MADE IN ESSEX

by Laura Ziepe

  ‘There’s nothing on,’ Jade sighed as she saw him, throwing the remote control on the bed. She sat down and patted the duvet. ‘Come sit.’

  Sam sat down, feeling nervous and paranoid. Alcohol always made him feel that way the day after, and he wondered, not for the first time in his life, why he even bothered drinking. It always seemed like such a good idea at the time.

  ‘Listen,’ Jade started easily, ‘I really want to apologise for being so busy recently. I’ve let you down time and time again, but I promise it’s got nothing to do with my feelings towards you. I just really want my business to do well, but you’re more important to me and will always come first. I’ve been in another world recently and I’m out of it now. I’m so sorry for always being late and letting you down, I really am. But it stops now.’

  Sam put his head in his hands and gave a gusty sigh. ‘Jade, it’s me that should be sorry. I was acting like such a spoilt brat not getting my own way, and I know it’s not your fault you’ve not had much time recently. I was just hurt and disappointed, which turned into anger. I know it’s pathetic. I want your business to do as well as you do, trust me. I suppose I just don’t like sharing you. In a selfish way, I like to have all of your time, but I understand that that’s not always going to be the case.’

  Jade gave a natural smile, looking relieved they were having this conversation. ‘So we’ve made up then?’

  He nodded.

  ‘Good,’ she said, ‘that means I didn’t buy the tickets for nothing.’

  ‘What tickets?’ he asked, baffled.

  ‘Plane tickets to Italy. I’ve booked a long weekend in a hotel for the two of us in September. We’ll have so much fun and Kelly may be booking for her and Billy to go too. It’ll still be hot and we can sunbathe all day and go for romantic dinners at night,’ she beamed.

  ‘Babe, are you kidding? That’s amazing!’ He pulled her to him, kissing her passionately. ‘That’s so nice of you.’

  ‘You’re worth it,’ she replied, kissing him back.

  ‘I love you,’ Sam said without thinking. It was the first time he’d ever told her. The words just came right out and he felt embarrassed, not knowing where to look.

  ‘Awww,’ Jade looked into his eyes, ‘it’s a good job I love you too then.’

  Sam smiled warmly, even though his head was throbbing in pain. He was so glad he’d finally said it and even happier she loved him too. Jade pushed him playfully on the bed and slid the towel off from round his waist. ‘You know the best thing about arguments?’ she asked him, with a suggestive glint in her eye.

  ‘What’s that?’ He smirked.

  ‘Making up,’ she said, her voice soft and sexy.

  Sam pulled the duvet back and got under, watching her as she removed her clothes and joined him. He kissed her hungrily, his heart beating faster by the second. As he felt under the covers to touch her warm body, his fingers brushed past something unexpected. As Jade kissed his chest, he sneakily peered underneath the covers and felt faint with fear when he saw an unfamiliar bright pink thong. Where on earth had that come from? The words from Adele’s text message flashed through his mind: You’re still as good as I remember. It must be Adele’s thong! He frantically kicked it to the very end of the bed where Jade wouldn’t see it, then did his very best to try to relax. Unluckily though, there was only one thing on his mind the whole time.

  *

  An hour later and Jade was still lying in bed with Sam, cuddling up to his warm body and not wanting to leave the bed. The TV was on in the background and Sam was playing a game on his iPhone. She stretched lazily and smiled. He’d finally said he loved her! She felt like she’d been waiting forever to hear those words. There had been so many times she was sure he was going to say it, but nothing. Now he had, Jade felt she could finally tell him her true feelings also; she was head over heels in love with him too.

  ‘I better get going,’ she groaned, getting out of bed and getting her clothes on, ‘you need to leave for football soon.’

  Sam looked at the clock on his wall and sighed, ‘Yeah, you’re right. I would rather just stay with you today if I’m honest. But, I can’t let the team down and then I’ve got to help my cousin, Joe.’

  ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to help?’ Jade offered sweetly.

  ‘No it’s fine. Thanks though, it’s nice of you. When will I see you next?’

  ‘Look at you,’ Jade smirked teasingly, ‘just can’t get enough of me.’

  ‘You’re not wrong there,’ he said, pulling her over to him as she pulled her jeans on, and making her giggle as he kissed her.

