Part 31 (1/2)

'But how? What makes you think that tonight is going to be different to any other?'

'Because it has to be,' Zo says simply.

She's right. This is it. This is for real. I sit up in bed and stare across the room. I said I'd do it take the chance to be alone with Elliot to tell him how deeply I feel. If not now, when? But how will I begin? And considering how much alcohol it'll take to get my nerve up, how will I be able to get the words out without slurring?

I might have to get a bit more guidance from Joel. He seems to have a bit of know-how on this subject.

In the meantime, I make my second phone call of the day, this time to Sasha. She sounds bright but I suspect she's putting on a breezy voice so as not to worry me.

'How's the ogre?' I ask.

'Just the same,' she sighs. 'Cool with everyone but me.'

'Do you still fancy him?'

'I still fancy the guy I met on the first night. I keep waiting for him to reappear.'

'Have you tried cutting off the electricity?'

'I've thought about it!' Sasha laughs.

'So what are you doing in the evening? It must be weird now it's just the two of you.'

'Well, last night I cooked then he read a book while we ate and as soon as he was done he went to bed.'

'What about you?'

'I was knackered but I couldn't sleep. Since you've gone I've spent most of my time trying to work out how I could raise some cash for Paradise Park. I'm sure if I could find a way to contribute he'd show me a bit more respect.'

'You reckon?'

'Well, maybe not but I'd at least feel I'd proved something to myself. I want to be able to leave here knowing I made a difference, however small.'

'What did you have in mind?'

'Well, that's the problem. I desperately need to talk to Zo, she's got far more experience of the organizational side of these things. The charity events I've done were no different to any other catwalk show, we just didn't get paid so I'm really none the wiser.'

'When were you thinking of doing this?'

'I thought the day after The California Club week is up.'

'That's just four days from now!'

'I know. I was hoping Zo could give me some short-cuts.'

'I guess the main thing is that you've got to think of a good enough hook to get them along in the first place.' I decide. 'Once they see the cats they'll start writing the checks.'

'Mmm, I've had a few thoughts but I don't know how practical they are. I know The California Club said all communication had to go through you but I was wondering ...'

'Oooh you little rebel!' I tease. 'Are you after Zo's phone number?'

'Would it hurt? I mean, in the grand scheme of things, which is more important helping those tigers or obeying a pointless rule?'

'We don't know that it's pointless,' I point out.

'I wouldn't abuse it,' Sasha insists. 'Maybe if you primed her and then the next day I gave her a call? Or she could even pa.s.s any information through you? There's got to be a way round it.'

'I guess one phone call won't do any harm,' I concede. It's so great to hear Sasha fired up about something, the last thing I want to do is put a dampener on proceedings. 'I'll call her now.'

Sasha whoops with grat.i.tude. 'Thanks, Lara! Ryan will thank you for this!'

Following her success with Boris's grandson Zoe is raring to take on another project and promises to devote all her time in between serving blue plate specials to the cause!

I smile to myself: happy to be in on it to some degree. But my pleasure is short-lived. I have to phone Elise.

'Oh Lara, I was hoping you'd call.' Instead of her usual impatient bl.u.s.ter, she sounds pensive and unsure. 'Would you say you're Elliot's closest friend out of the group?'

'Er ...' I falter.

'I know he's close with Helen but the way he talks about you, that's the impression I get.'

'Oh?' I can't help but smile.

'It actually used to irritate me,' Elise chuckles dismissively. 'Lara this, Lara that, she's so fun, so creative blah-blah but then I realized two things ...'

I don't like the sound of this.

'One is that he sees you as a mate rather than a woman.'

Oh cheers, thanks a lot.

'The other is that he may have a past with you but I have his future.'

Amazing. Go on, stick that knife in further, you only skewered three of my vital organs why not go for the full s.h.i.+sh-kebab?

She does.

'I mean, it's all very well having your buddies to play with but when it comes to being a grown-up, it's all about one-to-one commitment, wouldn't you agree?'

'I wouldn't know Elise, I'm not thirty for another two days. Maybe then I'll morph into a fully fledged adult and agree with what you're saying.'

'Two days, is it?' she coos. 'You know, Elliot wanted to make a big fuss but I told him no woman wants to be reminded she's getting older!'

You utter cow! You will be punished! I wonder what he had in mind must have been good or she wouldn't have scuppered it.

'What did you do on your 30th?' I ask, still seething but not wanting to pa.s.s up the chance to gather a little more info on Madam X.