. ‘I’ll run you across there now.’

‘She’s already got a taxi,’ Paige said.

‘How can she…’ Bonnie glared at Paige. ‘You phoned her ages ago! I specifically told you what the plans were and you went behind my back!’

‘Like you’re doing with me?’ Paige fired back.

‘How do you work that out?’

‘Secret dates, trying to get me out of the way so I don’t know anything about it. If this guy is going to be my new dad, I have a right to meet him first.’

‘For the last time, he is not going to be your new dad!’

‘So I can meet him anyway?’

‘So you can cock it up?’

‘Ha! You said it was one date, now you admit that you
are
thinking of moving him in!’

‘Paige!’

‘Next thing you’ll be telling me it’s that loser of a delivery man that comes to your shop. He’s always drooling over you.’

‘Max does not drool and it is only one date to shut Linda up!’

Paige’s eyes opened wide. ‘Oh my God, tell me it isn’t him…’

‘I don’t have to tell you anything.’ Bonnie swallowed the lump in her throat. It was her life, how dare Paige make her answer for everything she did. ‘Go to your room and wait for your nan to arrive.’

‘Make me…’

‘So help me, Paige, if you don’t get out of my sight I won’t be responsible for my actions!’

Paige leapt up from the sofa, glowering at Bonnie. ‘Alright, keep your knickers on.’

She threw a last mutinous glare back at her mum as she slouched to her bedroom and slammed the door.

Bonnie drew a huge breath and collected herself. Now she knew for certain that there could only ever be one date with Max. But she was sure as hell going to enjoy it, if only to teach Paige a lesson.

***

Jeanie kissed Bonnie lightly before shrugging her coat off.

‘I’m so sorry that Paige dragged you over here,’ Bonnie said as they walked through into the living room.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Jeanie said briskly. ‘If she’s not well then it doesn’t seem fair to drag her out on a night like this.’

Bonnie’s eyes narrowed. ‘She told you she wasn’t well? Little sod.’

‘Oh,’ Jeanie replied with a half-smile. ‘Not entirely true, then?’

‘About as true as me being related to the Pope.’

‘Well….’

Bonnie’s forehead creased into a frown. ‘Not even in jest, Mum.’

Jeanie grinned and settled on the sofa.

‘You know where everything is, Mum. Paige is in her room – long story – and my lift will be here any minute –’

‘Is this an actual date?’ Jeanie cut in.

‘Mum…’ Bonnie began slowly. ‘When you see who is picking me up, don’t get any funny ideas about it being a date. It’s just a drink together, a one off, that’s all. Ok?’

Jeanie nodded with fake solemnity. ‘So who is this mystery man?’

Bonnie paused. ‘Max Delaney,’ she said quickly before shoving her head down to root earnestly in her bag.

‘Max? Delivery Max?’

‘Mmm,’ Bonnie said.

‘I thought he was going out with that Sarah?’

‘He was… is… I don’t know. But we’re not going on a date so it doesn’t matter who he is or isn’t going out with.’

‘I think it does. What does Sarah think about this non-date?’

‘I have no idea.’

‘But he’s going to tell her?’

‘It has nothing to do with her. It’s not a date and he’s not seeing her anymore anyway.’

‘You just said he was,’

‘He’s not.’

‘You don’t sound so sure.’

Bonnie held up a hand to quiet her mum. She was just about to reply when there was a knock at the door.

‘That’ll be him now.’ Bonnie grimaced. ‘Please don’t give him the Spanish inquisition when he comes in.’

‘My lips are sealed.’

Bonnie threw her a warning look and went to get the door.

Max stepped in. ‘You look great, Bon,’ he said cheerfully, kissing Bonnie lightly on both cheeks.

‘I’ll just get my jacket,’ she said, flushing with pleasure.

‘No problem.’ Max followed Bonnie to the living room, stopping in the doorway as he saw Jeanie on the sofa.

‘Oh, hello…’ he said awkwardly, sticking his hands deep in his pockets as though if he put them in far enough, they could somehow swallow the rest of him too.

‘I’m babysitting while you go out on your friendly drink,’ Jeanie said carelessly. ‘How’s Sarah, by the way?’

Max blushed. ‘She’s good… We’re not together, actually,’ he added quickly. ‘Just friends now.’

Jeanie nodded slowly. ‘Just friends. Like you are with Bonnie?’