  ‘Why don’t we go for dinner one night this week?’ she suggested as she wrapped her arms around him.

  He nodded as he kissed her neck. ‘Sounds good.’

  ‘Oh before I go, I need my red notebook. Good job I remembered. Whereabouts did you put it?’

  Sam was mystified. ‘Where did you leave it? If I’m honest, I haven’t even seen it. You sure you left it here?’ he asked, glancing round his room.

  ‘Yeah, a hundred per cent,’ Jade replied as she walked around and searched.

  ‘What about in the lounge? Or kitchen?’ Sam suggested. He hadn’t seen it in his room.

  Jade pushed her hair back from her face. ‘I didn’t even go in there though. I only came in your room.’

  ‘I swear to God I haven’t seen it. You must have left it somewhere else.’

  Jade scratched her head, perplexed. ‘Maybe Kelly picked it up then? Or maybe it’s in my car or something? I was certain I’d left it here though. I remember bringing it in.’

  Sam shrugged. ‘It’ll turn up. I’ll search a bit more here if you want and call you if I find it.’

  ‘Thanks,’ she answered, frustrated with herself for losing something so important. How could she have lost it? It had every bit of information they needed in there. ‘I’ll have another look round and then go in a bit.’

  Fifteen minutes later, Jade kissed Sam goodbye, leaving his flat without her notebook. She was losing her mind. She was certain she’d left it at Sam’s. She got in her car and searched everywhere, but to no avail. Where on earth had she put it? How had it disappeared into thin air? Her phone rang and she was glad when she saw Kelly’s name flashing on her screen.

  ‘Hello,’ she answered.

  ‘Hi, babe,’ Kelly greeted her brightly. ‘How did it go last night?’

  ‘Yes, really well. The website is pretty simple to work and I think I’ll be able to upload the products quite easily. I was just about to call you actually. Did you take my red notebook by accident?’

  Kelly paused as she thought. ‘No. Why, have you lost it?’

  ‘Yeah. I was sure I left it at Sam’s when I dropped you back and then went to see him, but it’s not there, I just checked. I must have left it at Tony’s then. I don’t think it’s there though. It’s so strange.’

  ‘It must be at Tony’s, hun,’ Kelly replied to reassure her. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll find it. It’s bound to turn up somewhere. I was just calling you because I’ve been up since seven this morning making some sample bikinis for the photo shoot.’

  Jade felt excited. ‘Oh well done. Do they look good?’

  ‘Totes amaze. Seriously, whoever wears them is going to look so reem it’s not even funny.’

  Jade laughed gaily. ‘Well, I look forward to seeing them. Aren’t you tired getting up so early at the weekend?’

  ‘No babe, I would work twenty-two hours a day, every day doing this. I love it!’

  Jade was confused. ‘Why twenty-two hours?’

  ‘You know, a full day, hun,’ Kelly answered as though it was obvious.

  ‘A full day is twenty-four hours though,’ Jade said, smirking.

  Kelly gave a little giggle. ‘Is it? Oh my God, how funny? I thought it was twenty-two. Are you sure?’

  Jade burst into laughter. ‘I’m pretty certain, Kelly.’

  Kelly laughed even more at herself. ‘So, shall we meet
Lisa for lunch today and ask her to do our bikini modelling?’

  ‘Yes, good idea. If there are two of us we’ll be able to convince her. Then I’ll go to yours after and help you do more bikinis.’

  ‘Cool. Call me in a bit and I’ll ring her.’

  *

  Two hours later the girls were sitting in Pizza Express in Loughton.

  ‘What did you get up to last night?’ Kelly asked Lisa as she studied the menu, running her long French-manicured finger down the page.

  ‘Oh, I had another date actually. A guy called Mark who Nicola set me up with because her brother plays rugby with him and thought we’d hit it off.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘Mmm … he was okay,’ Lisa said nonchalantly. ‘His shoulders were a bit too broad for my liking. I have so much to tell you two by the way.’

  ‘Oh good, I love a gossip,’ Kelly said eagerly as the waiter came over and took their orders.

  ‘The first thing is that I heard some news about Jake today. Big news,’ Lisa told them as she handed her menu back to the waiter.

