Shopaholic and Sister (Shopaholic #4) 29

“You look very sportif,” he says, glancing up. “Going to the gym?”

“Jess and I have been working out together,” I reply, flicking my ponytail.

“Excellent. So you’re getting along?”

“We’re getting along brilliantly!” I say, and carry on along the corridor.

Which… I think is true. Although to be honest, it’s a bit hard to tell with Jess. She doesn’t exactly overwhelm you.

But anyway, so far so good. And now we’ve done our workout, we can reward ourselves! What we need is a few drinks, and a bit of a party atmosphere and some music. Then we’ll really loosen up.

As I shower, I start to feel excited. You cannot beat a good girls’ night in. Suze and I had so many great evenings when we were living together. There was the time Suze had been dumped by her awful boyfriend and we spent the whole evening sending off forms in his name to receive impotence cures. There was the time we made mint juleps and both nearly got alcohol poisoning. There was the time we decided to become redheads — and then had to find a twenty-four-hour hairdresser. And then there were lots of evenings when nothing special happened… except we watched movies and ate pizza and talked and laughed, and had a good time.

I pause, halfway through toweling my hair. It’s weird, not speaking to Suze anymore. She hasn’t called once since I told her about having a sister. Nor have I called her. My chin stiffens. But that’s what happens in life. People find new friends and new sisters. It’s called natural selection.

And Jess and I will have a fab time tonight. Better than I ever had with Suze.

I throw on some jeans and a T-shirt with SISTERHOOD emblazoned in silver, then turn on my dressing table lightbulbs and get out every single item of makeup I own. I rummage in a box under the bed and retrieve my three wigs, four hairpieces, false eyelashes, spray glitter, and temporary tattoos. Then I open up my special cupboard, where all my shoes are stored.

I love my shoe cupboard.

I mean, I love my shoe cupboard. It is the best thing in the entire world! All my shoes are arranged in gorgeous rows, and there’s even a built-in light so you can see them properly. I look with satisfaction along the rows of L.K. Bennetts and Jimmy Choos for a few moments, then choose all the most fun, spangly high-heeled ones and toss them onto the bed.

Ready for the makeovers!

Next the sitting room. I spread all my favorite videos out in a fan on the floor, and add piles of magazines. Back in the kitchen I empty crisps, popcorn, and sweets into bowls, light some candles, and get out the champagne. As I look around the kitchen the granite is gleaming, and the stainless steel sparkles in the light. It looks so pretty!

It’s nearly six o’clock. Jess must have finished working out by now. I head to the guest room and tap on the door.

“Jess?” I say tentatively.

No answer. She must be in the shower or something.

But as I head to the kitchen, I suddenly hear her voice coming from the study. That’s weird. I gently push open the door — and there’s Jess, sitting at the computer with Luke and Gary on either side of her, peering at the screen, where I can see Luke’s head, talking against a green background.

“You can superimpose the graphics like this,” she’s saying, tapping at the keyboard. “And synchronize with the sound track. I can do it for you, if you like.”

“What’s going on?” I say in surprise.

“It’s our new corporate CD,” says Luke. “The guys who did it had no bloody idea. The whole thing needs reediting.”

“Your sister is a real whiz at this software!” says Gary.

“I just know it backwards,” says Jess, clicking rapidly. “The whole university went over to it a year ago. And I’m a bit of a techie. I like this kind of stuff.”

“That’s fantastic!” I say. I hover at the door for a few moments as Jess taps at the keyboard some more. “So… do you want to come and have a drink? I’ve got everything ready for our girls’ night in.”

“I’m sorry,” says Luke, looking at me in sudden realization. “I’m keeping you, Jess. We’ll be OK from here. But thanks!”

“Thanks!” echoes Gary.

They’re both looking at her with such admiration, I can’t help but feel a tiny bit jealous.

“Come on!” I say brightly. “There’s champagne waiting.”

“Thanks again, Jess,” says Luke. “You’re a star!”

“No problem.” Jess gets up and follows me out of the room.

“Men!” I say as soon as I’m out of earshot. “All they think about is computers!”