Who Needs Men Anyway? - Victoria Cooke

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just going to say that as I imagined doing those things, I couldn’t imagine feeling any better about myself or the situation. I’d probably feel petty and juvenile. I think I just want to focus on me for now.’

      For a brief moment, Kate was silenced.

      ‘Well, I think that sounds sensible.’ I raised my glass.

      ‘I think the best way to hurt him is to move on and try to rebuild my own happiness,’ Megan continued, and I nodded in agreement. ‘He’s already begged me to take him back. He still wants to go ahead with the wedding.’

      ‘The only thing he should be in church for is his own funeral,’ Kate said, scoffing. ‘We could work on that though.’ She winked.

      ‘I think murder is frowned upon.’ I shot Kate a look – not everyone got her dark sense of humour. ‘You’re right, though. If he thinks you’re moving on, it will really get to him.’ I took a sip of fizz, realising that despite the awful circumstance that brought us together, I was actually having a lovely evening with two people I really liked.

      ‘Maybe we could get you a hunky male escort to go tile shopping with,’ Kate said wickedly.

      ‘I’m not sure my finances would stretch to that – my bills are about to double.’ Megan glanced down at the table before looking back up. ‘Besides, I think Mike would see through it and I’d just look pathetic – our bathroom and kitchen are new.’

      ‘We could start with something simple to cheer you up, like a shopping trip or a makeover. My treat,’ Kate announced. I shot her a look, willing her to avoid mentioning Megan’s appearance. She understood my glare – and ignored it anyway. ‘We can revamp this dowdy look.’ She waved her hands in the general direction of Megan’s dress. ‘And show him what he’s missing.’

      We? I thought to myself. It appeared as though Kate had found us a new hobby.

      Megan glanced at us both sheepishly. ‘I couldn’t possibly take advantage of your generosity, Kate, but I wouldn’t mind a shopping trip to take my mind off things. A bit of an image overhaul and some style advice might be nice. You seem like you have plenty.’

      I put an arm around her in support. She was coping with Kate so well. I love Kate to bits, but she can be a bit much if you don’t know how to handle her.

      ‘So that’s a yes to shopping then?’ Kate pressed. Megan nodded. ‘To shopping!’ Kate raised a glass and we all clinked.

      ‘How about we meet up next Saturday, head into town, have a spot of lunch, and then grab a few drinks after?’ I suggested, glad of having something to look forward to.

      ‘I’d like that.’ For the first time that evening, Megan gave a genuine smile.

      ***

      We met outside Harvey Nichols at Kate’s request. I’d tried to suggest the Manchester Arndale, but Kate had pulled a face. While we waited for Megan to turn up, I warned her, ‘Megan hasn’t much money. You know she’s my personal trainer and Mike is a tile warehouse manager, so her bank account balance won’t come with six zeros at the end like yours did after your divorce settlement.’

      ‘I said it would be my treat.’ Kate shrugged. Sometimes she was impossible.

      ‘Megan is proud. She won’t appreciate charity.’ I lowered my voice as Megan approached, walking heavily towards us. My unfounded motherly instinct kicked in, prompting me to dash over and give her a hug. ‘How are you?’ I asked, genuinely concerned.

      She sighed. ‘I’m coping.’

      ‘Let’s put a smile on your face then.’ Kate linked her arm through Megan’s and marched her through the doors to Harvey Nicks. The smell of luxurious perfume hit us as we walked in. I don’t know if it worked for Megan, but it gave me a sense of instant calm, putting me in the right frame of mind to spend some money.

      ‘What perfume do you wear?’ Kate asked Megan as we browsed the concessions.

      ‘I’ve worn the same perfume for years – Armani Code.’

      ‘That’s the first thing that needs to go. New you, new fragrance, otherwise you’ll be reminded of your old life with every squirt.’ She was already picking up bottles and sniffing them. ‘Now, if Mike still has clothes and things at your house, I suggest you use whatever you have left in the bottle to spray everything he owns. When he takes it all away he’ll have a lasting reminder of you.’ She ignored Megan’s confused expression and focused on stalking the counters, squinting at the beautiful little bottles and randomly casting her eye over Megan before coming to a halt at the Viktor & Rolf display. ‘You look like a Flowerbomb girl,’ she said, before engulfing Megan in a cloud of the candy-sweet perfume.

      Megan wafted her hand in front of her face, presumably trying to find some oxygen amidst the haze. ‘It’s a lovely smell,’ she said eventually before picking up the shiny, plump bottle. Then she gasped. ‘This bottle is a hundred quid!’ She placed it back on the shelf carefully, presumably embarrassed and petrified of breaking it.

      ‘Can I help you?’ a smartly dressed assistant asked as Kate continued her perusal, oblivious.

      I could sense Megan’s discomfort. ‘Did you like the perfume?’ I asked. Buying her a little gift would be the least I could do, and she had such a sweet innocence about her, I had to agree with Kate that Flowerbomb was a good choice.

      ‘I did, but I can’t spend that much money on it.’

      ‘We’ll take a large bottle of the eau de parfum, please,’ I said to the assistant, who nodded once and took one from the drawer. Megan looked at me, bewildered.

      ‘Please, let me treat you – as a thank you for all your personal training and for going above and beyond the call of duty, coming on a Sunday and accompanying me to the equipment shop.’ She took a deep breath but didn’t reply so I hoped she’d let me off the hook.

      The assistant handed the carrier bag over to Megan and she turned to me before we walked over to Kate. ‘Thank you, but you really shouldn’t have. I would have bought it myself.’

      I gave her a small smile. ‘We’re here to cheer you up.’

      As we approached Kate, she was chatting to an immaculate brunette with her hair scraped back in a high ponytail. When Kate turned to face us, she had a huge grin on her face. ‘Girls, this is Lucinda and she’s going to give us all a makeover!’ I eyed Megan warily. The night out we’d had was probably the first time I’d seen her wear any make-up before; she was actually one of the few people I’d met who looked better without it.

      ‘I’ve never had a makeover before, unless you count my engagement party when Mike’s cousin doused me in her entire MAC collection and got offended when I washed it off.’ Her facial muscles dropped slightly at the memory, and I could tell she was trying hard to remain composed.

      ‘We can do something else?’ I said, rubbing her arm but she shook her head.

      ‘No, if I’m moving on, then I have to try new things. Let’s do this.’ She forced a smile before pausing. ‘Wait, how much is it?’

      ‘It’s a promo – it’s free, dear,’ Kate said with a smile.

      ‘Brilliant.’ Megan beamed and made a beeline to Lucinda who had walked over to the concierge desk.

      I pulled Kate aside, making sure Megan was out of earshot. ‘This isn’t free – it’s at least a hundred quid each.’

      ‘And the rest, but I’ve already paid, and didn’t your mother ever tell you that it’s nice to be nice, Charlotte?’ Kate grinned.

      After an hour of Lucinda picking out clothes for us, we each had an impressive pile of designer gear, which we tried on in between taking sips of champagne.

      ‘These are just to try on again after hair and make-up, right?’ Megan said, holding up a gorgeous Balmain leather jacket while

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