  ‘Jake your ex?’ Jade asked, wondering why Lisa was talking about him all of a sudden.

  Lisa nodded. ‘I met up with Nicola today to see the flat, which is amazing by the way and where the second part of my news comes in, but I’ll discuss that afterwards. Anyway, so I met her and she told me that her nail technician …’

  ‘What? Where and who does she go to? She could use me!’ Kelly interrupted morosely with a pout.

  ‘Okay, calm down,’ Jade giggled, ‘I’m sure Lisa will tell her all about how fantastic you are and she’ll use you in future. Go on, Lisa. What about Jake?’

  ‘He’s engaged. Just like that. He’s all loved up with this nail person Nicola knows and already he’s replaced me with someone else. That quickly! I can just see him now; he’s probably bought a flat, she’s moved in and they probably sit there doing each other’s nails every night.’

  Jade sat there, incredulous. Jake was engaged to someone else so soon? She’d imagined him wallowing in self-pity for months, not getting hitched!

  ‘Well I think that maybe it’s a good thing,’ Kelly finally spoke. ‘I mean, at least you won’t have to feel guilty now he’s happy with someone else?’

  ‘I suppose so,’ Lisa replied stoically. ‘It’s just a really weird feeling, but I’m glad he’s happy. I would be a complete cow not to be pleased for him.’

  ‘And you’ll be happy with someone else one day too,’ Jade added, trying to cheer up her friend.

  Kelly grinned. ‘Yeah babe, you go on more dates than bloody Russell Brand, I wouldn’t worry!’

  Lisa snorted with laughter. ‘The next bit of news is probably even worse than that. Just guess who lives dead opposite our flat?’

  ‘Oh please say Jodie Marsh or Chantelle Houghton or someone? I could do with some celebrity clients. People love it if you’ve got a few celebs under your belt, my beauty business would be even more booming and we can give them a free bikini each,’ Kelly said hopefully.

  Lisa shook her head. ‘No and no. It’s not anyone famous.’

  Kelly and Jade thought for a minute.

  ‘No idea. Tell us!’ they whined.

  ‘Adele.’

  ‘Oh. My. God. Are you joking?’ Kelly replied, aghast. ‘I just love her songs! Why did you lie and say she’s not famous? You’re hilare.’ She closed her eyes, concentrating as she began to sing, ‘Someone like you’.

  Lisa burst into laughter. ‘Not the singer Adele, Kelly,’ her eyes widened, ‘you know, Adele. The girl you despise from Marbs?’

  Kelly’s jaw dropped as reality dawned on her. ‘Oh no, not her! Are you being serious?’

  ‘I wish I was. I couldn’t believe it when I saw her. She said she’d only just got back to her flat after a night out.’

  ‘How classy,’ Jade commented sarcastically as their pizzas arrived. ‘Walk of shame. Did she look like a complete tart?’

  ‘She was actually in a dressing gown, so she must have already had a shower. Urgh, she’s just vile,’ Lisa said, remembering how she’d barged in the flat and helped herself to their champagne after complaining about it.

  ‘Oh I’m gutted, I really thought it was the singer Adele. I was going to ask to duet with her,’ Kelly said, shaking her head in disbelief.

  Lisa and Jade giggled.

  ‘Adele’s never going to leave you alone now, hun,’ Kelly said ruefully.

  Lisa raised her eyebrows as she cut her pizza into slices. ‘I know! I’ve met her twice and I can’t bear her.’

  ‘Just never answer the door unless you know who’s coming over,’ Jade suggested as she chewed a mouthful of cheese and pepperoni.

  ‘Or put a sign on your door saying that you’re not home?’ Kelly offered, looking up from her meal.

  ‘That’s a good idea. We’ll have no visits from Adele, but burglars instead,’ Lisa laughed.

  ‘Oh yeah, maybe not then!’ Kelly said pulling a face.

  ‘So how was your night with lover boy, Billy, anyway?’ Jade asked Kelly.

