Page 61 of Falling Fast
‘OK!’ The director claps his hands. ‘Everybody back into positions. Leif, can you …?’ He stops mid-sentence. There’s one horrible moment when I think he’s about to say something critical, but even I can tell that Leif’s expression is perfect. ‘Um … stay just like that.’
‘What did you say to him?’ Vienna whispers fiercely, as I rejoin her.
‘I told him to imagine he’s in a car,’ I whisper back.
‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ She smacks her head and then lifts her voice. ‘Hey, forget the music. Can somebody rev an engine in here?’
TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT, I tell myself, as I peer into my bathroom mirror and sweep setting powder across my cheekbones. I’m going to seduce Leif.
The only problem is that I’ve never seduced anyone before, never even considered it, so I’m not totally sure what I’m doing, but I’ve made a checklist to help. I’ve bathed and shaved and exfoliated and moisturized and put on my laciest underwear under my jumpsuit, and I think I look pretty good.
I’ve also planned every last detail of the meal. I’ve made a healthy chicken salad, bought an expensive bottle of wine, lit at least a dozen candles and put on some ambient music. Not bad, considering I only left work an hour and a half ago.
I’m actually glad I haven’t had much time to prepare because it’s keeping my nerves at bay. Most of them anyway. The important thing is that Leif doesn’t guess I’ve never done this before. I’m not embarrassed by my lack of experience, I just don’t want him to suspect there’s any kind of story behind it. I don’t want to answer any awkward questions.
Right on time, I hear a knock on the door. There’s something familiar about the pattern – three short raps – but I’m too excited to process what it means.
Which, as it turns out, is a big mistake.
‘Dan?’ I stare at my brother in horror.
‘Whoa.’ He looks me up and down. ‘You look nice. Are you going somewhere?’
I’m horribly aware of my cheeks flooding with colour. ‘I have a date.’
‘No way. That’s great.’
‘I know.’ I try to shoo him away. ‘So you have to go.’
‘You said you wanted me to fix your light fitting.’
‘I do, but notnow.’ I put my hands on the door frame, blocking the way as I peer past him into the corridor. There’s no sign of Leif yet, but he could arrive at any minute and the last thing I want is for my big brother to be here when he does.
‘It’ll take me ten minutes, tops.’ Dan’s brow contracts. ‘What’s wrong with me meeting your date anyway?’
‘There’s nothing wrong.’ I toss my hair. ‘But we haven’t been dating for long and I don’t need you acting all protective.’
‘I won’t.’ He picks up his toolbox and barges past me. ‘I won’t do anything to embarrass you, I promise, but I’m here now. I might as well get the job done.’
‘Wait.’ I try to run past him.
‘You’ll hardly know I’m here.’ He takes a couple of steps into the lounge and freezes. ‘This is … um … atmospheric.’
‘I was going for cosy,’ I mutter stiffly, as I turn the music off and start blowing out candles, though it’s obvious what kind of evening I was actually planning. There’s no way this could get any more embarrassing.
‘What can I do to help?’ I ask in an attempt to rush him along.
‘Make me a cup of tea?’
‘You said you’d only be ten minutes!’
‘Fine, no tea, but I need a ladder.’
‘Right.’ I scurry to the cupboard and pull out my steps. ‘Here you go.’
‘Hold it steady for me?’
Fifteen minutes of foot-tapping later, I’m ready to tear my hair out. Next time I need work doing, I’m just going to hire somebody and pay a premium. How can Dan not see how awkward this is? And how long can it possibly take to install a light fitting? Thankfully Leif seems to be running late. With any luck he’s stuck in a mile-long tailback that will take half an hour to clear …
