“Told ya. Take it with you so you can refresh every two hours. And don’t lose it or I’ll make you reimburse me for lost income.”
God knows I already owe her enough money. I hold the tube protectively to my chest.
“I’ll treat it like a bar of gold.”
She holds up her phone. “Let me take your picture for posterity.”
I’m so happy with my appearance I actuallywanta photo. I turn to her and vamp for the camera. She takes several shots.
“You look like a goddamn pinup,” she exclaims, holding out her phone.
They might be the most flattering shots ever taken of me.
“Wow,” I say again.
I’m sure this lipstick is like eighty dollars, but I make a mental note to buy one next time I get paid.
“You need these on your dating profile,” Lauren says. “I’ll text them to you.”
“Okay, thanks,” I say, even though I don’t currently have a dating profile. “I gotta go. Wish me luck.”
“Bonne chance, sugar.”
I leave and head down to the lounge where we’re meeting our guide for the excursion. I feel a bit self-conscious being this dolled up for a cooking class, but whatever. I want Felix to notice me.
No. I want him tocovetme.
He’s already there when I walk through the doors to the lounge where we’re meeting our guide. His hair is damp, making me imagine him showering.
“Hi,” he says with a lopsided smile. He holds out a to-go cup. “I got you a coffee. Just in case.”
“You absolute prince,” I say, accepting the cup.
“I wasn’t sure how you take it so I went for an oat milk latte.”
“Lucky guess.”
He holds out his own coffee. “Cheers,” he says.
“Where’s your dad?” I ask, looking around.
“He bowed out. Ever since he retired he’s the king of the lie-in.”
I’m pleased to hear this. I want Felix all to myself.
“I guess we’ll have to get by on our own,” I say.
“I’ll warn you that I’m quite boring.”
“Oh good, so am I.”
He reaches into his pocket and pops a piece of gum into his mouth.
“Can I have a piece?” I ask, worried about coffee breath.
He flashes me a guilty look. “Yeah. But only if you like nicotine.”
“You smoke?” I ask, dismayed. I can’t stand the taste of cigarettes, and I’ve decided that I want to make out with him.
