The Girl in the Yellow Vest Read Free

wasn’t exactly a bad thing. She had always thought her mother was pretty, though not beautiful in the way that some girls like Julia and Lena were.
    With a sigh she guessed somebody had to be average. And in this case it was her. Average engineer. Average looks. Below average love life.
    She leaned over the wall and swatted at her own reflection.
    ‘Hey.’
    With a start she turned around, lurching back against the wall of the pond on one elbow. ‘Will!’ She put a hand to her chest. ‘You scared me half to death.’
    ‘What’s the matter? Why are you moping around like the world has come to an end?’
    She blew on her fringe. ‘I wasn’t moping.’ At his disbelieving stare, she lifted her hand and pinched her thumb and forefinger together. ‘Okay, maybe just
a little
.’
    ‘Because of the fuss Julia made over your job?’ He frowned. ‘You know, with friends like her, who needs enemies?’
    Despite herself she smiled. ‘Julia can’t help herself. I make her look good.’
    ‘You’re too hard on yourself.’
    ‘You think so?’ She cocked her head to one side. ‘I can’t help feeling like a failure.’
    ‘Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just a job. You can change it. Have you spoken to Trent about it?’
    ‘No.’
    He sighed. ‘Well, I hope you’ve at least given him a piece of your mind for missing Lena’s wedding. He’s been working weekends way too much lately.’
    When she didn’t respond, he added, ‘Come on, they’re just starting to bring out dessert. That’ll cheer you up.’
    She shook her head. ‘I’m on a diet.’
    His jaw dropped. ‘Okay, now you’re starting to worry me.’
    She ran her hands down her size-twelve hips. ‘Since when is slimming down a crime?’
    ‘You don’t need slimming down,’ he said quietly. ‘Besides, diets are dumb. I don’t see how starving yourself can possibly be healthy.’
    ‘Oh, I’m not starving myself.’ Emily lifted her chin. ‘This is a special diet. It’s the magic bean regime, proven in the US a billion times over. I bought the book and everything. It’s actually not that hard to do and very flexible.’
    ‘Really?’ His flat tone clearly conveyed his scepticism.
    ‘Absolutely.’ Emily held up her hand in reassurance. ‘Basically, what you do is eat nothing but legumes all day.’
    ‘Legumes?’ He made a face.
    ‘Alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lentils, mesquite, carob, soybeans and peanuts.’
    ‘I know what legumes are; I just didn’t think you did. Otherwise you wouldn’t commit to eating them.’
    ‘I will admit it is slightly challenging.’ She winced. ‘But if you’re good you’re allowed to reward yourself with your choice of a berry after dinner.’
    ‘Just one?’
    ‘Well,’ Emily flushed guiltily, ‘sometimes I have a handful.’
    ‘You rebel, you.’
    ‘Don’t give me that.’ Emily put her hands on her hips. ‘This diet has been helping me feel stacks better about myself. And today is the first time since I started that I’ve had to break the rules, so it’s no wonder I’m standing out here feeling depressed.’
    ‘When did you start the diet?’
    She hunched a shoulder. ‘Yesterday.’
    ‘Oh, Em, for goodness’ sake. You don’t need to lose weight. What’s really going on with you? You’ve been acting weird all night.’
    She clasped her hands tightly together and looked back at her reflection in the pond. ‘They’re kind of interrelated . . . You see, I need to look my best because . . .’ she paused ‘. . . I’m . . . back on the dating market.’
    For a moment there was dead silence before he said incredulously, ‘You’re
what
?’
    She knew he’d be surprised. The last time they’d caught up, she’d been talking marriage and babies and now . . .
    Emily swallowed hard. ‘Trent and I broke up.’
    ‘What? When?’
    ‘Two weeks ago.’
    ‘Why didn’t he tell me?’ He frowned. ‘Why didn’t
you
?’
    Why didn’t I?
    Shame.
    Shock.
    Maybe the vague hope that the split was