The Heart Series: Complete Boxed Set (67 page)

“Joel, put me down,” I shrieked. It was a good job I was wearing jeans and not a skirt, else the entire arena would be seeing my bottom right now.

“Not a chance, you in heels will take us all night. I need to speed this process up.”

“That eager, huh?”

“Oh, you know it.” He spanked my bottom playfully.

“Joel,” I shrieked again, frantic of who would be watching us.

“Baby, when I get you home, I will rock your world.”

Well that, we could both agree on.

“So any luck on the job front?” Elijah asked, devouring another bite of his sandwich. We were spending time at our favourite café bar, which always made me happy. I had already eyed up a strawberry cupcake I was ready to devour later.

“Nope, I went for some auditions but nothing came of it. I’ve signed up to lots of agencies, but the phone has been practically dead. I know we’ve only graduated over a month ago, but it’s pretty dire. I hope working at the pub is not destined to be my permanent job.” Although I loved working with Joel, I needed more in my life than pulling pints.

“Something will come along. I have an audition later on in the week. I’m crossing all my fingers and toes.” His eyes lit up with excitement just at the thought of it.

“What is it? Anything good?” I asked, intrigued.

“It’s just for a small dance role but you have to start somewhere. Although I love working in the boutique and have my online design business. I just come alive on the stage. This is what I was born to do.”

“I know, I think reality is kicking in now. It’s all so depressing. I might have two cupcakes.”

“Now, now, remember those hips.” He pursed his lips and I grimaced.

“I barely carry any weight,” I protested. I deserved those cupcakes.

“I know, you bitch, but at least I have an amazing tan.” He marveled at himself in the mirror that was beside us as I rolled my eyes.

“So how was the holiday?”

“Err amazing. The weather was scorching hot. I walked around in the tightest shorts, giving the locals an eyefuls.” He grinned, not looking at all bothered about regaling his shameless display.

“I can only imagine.” I smiled just at the thought, but I couldn’t help but feel envious having that kind of confidence.

“Sam wasn’t as brave, he kept his mid-thigh, but I don’t do tan lines. I like to expose every part of me.” He leaned back raising his arms and folded them behind his head.

“Well you’re certainly bronzed, you must have tanned a lot.”

“We were on the beach all day. Sam was busy reading his John Grisham book while I had my iPod in and kept up on the latest gossip with Cosmo.”

I smiled just picturing them both. “You know you two are so completely different and yet you seem to work.”

“They do say opposites attract.” He winked.

“Don’t they just.” They were complete opposite.

“I just don’t tan, even in Australia I only mildly got a hint of colour.” I shrugged, it was useless even trying I would forever be pale.

“I tell you go see Lori at The Tanning Booth and she will see you right, mention my name and you’ll get discount.” He winked and I snorted, he was no doubt a regular. “I might have to go myself.”

“Trust me, you’re brown enough.” He could not possibly get any darker.

He flicked his tongue over his lips waiting a few moments before he spoke. “So now we’re graduated, we can maybe talk weddings?” he asked hopefully.

Oh boy.

“We have just literally graduated,” I protested. It didn’t take him long to start badgering. I might have known.

“I know but I need this, Iz. My holiday is over, and I’m on a come down. If I don’t get this audition, I have nothing to look forward to. You know I have to have a busy schedule. I like to have things going on. At least get your dress sorted,” he all but ranted.

Sheesh.

“I have no idea what I want,” I hesitantly replied. I had no clue what style, shape or colour. It was not something I had put a lot of thought in, marrying Joel was my only concern not what I actually looked like on the day.

“Long, short, patterned, sparkles, lace, sleeves, sleeveless, bows—”

“Just stop, I don’t know.”

His eyes widened in annoyance. “Right, that’s it, I’m doing a mood board and we are starting to finalise things, because all this I don’t know is driving me crazy.” He threw his hands up in the air, like he couldn’t be even more dramatic.

