with you, Emma ?" and it really means "Shall we nip out to Starbucks "'
I told him our skiving code.
I stare desperately at Katie's eager face, trying somehow to convey the message to her.
Do not say it. Do not say you want to go over some numbers with me.
But she's completely oblivious.
'I just erm' She clears her throat in a businesslike way and glances self-consciously at
Jack Harper. 'Could I possibly go over some numbers with you, Emma?'
Fuck.
My face floods with colour. My whole body is prickling.
'You know,' I say, in a bright, artificial voice, 'I'm not sure that'll be possible today.'
Katie stares at me in surprise.
'But I have to I really need you to go over some numbers with me.' She nods in excitement.
'I'm quite tied up here with my work, Katie!' I force a smile, simultaneously trying to
telegraph 'Shut up!'
'It won't take long! Just quickly.'
'I really don't think so.'
Katie is practically hopping from foot to foot.
'But Emma, they're very important numbers. I really need to to tell you about them'
'Emma.' At Jack Harper's voice I jump as though I've been stung. He leans towards me
confidentially. 'Maybe you should go over the numbers.'
I stare back at him for a few moments, unable to speak, blood pounding in my ears.
'Right,' I manage after a long pause. 'OK. I'll do that.'
SEVEN
burst into hysterical laughter. Everyone else is in the office, trying as hard as they can to
impress Jack Harper. And here I am, strolling off nonchalantly under his nose for a
cappuccino.
'I'm sorry I interrupted you,' says Katie brightly, as we push our way through the doors of
Starbucks. 'With Jack Harper there and everything. I had no idea he'd be just sitting there! But
you know, I was really subtle,' she adds reassuringly. 'He'll never know what we're up to.'
'I'm sure you're right,' I manage. 'He'll never guess in a million years.'
'Are you OK, Emma?' Katie looks at me curiously.
'I'm fine!' I say with a kind of shrill hilarity. 'I'm absolutely fine! So why the emergency
summit?'
'I had to tell you. Two cappuccinos, please.' Katie beams at me excitedly. 'You won't believe
it!'
'What is it?'
'I've got a date. I met a new guy!'
'No!' I say, staring at her. 'Really? That was quick.'
'Yes, it happened yesterday, just like you said! I deliberately walked further than usual in my
lunch hour, and I found this really nice place where they were serving lunch. And there was
this nice man in the line next to me and he struck up a conversation with me. Then we
shared a table and chatted some more and I was just leaving, when he said did I fancy
having a drink some time?' She takes the cappuccinos with a beam. 'So we're going out this
evening.'
'That's fantastic!' I say in delight. 'So come on, what's he like?'
'He's lovely. He's called Phillip! He's got these lovely twinkly eyes, and he's really charming
and polite, and he's got a great sense of humour'
'He sounds amazing!'
'I know. I have a really good feeling about him.' Katie's face glows as we sit down. 'I really do.
He just seems different. And I know this sounds really stupid, Emma' she hesitates. 'But I
feel you somehow brought him to me.'
'Me?'
I gape at her.
'You gave me the confidence to speak to him.'
'But all I said was-'
'You said you knew I'd meet someone. You had faith in me. And I did!' Her eyes begin to
shine. 'I'm sorry,' she whispers, and dabs her eyes with a napkin. 'I'm just a bit overcome.'
'Oh Katie.'
'I just really think my life is going to turn around. I think everything's going to get better. And
it's all down to you, Emma!'
'Really, Katie,' I say awkwardly. 'It was nothing.'
'It wasn't nothing!' she gulps. 'And I wanted to do something for you in return.' She rummages
in her bag and pulls out a large piece of orange crochet. 'So I made you this last night.' She
looks at me expectantly. 'It's a headscarf.'
For a few moments, I can't move. A crochet headscarf.
'Katie,' I manage at last, turning it over in my fingers. 'Really, you you shouldn't have!'
'I wanted to! To say thank you.' She looks at me earnestly. 'Especially after you lost that
crochet belt I made for you for Christmas.'
'Oh!' I say, feeling a pang of guilt. 'Er, yes. That was such a shame.' I swallow. 'It was a
lovely belt. I was really upset to lose it.'
'Oh what the hell!' Her eyes well up again. 'I'll make you a new belt, too.'
'No!' I say in alarm. 'No, Katie, don't do that.'
'But I want to!' She leans forward and gives me a hug. 'That's what friends are for!'
It's another twenty minutes before we finish our second cappuccinos and head back for the
office. As we approach the Panther building I glance at my watch and see with a lurch that
we've been gone thirty-five minutes in all.
'Isn't it amazing we're getting new coffee machines?' says Katie as we hurry up the steps.
'Oh yes. It's great.'
My stomach has started to churn at the thought of facing Jack Harper again. I haven't felt so
nervous since I took my grade one clarinet exam and when the examiner asked me what my