believe in Will and give him a chance. I haven’t felt this… this uplifted in a long time, and I like it. But how can I trust a guy who acts and speaks like he does, a guy I don’t know? And do I really want to get to know him, only to be disappointed and have my faith in men shattered all over again?
Sighing, I make my way toward my bedroom, when I see small bits of white litter the hallway. “What the…?” I move closer, squat, and pick one up, thinking at first that it’s a cottonwool ball.
Following the trail, I steer into Carly’s bedroom and am hit by what can only be described as a winter wonderland. The stuffing of Carly’s pillows is strewn across the bed and floor.
“Oh my God!” My hands fly up to cover my mouth. “Sasha, what have you done?”
She barks, sits, and wags her tail, happy with her artwork.
“Oh, baby girl. You’re in deeeeep shit when Mummy gets home.”
A piece of pillow stuffing floats into the air. I blow it away then laugh, because I’m not cleaning this shit up.
I’m in too good of a mood to do anything but go to bed and dream about misty blue eyes and a devilish grin.
“What the fuck!”
I spring up in bed, my heart hammering in my chest.
“Libby!” Carly yells.
Tossing off my blanket, I nearly trip over it when I try to grab my robe. “What? What’s wrong?”
“Why has a snowman blown his load all over my bedroom?” she screeches.
Stopping in my tracks, I leave the robe and climb back into bed. Damn her. I was happily dreaming of a castle in a faraway place.
Just as I start to doze again, my bedroom door springs open, and Carly appears with pillow stuffing in her hands.
“I was sleeping,” I grumble.
“What the hell happened last night?”
“The sun visited the other side of the earth.”
The pillow stuffing hits my face. “Very funny.”
“Your dog happened; that’s what.”
“But I shut my door.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Crack-smoking Barbie moves farther into my room and picks up my long black dress I draped over the back of my chair. “Did you wear this last night?”
“I did.”
“Nice!”
She also picks up my coat. “Please tell me you didn’t wear this too.”
“I did.”
“God help me. I take it you didn’t get laid then.”
“No.”
“You can blame that on the granny coat.”
“Go away, Carly. Go clean your snowman sperm.”
“It can wait.” My bed moves, and I realise she’s lying top to toe with me when her big toe pokes me in the eye.
“Jesus!” I swipe it away from my head. “What are you doing? Get out.”
“I wanna know how your date went.”
“It was fine.”
“Did Will touch your boobies?”
“No! Oh my God, Carly, you’re such a child.”
“Did you touch Will’s willy?”
I choke on my laugh. “No! We just went out for dinner. That’s all.”
“That can’t be all.”
“It is.”
My phone buzzes on the bedside table, so I pick it up to see a message from Will.
Will: Mornin’, beautiful. I’m picking you up at midday
I smile.
She nudges me with her toe again. “That’s him, isn’t it?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“It’s Sal with a new book rec.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care.”
I quickly send him a reply.
Me: No, you’re not. I’m busy.
He replies straight away.
Will: Yeah, busy with me.
Me: No, I’m serious. I have an appointment
Will: What kind of appointment?
Me: None of your business.
He doesn’t answer, so I put my phone down and sit up.
“Get out.” I throw a pillow at Carly. “I need to shower and head off.”
“Where are you going?”
“To see Dr Tao.”
“Is it that time again?”
“Yup.”
“Want me to come?”
I shrug. “It’s up to you.”
Carly sits up too and tosses the pillow back at me. “I’m sorry you have to go through this so often.” She pouts and blinks her black-rimmed, puppy dog eyes.
I smile appreciatively. “I’m used to it.”
“Still. It can’t be nice to always have it looming over you like a giant turd cloud.”
I’ve never thought of it as a “turd cloud” before. A constant shadow that survives without light, yes. But a turd cloud? I guess that works too.
“It is what it is,” I say. “I can’t change it. I can only play the cards I’ve been dealt.”
She stands up. “What time’s your appointment?”
“Midday.”
“Okay. We’ll take Suzi and make a girly day out of it.”
“Girly day?”
“Yeah. We’ll hit the shops, and I can help you buy better clothes.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my clothes.”
She swishes her hand. “That’s debatable. You’re dating now; therefore, you need dating clothes.”
“I’m not dating.”
“You will be.”
“Says