  ‘Really nice. Me and Billy are meant to be, I can feel it,’ she beamed. ‘He’s the perfect Ken to my Barbie. His business is doing really well too. He’s like, the sweetest man on earth. He saw me looking at Christian Louboutin shoes on eBay, as I was going to buy this pair that had only been worn a few times for a hundred pounds, complete barg. Obviously I’m trying to save money for the business, so eBay is where I’m getting all my designers at the minute, but he said he’d treat me and buy me a pair from Harrods at the weekend.’

  ‘That’s so cute,’ Jade gushed, secretly finding it hilarious that Kelly acted like she was trying to cut back on shopping. She seemed to buy a new designer bag every week! She was glad Billy’s business was successful though. They had spoken to him lots about his corporate hospitality company since they had started their own business and he often helped them out and gave them advice. It was starting to go really well for him and she could tell Kelly was proud when she spoke about it. It was adorable really. His business partner and friend, Gary Jacobs, hadn’t exactly been pleased when Billy had left the business which they’d been running for two years to work in Marbella for the summer. But he’d been able to cope by hiring temporary staff once he knew Billy had made his mind up about going. It was something he had needed to do and now he’d met Kelly it had definitely been the right thing, Jade acknowledged.

  ‘How’s Billy’s mum by the way?’

  Kelly nodded her head. ‘Yeah, she’s doing well. I think things are looking up, which is good.’

  Jade sighed with relief. Billy’s mum had breast cancer and had gone through chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Kelly was often worried about Billy, who was terrified his mum might die. Kelly was the only person he ever spoke to about it.

  ‘Would you like dessert?’ the disconsolate-looking waiter asked.

  ‘Yes please, babe,’ Kelly said excitedly, ‘I’ll have that frozen yoghurt thing with the chocolate straw?’

  ‘Sotto zero leggera?’ he asked effortlessly.

  ‘Yeah that’s it,’ Kelly nodded, pretending she knew the name. ‘The leggera.’

  He glanced at Lisa.

  She perused the menu, eyes like saucers. ‘Oh, I’ll have the chocolate glory please.’

  ‘I’ll go for the frozen yoghurt thingy too,’ Jade decided.

  Ten minutes later their desserts had arrived.

  ‘This is to die for,’ Lisa exhaled, through a bite of chocolate fudge cake and ice cream.

  ‘Mmm, so is this,’ Kelly agreed. ‘Really refreshing.’

  ‘Okay, we need to ask you something,’ Jade looked at Kelly to let her know this was the moment. ‘We’re doing a photo shoot this week as we need images of the bikinis for our website. We need people to model them and we were wondering if you would?’

  Lisa opened her mouth to reveal chocolate-stained teeth, making them guffaw with laughter. ‘Why have you let me eat this dessert then like a fat cow i
f you want me to model? I should have had the healthy yoghurt crap like you two!’

  Kelly chortled, ‘Lisa, you don’t need to worry about your weight! Your figure is amazing, babe, one of the reasons we’ve asked you in the first place. Everything you put on looks incredible.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Lisa said with a half-smile. ‘If it helps you, then of course I’ll do it. I’d better cut down for the next few days.’

  ‘Great!’ Jade exclaimed happily. ‘It’ll be one night this week, maybe Tuesday, so I’ll let you know when.’

  As Lisa made Kelly promise she’d do her hair and make-up for the shoot, Jade’s mind drifted as she thought about all the things they had to do that week. It was going to be busy as always, but she would definitely allocate more time to Sam. They had to make more bikinis, get the photo shoot done and then add them all to the website. There was Essex Fashion Week to prepare for too, which she believed was the week after next. If only she had her red notebook she would know for sure.

  ‘Anyway girls I need to go,’ Lisa said standing up. ‘Jade, I’ll see you tomorrow, about seven in the morning?’

  Jade’s face creased into a puzzled frown. ‘What? Why?’

  ‘You’re dog-sitting Cupcake, remember?’

  Oh yes, Jade thought groggily, not liking the thought of getting up early, I remember.

  *

  Adele cursed herself as she stubbed her finger with the needle. How could anyone be bothered to sew for a living? Seriously, it was tiring, boring and not exactly easy like she’d first thought. You needed patience, she mused, as she added yet another sequin to the plain black bikini she was practising on. Patience was something she definitely didn’t have. She wondered whether she should pay someone to do it all for her and then decided against it, wanting a bigger profit for herself with each one she sold.