‘Mum…’ Bonnie cut in, ‘can you just come into the kitchen so I can show you what Paige is having for supper?’ She raised her eyebrows and nodded her head towards the door in an exaggerated gesture. Jeanie gave Max a saccharine smile and got up to follow her.

As they stepped into the kitchen, Bonnie closed the door behind them.

‘What are you doing?’ Bonnie hissed. ‘I asked you not to grill him.’

‘I don’t see what he has to hide.’

‘Nothing! He has nothing to hide but you’re making him feel uncomfortable.’

‘Because I don’t want you hurt again.’

Bonnie waved a hand at her. ‘You were the one that said I should start dating again!’

‘You said this wasn’t a date,’ Jeanie shot back.

Bonnie sighed. ‘We’re going for a drink, that’s it. There’s no need to worry.’

‘But I do. If he’s already led Sarah a merry dance, then who’s to say he won’t do that with you? I won’t be here soon to pick up the pieces if you get messed around by another man.’ Jeanie reached out and smoothed a stray lock of hair behind Bonnie’s ear. ‘All I’m saying, in my own ham-fisted way, is that you should be careful.’

‘I know, Mum. And I will be. There is absolutely no danger of me and Max becoming an item, so put your mind at rest now... ok?’

Jeanie arched an eyebrow and looked Bonnie up and down meaningfully. ‘For someone who is treating this as a simple friendly drink, you’ve made quite an effort.’

‘This old dress?’ Bonnie said trying to play down Jeanie’s observation. ‘I just got it out to get the moths drunk.’ She leaned over to kiss Jeanie on the cheek. ‘I won’t be late. Don’t let Paige cheek you back too often.’

***

‘I thought we were just going for a drink?’ Bonnie said as Max pulled up on the car park of the
La Bella Roma
restaurant.

‘We are,’ Max said, yanking the handbrake on. ‘We might just get some pasta with that drink.’

‘It’s expensive here,’ Bonnie frowned, glancing through the car window at the brightly lit building.

‘It’s on me.’

‘I can’t let you do that…’

Max held up a hand. ‘I said I wanted to take you out and I’m happy to pay. If this is the only chance I’m going to get then we might as well make it good.’

‘I don’t feel right not paying my half,’ Bonnie pressed.

‘We’ll share a plate if you’re worried.’ Max turned to her with his most charming grin. Something fluttered inside Bonnie but she swallowed the feeling down.

‘Cheapskate,’ she quipped.

Max clambered out of the car and sped around to the passenger door, opening it for Bonnie with a low bow. ‘
Madame
…’

Bonnie giggled. ‘Wow, if I had known how charming you were out of your delivery overalls I’d have gone out with you years ago.’

‘I’m like the Hulk, only in reverse,’ he grinned, ‘by day a grumpy Neanderthal, by night a sophisticated man-about-town.’ He offered Bonnie an arm. She took it. Max noticed her shiver slightly. ‘You’re cold?’ he asked.

She nodded. ‘A little bit. But it’s hardly very far and it’s my fault I came out in a stupid dress and a tiny cotton coat.

‘Here…’ he whipped off his jacket and hung it around her shoulders. ‘Better?’

Bonnie looked up at him gratefully. He had made an effort to muss his hair stylishly and wore a suit cut from expensive looking wool, teamed with a charcoal grey granddad shirt that complimented his blonde hair and created an air of casual, effortless elegance. Bonnie sniffed a little at his jacket. It smelled amazing and the scent of his woody aftershave filled her head, setting off that butterfly in her stomach again.

‘I am actually quite hungry,’ she said, trying to take her mind off the naughty little creature that was plaguing her. ‘Which makes me quite a pig as I had something to eat when I got in from work.’

‘That’s over three hours ago,’ Max said gallantly, looking at his watch. ‘They say the best way to eat is a little every couple of hours or so.’

‘Who says that?’ Bonnie laughed as they made their way across the car park to where the restaurant’s wide glass windows revealed the plush interior and well-dressed diners already tucking into their meals. ‘Clearly people who have backsides the size of Greater Manchester.’

Max laughed out loud. ‘I think it might be some very well respected scientist, actually. But I like your version better.’ He opened the door for Bonnie and she stepped in.

‘I’ve never been in here before,’ she whispered as they waited for someone to greet them.

‘Me neither,’ Max whispered back. ‘But I’m told it’s very nice.’