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crap.’ Ruth is stricken. ‘Oh, I feel awful. Do you think he heard?’
    I pat her arm. ‘Not unless he has superhuman hearing.’
    ‘I shouldn’t make fun of him. He means well.’
    ‘He’s got a little crush on you,’ I say. ‘Duncan had better watch out.’
    ‘Did you hear Helen has talked him into modelling at Shopping Night on Monday night? Duncan that is, not Difficult Steve. You’ll be there, won’t you?’
    ‘It’s my first day back at school but Helen made me promise to come weeks ago.’
    Ruth starts unpicking a loose hem. ‘You’ll love it. All the best customers will be there—no one misses it.’
    I look across to where Ortolan is sorting the clothes into two piles. ‘So, Ortolan is likely to be there?’
    ‘I’d say so. You don’t like her?’
    I could lie at this point, but this is Ruth I’m talkingto. Ruth of the homemade cupcakes and the lifts to the train station. Ruth who manages Helen’s tizziness and is the mother hen of the Emporium, even though she’s only twenty-five, half Helen’s age.
    ‘No, she’s lovely. But she knows this guy who…someone I used to know.’
    Ruth puts down her sewing and fixes me with her clear green gaze. ‘This is to do with that howling boy, right?’
    I nod, caught out. I’d totally forgotten how chatty I got on my first Friday night drinks with the Emporium crew. Ruth has powers. Together, she and Helen could extract classified information from the toughest spy. Ruth listens with completely genuine interest while Helen asks the cheeky questions. Much more effective than good cop, bad cop. The government really should get in touch with them.
    Helen couldn’t believe I didn’t have a boyfriend, so I told them the bare bones of the story. There’s not much to tell, really, especially the ending, which is a real dud. Boy never calls girl. Girl gives up hope.
    Now I can’t imagine anyone being special enough to get my attention. Helen said it will happen to me again, but I have to be patient. I’m sick of being patient, so here’s my new theory: boys can go to hell. I’m going to focus on my schoolwork and get the best grades possible. I don’t need anyone or anything to interfere with that.
    Ruth is still looking at me, her needle poised in midair.‘But this is your chance to find out why he didn’t call you.’
    ‘I can’t ask about that!’
    In the corner Ortolan gathers together the glomesh top and a few other pieces.
    ‘I couldn’t ask that, could I? I’d look like an idiot.’
    Ortolan walks towards us.
    Ruth backs away. ‘I’m thinking there’s something I need to check out back…’
    ‘Ruth!’ I hiss, and grab her wrist, but she’s too fast. The staffroom door bangs behind her. I push aside the buttons, clearing a space on the countertop, and compose myself. Ortolan smiles as she places the clothes in front of me. My face is still on fire.
    ‘A few gems, as usual,’ she says.
    ‘Glad to hear it.’ I start ringing them up, thankful I’ve got something to do with my hands.
    ‘Wildgirl, ah…’ Ortolan doesn’t know where to look, and she’s not the only one. ‘Ah, I’m not foolish enough to ask Jethro about girl stuff, but—’
    ‘Oh, it’s okay,’ I jump in. ‘You don’t need to explain on his behalf. I got the message loud and clear. He wasn’t interested. It’s okay.’
    My feet are telling me to run out the front door and down the street, but I have to stay here and fold clothes. I’m fast becoming a furnace.
    ‘Oh.’ Ortolan looks confused. ‘I thought…’ She stopsagain. ‘I don’t mean to pry…I mean, I don’t know the details of what happened, other than seeing you two together.’ Ortolan blushes, except on her, it just tints her cheeks a delicate pink. ‘I’m really messing this up,’ she says. ‘What I wanted to say was: I’m so glad to see you, and thank you.’
    ‘Thank you?’
    ‘Jethro was different after that night. Whatever you said or did, afterwards he was so much more