“Fine, do your mood board.” If it kept him happy and off my back, I’d gladly let him takeover.

He smiled, delighted by my quick defeat. “Great, then we discuss the cake, the groom attire, the bridesmaids, the favours, the wedding song.” He grinned. He was completely in his element.

“Elijah—for the love of god, stop.” The whole organizing side was enough for me to crawl under a rock and hide till the whole thing was over.

“Too much?”

I let out a long sigh. “Yes.”

He smiled sympathetically, I think he could see from my face I was two seconds from hyperventilating. “Okay, I’ll take it down a notch. Would you like a strawberry cupcake while we chat colours?”

I nodded and he smiled, distracting me with cake would be the only way to keep me sane. He came back with three cupcakes and took one for himself, sliding the rest over to me. I willingly grabbed them and then my eyes widened when he pulled out the wedding note pad, which he had spent time lovingly decorating with crystals, pearl and all kinds of other craft stuff.

“Oh do you like it? It makes me smile every time I see it, and now I finally get to use it. So first thing—colour. Do you want to go more pastel, or more jewel toned for the bridesmaid?”

“I’m not a pastel kind of girl.” I grimaced, that was my kind of hell.

“How about a rich purple for the groom, best man and bridesmaid?”

“I love Joel in purple and Kara has the right colouring to pull it off.” I could definitely work with that colour.

“Let me pick up some samples and we can look at different shades to see which one works best for you. Well, that’s the first thing decided; now that wasn’t too painful, was it?”

“I suppose not,” I said, taking a large bite of the cake and sighing at the amazing strawberry icing. It was to die for.

“When will you be ready to tackle the next thing on the wedding agenda?” he asked, his eyes quickly perusing my face.

I took a large bite of the sweet delicious goodness. “Hit me.”

“Flowers, what is your favourite?”

“Roses,” I said without hesitation, they always would be .

“Oh I prefer lilies, far classier.”

“Is this my wedding or yours?” I snapped.

“Yours, of course, but you want more sophistication to the day, they will look more beautiful in the pictures, trust me. We will visit some flower shops, and I will show you just how better they are. Roses are so last decade.”

“Elijah—” I warned.

“Okay, next, the venue,” he said completely ignoring my protests.

Oh jeez.

“Can we talk about this some other time? My head is spinning.” There was no way I was making any more decisions today, plus something as big as the venue I needed to discuss with Joel. He deserved to have some input.

“It might be with all the sugar you’ve scoffed down in the last ten minutes,” he retorted, laughing.

It was true, I was on one hell of a sugar high.

“Seriously, Elijah, I’ve had enough. You know you have to take this step by step with me,” I urged, it was the only way I would make it through. I didn’t need him firing question after question at me.

He threw up his hands in defeat. “Okay, fine. I’ll start on the mood board, and then we’ll get back to the chat about the dress. It’s the most important thing, and it can’t be pushed aside for much longer.” He started to pack away his things.

“Elijah, we don’t even have a date yet.”

“See this is it, how can I plan when everything is up in the air? I can’t wave my magic when I don’t have half the information.”

I rolled my eyes at his dramatics. “Chill already, when I get home I will sit with Joel, and we’ll discuss it then I will relay it all back to you.”

“Same time tomorrow then?” he asked looking hopeful. I could see the excitement bubbling away in his eyes at his eagerness to begin planning.

“I think I’m going be the size of a baby elephant if we keep meeting here.” They would have to roll me down the aisle.

“That’s a point, can’t have you being squashed into your dress, no more cupcakes for you.” He snatched the half-eaten cake from my hand, much to my annoyance.

“Are you joking?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

He could sod right off with that suggestion. I would just eat healthy around him and raid the snack cupboard once I got home.

“Fine,” I conceded, crossing my fingers behind my back. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

“That was easy, hmm, I know you love your sweet stuff.” He narrowed his eyes monitoring my face for any sign of a lie.

