Just the Way You Are Read online

  Emma and her father continued to enjoy their lazy Sunday afternoon with one another, although there was always a moment in their time spent together when Emma would remember her mother and wish she was still with them. The sun would then pop behind a cloud. The air would be tinged with an unspoken grief. But the moment would pass and Emma would enjoy being with her father again. There was no one else she felt more comfortable with – or loved as dearly.

  Emma always turned her phone off when she was with her father on a Sunday, but within a heartbeat of kissing her father on the cheek and him closing the door her heart beat even faster upon checking her phone and receiving a message from him.

  “I have had the good sense and taste to miss you. How was your day? I have been entertaining my cousin and his ghastly girlfriend. She makes even the Middletons look middle-class. They also wouldn’t leave. There are terrorists due to be sent back to Jordan who’ve out-stayed their welcome less. The good news for you is that so far you do not seem to have much competition for being the highlight of my week. xxx Jason.”

  Emma also noticed a missed call and voicemail from her best friend, Celia, but she went straight to replying to the text.

  “Hopefully you’ll continue to be underwhelmed by things for the next few days. Do I get a prize for being the highlight of your week? xxx Emma.”

  “Yes. You might get to un-wrap me. Xxx Jason.”

  Emma fumbled her car keys and blushed as brightly as her cherry-red Audi TT upon reading the text – but she also beamed as brightly as the afternoon sun.

  Her sunny mood was sullied a little however as she heard an unhealthy rattle and cough emanate from her car when driving home. She called her father to ask his advice on what to do. Could he take a look at it? Should she just take it to her local Audi dealer? Her father recommended a garage in Bermondsey though and although she was loath to go out of her way south of the river she would aim to take the car in tomorrow morning, before her photo-shoot.

  Emma had a long bath and light supper, before watching a film. She read a little, swapped a few more texts with Jason and finally went to bed. She realised that she still needed to call Celia, but it was now too late. Not that the two of them had not spoken deep into the night before – usually about boyfriends. Celia and Emma had been friends since college. Celia had helped Emma improve her grades and Emma had helped Celia improve her dress sense. Emma listened to the voice message. Celia asked if she was free on Tuesday night for dinner, that it was important and could she call her back. Emma was a little worried for her friend, but not so much that she wanted to cancel her plans with Jason. She could see Celia anytime. But this might be her only chance to see him.

  She drifted off to sleep with the waking image of Jason Rothschild stealing itself into her dreams, like a fox entering the hen house. Hi cheekbones were as high as his social status. He was clean-shaven and dressed in a navy blue blazer from Kenzo, white Hugo Boss polo shirt and mustard coloured cords from Paul Smith. He looked good enough to eat. Rich food agreed with her, Emma indulgently thought to herself.

  To download the book and continue reading click here.

  Table of Contents

  1.

  2.

  3.

  4.

  5.

  6.

  7.

  8.

  9.

  10.

  11.

  12.

  13.

  14.

  15.

  16.

  17.

  18.

  19.

  20.

  21.

  22.

  23.

  24.

  Epilogue

  Extract from Uptown Girl by Holly Kinsella