10

10

Marcus

On my way into work, it was like I was on a different planet. The early morning sun shone, the traffic was easy, the leaves on the trees at the shopping parade smelled sort of… fresher.

I might have been acting the lovesick fool—but why wouldn't I?

Last night, we'd cosied up in Pips' barely-double-sized bed after mutual blowjobs, showering, and more fooling around than I'd done for months. We spooned, we laughed, we wriggled. And we fooled around some more. We whispered plans in the night to call in sick and stay in bed today, but I knew I had an early meeting with Tamara I didn't want to miss.

Even so… See you later , Pips had said this morning. Well, he'd mumbled it from under the covers of his bed, because I'd woken at a disgustingly early hour, fumbling around in the half-dark to find my clothes, hoping they didn't look too creased for another day's wear. But what a great feeling those words gave me! I'd never imagined when I got sent to work in Kingsmere that I'd meet someone, let alone a bright, thrilling, loveable guy like Pips.

"I'll set the alarm on your phone and you can take another hour," I'd murmured to him, before I snuck out of his bedroom. He'd snorted something that was halfway between a protest and a relieved sigh. He tried to cling onto my arm, pouting, and stifling a yawn or three, but eventually I sidled away.

And now my smile stayed in place even after I'd squeezed myself into the YBB tunic, had a cup of lukewarm coffee, and promised to help Lina stack three pallets of marmalade as soon as I was free.

***

My meeting with Tamara went well. I think. Though it was becoming increasingly clear to me that YBB's Kingsmere branch wasn't very keen on a lot of change, at least not all at once. But at least Tamara seemed pragmatic about it.

"I'm not suggesting changing the whole store," I explained, pointing to some of my sketches and notes. It was difficult not to stumble over my nerves. "I know it's important for you to have access for all, and the aisles are narrow. But you can change up some of the shelving, make it easier to reach the more popular items. And you should promote seasonal items. Celebrate local events, run discount mailings. Kingsmere has plenty of social and leisure clubs you could promote to."

Tamara spoke quietly and carefully, and it took a while for her meaning to seep through my chatter. "They said you were here to see how the Demo Days went, Marcus. Just the Demo Days. Because you'd suggested them."

I frowned. "Yes, that's true, but now I've started to see how the place works, I have so many other ideas—"

"As a trainee, Marcus," she said, more firmly.

My words dried up. I'd been clutching some artwork ideas for discount coupons in my hand, but maybe I was too intense; they'd become crumpled, useless balls of paper.

"I understand," I said. It took a lot of effort because my throat was very dry. "I'm sorry if I've overstepped."

"Believe me, there's nothing wrong with ideas," Tamara hastened to add. "Just… take it slowly. Okay?"

I nodded. I'd been an idiot. I was still untried, still the newbie. I'd be passed off soon enough, sent back to the pool of trainees. Back to the grunt work. Maybe get sent to various branches for months at a time, never visiting Kingsmere again… I felt nauseous.

"Marcus?" Tamara was leaning over me, her expression worried. "May I suggest something?"

Of course she could. She was the boss. I was the interloper. But still, she surprised me.

"Sit down," she said. "Let's talk through a selected few of these ideas and I can tell you which ones I think might work here."

My mouth dropped open. "You'd do that?"

She gave a rueful smile. "We have to make money, to continue in business. I'm well aware there has to be progress. Things will always change. But I like you, and I think you have the right attitude to our customers. I'd rather work with you here, than with Head Office's disembodied emails. In fact, I'm going to ask that you stay on longer, and the two of you work on next season's marketing together."

"The two of us?" My mouth was still giving a goldfish impression.

She raised a single eyebrow. "I'm going to put Pips Chawton onto the project, too. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes. Oh yes ." I hoped I wasn't nodding my head too hard.

"Good man," she said, patting me on the shoulder. "I like the sort of person around me who cares about YBB. Now, did you see Pips on your way in? He's on duty for the next Demo today. We treat punctuality as very important."

I shook my head and flushed guiltily; obviously I couldn't tell Tamara we'd spent the night together, but I couldn't bear the thought of Pips being in more trouble. Thank goodness I'd set the alarm for him.

Didn't I? Oh God .

I remembered seeing Pips' phone on the sofa when we went to bed. I remembered thinking I could easily set an alarm while I let Pips sleep in.

I just didn't remember actually doing it.