Just The Way You Are. Lynsey James

looked up and saw a warm smile sweep across his face.

      ‘Listen,’ he continued. ‘I saw your face when Gwen started going on about your love life. She means well, you know, she just wants you to be happy.’

      I nodded and let out a deep breath. ‘I am happy though. I’ve got great mates, a cool flat and if I’m lucky, I’ll land my dream job tomorrow.’

      ‘Ah so tomorrow’s the big day, is it?’

      ‘Sure is. I’ve got my mood-board ready and prepared my pitch; all I need to do now is not vomit while I’m delivering it!’

      Max took my hand, twirled me outwards then brought me back into him.

      ‘I know public speaking isn’t your favourite thing in the world Ava, but you’ll be fine. In fact, no – you’ll bloody ace it because that’s what you do.’

      ‘Cheers. Fancy meeting me and Gwen at The Dog and Duck tomorrow? You’ll either be helping me celebrate or drown my sorrows.’

      He pretended to think for a minute then nodded. ‘How can I say no to that? Oh, do you mind if I bring Amira?’

      My jaw clenched tightly. I wanted to say yes, as a matter of fact I do mind if you bring her. She might be a stunningly beautiful lingerie model, but she has the personality of a cabbage and is a right nasty bitch at times. I had no idea how she’d managed to capture my best friend’s heart three months ago: I suspected witchcraft of some kind.

      However, I said ‘Why not? The more the merrier!’

      Max grinned broadly and embraced me as the song ended. ‘You’re a star, Munchkin!’

      Just then, a voice from the front of the room burst through the temporary silence.

      ‘Well, well, well, isn’t this cosy?’

      I turned my head and saw that Amira had just glided into the reception hall, clad in a gold silk gown that accentuated her natural curves. Her long dark hair fell around her shoulders and her caramel skin looked fresh and dewy.

      Max dropped me like a hot potato and went over to her, like she was drawing him in with some kind of magnetic field.

      ‘You look amazing…’ The rest of what he said was lost as she pulled him close for a passionate kiss.

      I took this as my cue to leave and went off in search of three things: Gwen, vodka and a way out of the reception.

      By the end of the night, I’d found two out of three – which, as Meat Loaf said, ain’t bad. I’d located Gwen after she’d scurried out of the cloakroom with Grey Waistcoat Guy, and the nice guy at the bar had kept me supplied with vodka and lemonades. Yet as I sat on the couch while my best friend snogged the face off Grey Waistcoat Guy, I felt that something was definitely missing. There was an ache somewhere deep inside me and I wasn’t sure how to heal it. I was asked to dance by no less than five men, including Max when Amira went to powder her nose, but I turned them all down.

      None of them were him and he was all I wanted, all I’d ever want.

      Sadly, he remained frustratingly out of reach.

Chapter 2

      The day my life changed forever didn’t start in the way I expected.

      There was no fanfare heralding the new chapter of my life that was about to begin or a gospel choir belting out Oh Happy Day at the top of their lungs. There wasn’t even a heavenly voiceover appearing out of the blue to say ‘Ava Clements, this is the day you’ve been waiting for. Here’s where your adventure finally kicks off.’

      Instead, it started with the clatter of a letterbox.

      Completely unaware of the events about to unfold, I picked up the three white envelopes sitting on my flower-shaped doormat and took them through to the kitchen. I flicked through each one in turn: gas bill, phone bill and…

      Hello, what’s this?

      A handwritten envelope addressed to me.

      That was strange; I didn’t get mail from anybody except my broadband provider or companies who wanted to offer me a credit card.

       Unless…

      No, no, it couldn’t be. He wouldn’t know where to find me now and it had been such a long time.

      A shiver of tantalising familiarity worked its way down my spine, but I pushed the burgeoning thoughts to the back of my mind. My heart rate quickened as I prepared to open it.

      ‘I’ve got news!’

      Gwen’s voice cut across my thoughts and broke my concentration. I stuffed the envelope in my bag, resolving to open it later.

      ‘Let me guess; you’ve finally received your Hogwarts letter,’ I replied.

      ‘Nope, that’s still not turned up,’ she replied with a wistful sigh. ‘I reckon it got lost in the post or something. Anyway, do you want to hear my news?’

      I nodded and turned my attentions back to the mysterious letter in my bag. The thoughts gathering in my head were completely ludicrous, I knew, but all the same…

      She eyed me suspiciously. ‘You’re hiding something.’

      I made a big show of scoffing and spluttering, hoping to sell my fake reaction of shock to her. Luckily, it seemed to work because she changed the subject almost right away.

      ‘I got you a date.’

      In an instant, I felt all the colour drain from my face.

       Shit, shit, shit.

      ‘Gwen, we talked about this after what happened last time…’

      ‘Look, I know Gary wasn’t exactly Prince Charming but–’

      I let out a loud snort. ‘I think you’re forgetting just how bad he was! Not only did he whistle every time he said a word with s in it, he spent most of the evening looking at my breasts and asking what sort of things I liked to do in bed!’

      Gwen’s cheeks pinked up. ‘Not my finest hour, I must admit, but this could be my chance to make it up to you. Trust me on this, Greg’s a complete hottie and he’s a sweet guy as well. I met him at an industry party and every woman’s eyes were on him. Not surprising really, considering he’s a male model. Will you go out with him? If you hate him, I promise you never have to do anything for me ever again.’

      She stuck her bottom lip out and widened her eyes, like a child who wanted their mum to buy them the biggest toy in the shop. I felt my defences weakening. Surely one more date wouldn’t be so bad?

      ‘All right then, but if he’s a complete twonk, misogynist, emotionally stunted or a creep then your Cilla Black days are over!’

      Gwen clapped her hands gleefully and jumped up and down on the spot. ‘This is why you’re my best friend! I’ll set something up for today if that’s cool?’

      I swallowed down the doubts and reservations and gave a weary nod.

      She skipped off in the direction of her bedroom, then stopped and turned to look at me. ‘By the way, you look really smart today.’ Slowly, drip by drip, she realised. ‘Oh that’s right, today’s the big day isn’t it?’

      A broad smile swept across my face.

      ‘It certainly is!’ I struck a catwalk pose and pouted. ‘Do I look like Sleek Magazine’s Next Top Dating Columnist?’

      Saying the words out loud made my stomach do somersaults. I’d grown to love running the dating column over the last three months and had loads of ideas to make it my own. More than anything I wanted to run it permanently and make it a real prominent feature of the magazine. All I needed was a chance. The only thing