MADE IN ESSEX. Laura Ziepe

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СКАЧАТЬ 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.

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