Never Mind The Botox: Rachel (37 page)

It was true: she had loved it, and the buzz it had given her afterwards. Maybe it would be worth a try, and in any case, it would mean she could see lots of Luke.

‘Well, maybe we could give it a try. I’m not promising I’ll do the race, mind you. We’ll have to see how it goes.’

As they walked home from the restaurant Rachel put her arm tentatively through Luke’s. He responded by smiling and ruffling her hair. They walked back to Rachel’s flat without saying much, just enjoying the stillness of the evening air and the closeness of each other. When they got to Rachel’s front door, she couldn’t decide whether to invite Luke in or not. In the end, he made the decision for her.

‘I’d better go. Thanks for a great evening,’ he said.

He leant forward to kiss Rachel on the cheek, but she turned her head and brushed her lips onto his instead. Luke shivered slightly and pulled her towards him. They stood holding each other tightly for a few moments and then Luke slowly leaned down and kissed her, properly this time, causing Rachel’s back to arch involuntarily and her legs to go rather wobbly.

‘I think I can still smell sick,’ said Luke, snuffling gently round her neck.

‘Liar,’ said Rachel, smiling.

Luke stepped back and took both her hands.

‘So, when shall we start training then?’

‘I don’t mind,’ said Rachel. ‘Whenever suits you.’

‘How about tomorrow then? Call me when you get back from work and I’ll pop over.’

‘Okay, although I can’t quite believe I’ve agreed to this,’ said Rachel. ‘I must be mad.’

‘I like mad,’ said Luke, kissing her again. ‘In fact, I like mad a lot.’

A couple of days later, Rachel met Shali for a catch-up.

Shali stared at Rachel across the coffee shop table. ‘You’re doing what?’

‘Training for a ten-k,’ said Rachel.

‘Wow, you must really like this guy,’ said Shali.

‘It’s not that. It’s good for me, that’s all,’ said Rachel.

‘Yeah, right!’ Shali looked like she didn’t believe a word of it. ‘So have you started training yet?’

‘Yes, we’ve just done a few gentle jogs so far. I think Luke is trying to work out exactly how unfit I am! Anyway, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I was a bit stiff the next day but nothing more than that and I slept really well.’

Shali eyed Rachel suspiciously. ‘And you didn’t dive into any bushes for some cheeky outdoor sex?’

‘No we did not! Not yet anyway. We’re, you know, taking things slowly,’ said Rachel, grinning.

‘Oh right, that’s nice,’ said Shali, faking a yawn.

‘Yes, it is actually,’ said Rachel.

‘When are you seeing him next?’ Shali asked.

‘Tomorrow morning, early. We’re going to start running before work a couple of days a week. I think it will be a bit easier than when I’m knackered after work,’ said Rachel.

‘How early?’ Shali looked alarmed.

‘Six o’clock,’ said Rachel, grimacing.

‘I can’t believe that some bloke is getting Rachel Altman out of bed at six o’clock in the morning to go running. It’s a bloody miracle,’ said Shali.

‘Leave me alone,’ said Rachel, punching Shali gently on the arm.

‘No seriously, I’m pleased for you, Rach, really I am,’ said Shali, giving Rachel a hug.

‘I’m pleased for me too,’ said Rachel, grinning.

Three weeks later, Rachel, Shali and Natalie were standing chatting in Bar Q at the department’s quarterly drinks. On the small, high-topped table next to them sat a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket. Stood next to it was a large bottle of water.

‘So how long left to go until the race?’ Natalie asked.

‘Just over a fortnight,’ said Rachel.

‘Are you going to be ready?’ asked Shali.

‘I hope so. I’ve been training really hard and Luke thinks I will. I’m not trying to get a brilliant time or anything. If I do it in less than an hour, I’ll be happy,’ said Rachel.

‘Well, I have to say, you look fantastic. Whatever you’re getting up to with Luke seems to be working,’ said Shali, adding quickly, ‘not that you didn’t look fantastic before, by the way.’

‘Thanks. I can’t tell you what a difference it’s made,’ said Rachel. ‘I’ve got so much more energy and I’m loads more focused at work. Having a few nights of not drinking and running instead has just transformed me. Carl doesn’t quite know what’s hit him!’