“No, you’re right, I have been feeling a little bloated and think it’s time to cut back,” I agreed, smiling, trying my best not to laugh.

“Well, I’ll take this health kick with you. Let’s meet up at that new smoothie place. They have all these interesting combinations. I really want to check them out.”

“What type of combinations?” I asked almost hesitantly.

“Fruits, vegetables, all the healthy things.”

“I’ll stick to fruit, thanks.” The thought alone of a vegetable smoothie made me seriously want to gag.

“Wuss.”

“Err, remember the wheat grass shot? Never again.” I would remember that vile taste for as long as I lived.

“Well, I’m up for anything.”

“We know that already,” I retorted, sticking out my tongue.

“Cheeky.” He winked smiling.

“Just telling it like it is.”

“You know me well, in fact too well at times. I really need to wear more of a mask and not lead such an open life.”

“Oh purlease, you are the king of being open. You couldn’t lead a sheltered life if you wanted to.” He could barely contain a secret without spilling within seconds. He was fooling no one.

“Yeah, you’re right, I’m not one to blend so easily into the background. I’m like a social butterfly I need to be seen, to be centre of attention.” He grinned and I couldn’t have agreed more.

* * *

Elijah aced the audition. It was only a small role, but he made it his own. We all went along to support him on the opening night, he was amazing as ever taking the few lines he was given and stealing the show. The play ran for a month and was quite a success in the end, after word of mouth and Elijah’s constant promotion. I was so proud of my friend but falling deeper in to depression. It was like each knock back was a slap in the face. Each time I came away hopeful was soon followed by rejection. Joel tried to be supportive, trying to placate me with all the usual responses, but he just ended up irritating me, I wanted to scream.

The pub was helping to pay the bills, but each day I was reminded I was still not doing the dream job I’d worked so hard for. I wasn't stupid, I knew thousands of people were in the same boat, out auditioning every day. It just felt like my hardest wasn't good enough. I was keeping up with my exercises, practicing when I wasn't working. It was the only way to keep me sane. But I needed something on my CV, I needed experience and that was the one thing I was lacking.

A few days later I applied for a bit part in a play that was playing for one week. To say it was small would be an understatement, but I stayed hopeful that the one thing going for me was that not many people would apply for the role. In the end, it came down to two people, and I promptly burst into tears the moment I got my next rejection phone call. I turned to my one true friend Ben & Jerry's. It was just me and Ruby curled up on the sofa as we watched Dirty Dancing together. It was one of my favourite films, who wouldn't want to be Baby? Ruby loved it just as me but we kept our secret love for Patrick from Joel. He wasn't a fan. He rolled his eyes whenever he saw he was on screen. Ruby was now fully grown but that didn't stop her trying to act like the cute little puppy we had welcomed almost a year ago. She still got up on our knees and loved to have her ears tickled. She was my baby even though she overpowered me and knocked me down to the floor on many occasions. I couldn’t be mad at her, I would just lie there laughing covered in dog drool as she continued to slobber over me. She was still Joel's girl though, she would go crazy when he came home, and I could tell from the look in his eyes that he adored the way she loved him so unconditionally. The moment he sat down, she'd leap up and settle herself on his lap, until he really had to move. It was the part of the evening I loved when we'd finished work and all three would curl up on the sofa together, those were my happy times it was my happy place and what I would try to think about when rejection came one after the other.

I spooned in another mouthful of chocolate brownie, Ruby gave me hopeful eyes, but she'd already had her treat for the night. I was pretty sure she would eat until her stomach literally burst. So I shook my head and she sighed, turning back to Patrick.

The music kicked in and I tapped my foot along as Ruby wagged her tail to the beat. We were too busy enthralled in the film to notice Joel walk in after a tirelessly long shift, but he soon made his presence noticed.

"Ugh this again, are you going through a Patrick Swayze phase? At least it means no Ryan Gosling for a while so at least that is something," he huffed, not looking amused at all.