Don't Want To Miss A Thing by Jill Mansell Page B

wasn’t making sacrifices along the way. When eyebrows had been raised at the sight of him pulling up outside the foster family’s house in the canary-yellow Porsche, Dex had said at once, ‘Don’t worry, I’m selling it.’
    Mel, the social worker facilitating the initial meeting, had been visibly relieved. ‘I think that’s probably a sensible plan. Get yourself something a bit more appropriate.’
    ‘I will.’ Dex had nodded in agreement. ‘I’ve always wanted a Ferrari Testarossa.’
    But Mel, who was getting wise to him now, just said good-naturedly, ‘How about a nice Fiat Panda?’
    That had been a fortnight ago. He hadn’t sold the Porsche yet but he would. Today his apartment was being checked over froma health and safety perspective. He was entering a world of fridge locks, electric-socket covers and unclimbable stair gates.
    The intercom went and Dex pressed the button. ‘Hi, is that Mel?’
    ‘No it isn’t, it’s someone much nicer than that! Hey, babes, it’s Bibi!’
    Who ? Oh God, the one with the boobs. From that fateful night.
    ‘How did you know where I live?’ He frowned.
    ‘Just clever.’ She giggled. ‘Actually, I bumped into your friend Kenny from the party, said I needed to contact you again urgently, so he gave me your address. Can I come in?’
    ‘Not really. I’m expecting a visitor. What’s so urgent?’
    ‘It’sh a shecret!’
    OK, that was a definite slur. From the sound of it, Bibi had been enjoying a long and liquid lunch.
    ‘Maybe some other time,’ said Dex. Like, never .
    ‘No no no, I need to see you now! Let me in,’ Bibi wheedled. ‘Pleeeeease?’
    ‘Look, it’s really not convenient.’
    ‘Fine then, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll just wait here until you change your mind.’
    Oh God . ‘Hang on, I’m coming down.’
    Stepping out of the lift on the ground floor, Dex’s plan was to get rid of his unwelcome visitor as quickly as possible.
    Unfortunately, Bibi had other ideas.
    Even more unfortunately, Mel had arrived and had evidently just pressed the buzzer for his flat. As Dex made his way across the grey marble hallway he could see Bibi through the glass doors, talking to her. Whilst clutching a bottle of champagne . . .
    ‘Hi, Dex! Oooh, it’s so lovely to see you again!’ Launching herself at him, Bibi kissed him noisily on the mouth sink-plungerstyle and clanked the bottle against the glass door as it tried to swing shut. ‘It’s OK, don’t worry, I asked this one if she’s your new girlfriend and she said she definitely isn’t. So I did check. Mind you, she isn’t your type at all .’ Lowering her voice by one decibel, she added, ‘Have you seen the shoes? Sooo frumpy.’
    ‘Bibi, you can’t come in. I have an important meeting with—’
    ‘Hang on, hang on, just hear me out. The thing is, you don’t know what you’ve done to me!’ Shaking her head and exhaling alcohol fumes all over him, Bibi said, ‘Since you left that night I haven’t been able to forget you, Dex. You know how sometimes you meet someone and you just know ? That’s what it’s like in here!’ She clapped her hands dramatically to her chest. ‘I just knew! And that other girl was being such a cow before, you didn’t have the chance to appreciate me, so we need to start again, properly this time.’
    ‘Mel, I’m sorry about this.’ Dex grimaced apologetically at her.
    ‘No problem at all.’ Mel had her professional nothing-shocks-me face on.
    ‘See?’ Bibi clapped her on the shoulder. ‘I knew you wouldn’t mind! It’s like one of those romantic movies, isn’t it? Sometimes you just have to seize that moment and tell the man how you feel about him. Or you end up missing out! Can we go up to your flat now?’
    ‘No,’ Dex said firmly.
    ‘Oh pleeease, just for a bit, I’m bursting for the loo!’
    ‘Look, I really can’t—’
    ‘Dex, I’m desperate! I’m not going anywhere till you let me in. And if you leave me down here,’