‘How is the radiators job, by the way?’ Natalie asked.

‘Radiating, thanks,’ said Rachel, laughing. ‘Actually going very well. Carl is really pleased. It’s a much more complicated business than you might think. There are so many different types of radiators and the distribution system is really very fragmented and…’

But before she could finish, Shali put her head on Natalie’s shoulder and they both closed their eyes and started to snore.

Rachel started laughing. ‘Yes, alright, very funny guys.’

‘Sorry, did you say something?’ said Natalie, pretending to wake up.

‘I was just saying that it was going fine, thanks,’ said Rachel.

‘Oh, right, good,’ said Natalie.

‘And are things going fine with the lovely Luke too, apart from the running, that is?’ Shali asked.

Rachel couldn’t help grinning. ‘Yes, very promising.’

‘That sounds like a school report that actually means “could do better”,’ said Shali.

‘Well, I don’t. I mean very promising,’ said Rachel. ‘What’s surprised me is how much fun we can have doing nothing. Last Sunday we took a picnic to Primrose Hill and just sat there reading the papers, watching the world go by and chatting. Nothing very exciting, but I loved every minute of it. Harry would never have done that in a million years, not when there were perfectly good cafes selling fry-ups or pubs showing football matches available anyway.’

Shali and Natalie smiled at Rachel.

‘Well, here’s to the next chapter,’ said Natalie, picking up her champagne glass.

‘Hold on, the fitness queen needs some more water,’ said Shali, topping up Rachel’s glass.

‘And there was me thinking we’d agreed to have a big night out,’ sighed Natalie.

‘Sorry. I’m running at six o’clock. I haven’t given up completely but I just can’t do it the night before an early run, otherwise I feel like shit,’ said Rachel. ‘Anyway, I’m still capable of being interesting and funny without drinking half a bottle of champagne.’

‘Are you? Oh I’m not sure,’ said Natalie, shaking her head and looking at Shali. ‘What do you think?’

‘I very much doubt it,’ said Shali. ‘If that radiator story is anything to go by, we’re in for a really dull evening.’

‘Fuck off the pair of you,’ said Rachel.

And the three of them laughed until Rachel had tears in her eyes and Natalie needed the loo.

‘Back in a mo,’ said Natalie and she headed off to the ladies’. Rachel and Shali carried on chatting and laughing for a few minutes until Shali stopped and looked at Rachel seriously.

‘Look, while we’re on our own, I’ve got something to tell you,’ said Shali.

‘What?’ Rachel asked, concerned by the expression on Shali’s face.

‘It’s a bit of a confession really. I’ve been meaning to ring you but then I thought it would be better if I told you face to face,’ said Shali.

‘Told me what?’ Rachel asked, frowning. This didn’t sound good at all.

‘I’ve been, umm, seeing someone,’ said Shali, shifting uncomfortably.

Rachel’s hand flew up to her mouth. Oh my God, she was seeing Rowan again!

‘Shali, no! How could you? I thought it was all over between you. Hasn’t Rowan told you that Laura’s pregnant again?’

‘It’s not Rowan,’ said Shali.

‘Who then?’ Rachel looked confused.

‘Harry,’ said Shali.

Rachel looked at Shali in amazement. ‘You’ve been seeing Harry?’

Shali nodded.

‘Since when?’

‘Only since last week. I bumped into him at Jimmy Macks and we sort of hit it off,’ said Shali. ‘I thought with you seeing Luke and everything that you’d be okay with it.’

Shali closed her eyes and screwed up her face like she was preparing herself for the worst, but instead Rachel burst out laughing.

‘You’re not cross then,’ said Shali, tentatively opening one eye.

‘No,’ said Rachel, just so relieved that it wasn’t Rowan. ‘Not cross at all. In fact, now I come to think of it, you two are probably perfect for each other.’

Shali frowned at Rachel. ‘I’m not sure that’s a compliment.’

‘No, neither am I, but hey, who cares as long as you’re having fun,’ said Rachel, laughing.

‘I am,’ said Shali, laughing too.

