Maximum Dare - Vanessa Fewings Page 0,16
breath steamed a patch of glass. The gown represented hope. The promise of a life of glamour and excitement—that perhaps, by some miracle, a fairy Godmother would appear and give me the confidence to be more than what I’d always been.
The girl next door who rarely left the house.
My days at work kept me busy helping others…watching their faces light up with happiness when they tried on a dress. But it wasn’t all fairy dust and contented customers. Now and again, a snobby client came into the store, one of the stuck-up types. To them, I was the invisible shop girl whose only job was to fetch their size and then help them in and out of it. That’s how I’d learned to master a fake smile.
I turned my back on the display window and walked away, finally rising from my daydreaming to notice the sounds of traffic and pedestrians surrounding me, the noise nudging me home so that I could escape.
The Knightsbridge Tube was my usual way back home to Richmond. My mind felt as numb as my hands in the bitter cold, despite my parka and gloves. Once on the Tube, I buried my face in the Vogue magazine I’d found discarded in the coffee room, flipping through pages filled with women who looked incredible, having found happiness in a handbag. It reminded me of Morgan’s Instagram page.
A moment later, I did myself a favor and deleted the Instagram app off my phone. This was the kindest thing I could do for myself. An act of selfcare that might well save my sanity.
As soon as I made it home, I went straight to my bedroom.
I lay on my single bed, flipping through all the channels on the TV, not really watching anything. I tried not to think about what I could have done to prevent my life from going tits-up.
Competing with someone like Morgan was impossible. She was larger than life, and it hurt like hell knowing that Nick had spent time with her while we’d been together.
It was devastating to realize that my love had never been enough for him.
A knock at the door had me pushing PAUSE on the remote.
Barbara came in and glanced at the TV screen. “How are you, love?”
“Fine.”
She looked concerned. “You’re in your PJs already?”
“They’re comfy.”
“Well, you have a visitor.” She spoke the words as though offering me hope and encouragement.
“Nick?”
“No, it’s that handsome young man who helped you move.”
I shot up. “He’s here?”
“In the sitting room,” she said with a nod. “Do you want me to send him away?”
A rush of excitement made me giddy. “No, I’ll be right down.”
Maybe Max had come to give me a message from Nick.
Within minutes, I’d dressed in jeans and a T-shirt and had pulled my hair up into a ponytail. Feeling decent enough to face Max, I headed downstairs with my heart racing and my spirits rising.
Max was sitting on the sofa, balancing a small teacup on his knee. His worried stare was fixed on Auntie’s new Corgi, who was ensconced right next to him.
He’d removed his coat to tolerate the central heating—Barbara had the place as hot as a furnace.
I let my gaze take in his ripped jeans, stretching tightly over his thighs, and the J. Crew jumper that fit him so well. His thick, raven hair was the kind a girl wouldn’t be able to resist running her fingers through. I imagined kissing the stubble on his rugged jaw.
He turned to look at me, a tender expression in his eyes. “Hey, Daisy.”
His voice caused a shiver to run down my spine. I walked farther into the room.
“I see you’ve met Wilma, then,” I said.
He glanced at the Corgi. “She’s not scary at all.”
“I think she likes you.”
“How can you tell?”
“You’re still alive.”
He threw his head back and laughed. His reaction made me crack a smile, too.
“Wilma has that whole staring competition thing going on,” said Max, reaching out to scratch her head. “You win, girl.”
Wilma wagged her tale and buried her nose in his side as he continued to rub her.
“How are you?” he asked, his tone laced with concern.
“Hanging in there. Is everything okay with Nick?”
He hesitated. “Yes, of course.”
“Um…” Then why are you here?
He pushed to his feet and set his teacup on the coffee table. “Grab your coat.”
“I’m…a little busy right now.”
“I need your help with something, Daisy.”
My eyes widened in surprise. “What’s going on?”
“It’s best if I show you.”
Within minutes, he’d helped me into my coat and I’d