‘Well, you of all people should know what he’s like, so good luck to you!’ said Rachel.

‘It’s just a bit of fun,’ said Shali. ‘I don’t expect it to last.’

‘Good, low expectations from the start. That’s definitely the right approach with Harry,’ said Rachel. ‘Good for you.’

‘So you definitely don’t mind?’ Shali asked.

‘No, I don’t,’ said Rachel. She really didn’t and was very happy with the thought that maybe Harry had finally met his match.

Rachel spent the evening chatting with Natalie and Shali as well as others in her department, broken only by the occasional shimmy on the tiny dance floor in the corner of Bar Q.

As Rachel went to the bar to get another bottle of water Carl appeared by her side.

‘Having a good evening?’ he asked.

‘Yes, very good, thanks,’ Rachel replied.

Carl leant towards her and lowered his voice. ‘Look, I’ll talk to you properly in the office but I wanted you to know that I’m stepping down from looking after Beau Street. We’ve won a major new client that the other partners want me to handle but it’s a big time commitment. So I’ve had to trim down my client base and, well, given where we are, Beau Street was a logical choice to be on the list to go.’

‘Oh I see. Good news on the new client, but Tom will be disappointed, I’m sure,’ said Rachel.

‘Actually I’ve spoken to him already and he’s fine with it. Particularly when I told him you would be taking over.’

‘Me?’

‘Yes you, with some support from another partner, of course. But with a much bigger role than you have now − you know, their main contact, running everything day to day, that sort of thing. You’re the obvious choice.’

Rachel was stunned. ‘Wow, thank you.’

‘And I have no doubt that you can do it,’ said Carl. ‘Let’s talk next week.’

‘Carl, I’m so grateful. Thank you! That’s brilliant…’

But Carl wasn’t listening. He had already wandered off in the direction of the dance floor.

Rachel went back to join the others, hugging herself with delight. Her own client! Well, nearly anyway. What a turn up for the books.

‘Hey you two, have you seen old Pauline Rowe?’ said Natalie as Rachel returned from the bar.

‘No, why?’ Rachel asked.

‘Look at her − she’s off her face,’ said Natalie. ‘She’s stumbling all over the place.’

The three of them watched as Pauline swayed from side to side as she stood at the bar, talking loudly to one of the other staff managers. She was dressed in a less than flattering pair of black trousers that were a couple of inches too short and a shiny cream shirt tucked into a wide pink neon belt at the waist. Her ample bottom stuck out at the back and her stomach hung over the belt at the front. It wasn’t a great look.

‘She’d better not put a scarf on with that belt, otherwise she’ll turn into sausages,’ said Natalie, causing Rachel and Shali to giggle hysterically.

‘It’s not like her to be drunk. She’s usually so prim and proper,’ said Shali.

‘Maybe it’s a special occasion. How funny. Anyway, I’d better go,’ said Rachel reluctantly. ‘It’s getting late.’

She said goodbye to Shali and Natalie and headed out of Bar Q to look for a cab. It was a bit weird leaving a work do stone cold sober, but at least it meant she wouldn’t be getting woken up by the taxi driver. She’d been standing waiting for a couple of minutes when she heard laughing behind her. It was Pauline Rowe and the other staff manager, who Rachel vaguely recognised from one of the other departments. They were stumbling along, holding on to each other, both equally drunk.

‘We’d better get ourselves into a cab,’ said Pauline, looking around.

Her friend dropped her arm and wandered towards the road. ‘I’ll look for it. You sit yourself down,’ she said, waving vaguely towards a raised flowerbed with a small wall round it.

Pauline sat down clumsily on the wall. As Rachel watched, she swayed backwards and forwards a few times and then completely tipped over backwards straight into the flowerbed. Rachel ran over to help her, trying hard not to laugh.

‘Pauline, are you okay?’ Rachel peered over her sticking up legs. Her trouser legs had slipped up towards her knees, revealing a pair of rather laddered, light brown pop socks. Pauline was wriggling hard, trying to get her head out of the shrub that she’d fallen into. Rachel jumped into the flowerbed and helped Pauline up, carefully unpicking her cream shirt from the thorny branches.