The Dr Pepper Prophecies by Jennifer Gilby Roberts Read Free Book Online

grimaces. 'That’s no ant,' he says. 'Possibly a skunk.'
    I grin.  In a strange way, Martin’s done me a favour.  You always get sympathy when you’re dumped in this office, but you get a lot more when everyone has daily proof of what an ass-hole your ex is.
    And if Matt were to offer me a shoulder to cry on, it would be only good manners to accept.
    'How do you like it here?' I ask, starting on my sandwich. 'England, I mean.'
    Matt rolls his eyes. 'I’ve lived here since I was twelve, I just can’t get rid of the accent.'
    'Don’t try,' I say. 'It’s sexy, gives you an edge in the dating game.  Does your girlfriend like it?'
    'I don’t have a girlfriend.'
    That’s what I like to hear.
    'What do you think of this place?' I say.  No point in rushing things.
    'It’ll do,' Matt says, glancing around the staff room.  I see his eyes fall on a dying pot-plant on the window ledge.  He gets up and goes to the little kitchenette. 'It’s hopefully a stopgap thing.  I want to get into web design,' he says, carrying a glass over and watering the plant, 'but I’m still building up a portfolio.  Honing my skills.  It’s pretty competitive.'
    'I know someone who’s great with computers,' I say, immediately thinking of Will. 'I know he’s done websites before and he’s always saying he wants to work seriously on one.  You two should get together.'
    Matt comes back to the table and starts drinking the rest of the water. 'I was hoping you meant yourself,' he says. 'Shame you didn’t.  I was hoping for an excuse to get to know you better.'
    My insides turn to marshmallow.  I love this bit.
    'Who says you need one?' I hear myself say.
    'True,' Matt says.
    We smile at each other.
    'There’s no reason why two people who work together can’t be friends too,' I say.
    'Exactly,' Matt says, nodding.
    We smile some more.
    Matt looks at his watch. 'I have to get back to work,' he says. 'Otherwise the walking rule book will probably fire me.  See you around.'
    'Bye,' I say happily.
    When he’s gone, I slide down in my seat and say a silent thank you to the universe.
    Goodbye Martin, hello Matt.

Chapter 6
     
    'So, what do you think?' I ask nervously
    Will studies my CV from several angles.  His eyebrows draw down.  That’s never a good sign.
    'Well,' he says, handing it back to me. 'One thing does jump out at me.'
    I scan it quickly.  I see nothing.  I look more closely.  I still see nothing.
    'You couldn’t make it jump any further, could you?' I ask finally.
    'Look at the top,' Will says, folding his arms.
    I look.  I see my name and address, like I’m supposed to.  I raise my eyes and gaze at Will, utterly confused.
    'Mel,' Will says gently, 'you spelt your name wrong.'
    He can’t be serious.  I check.
    Menalie Caroline Parker.
    Menalie
    Oh, God.  I did.  I actually did.  It’s official, I’ve lost my grip on reality.
    I don’t know whether to laugh, cry or hyperventilate.
    'So, all in all,' Will says dryly, 'I think it needs a little work.'
    I give him a watery smile.
    'But that’s why I’m here,' Will adds. 'To spot things like that.  Have another biscuit.'
    He pushes the plate closer to me.  We’re sitting across the dining table from each other at my flat, which is the usual venue for our counselling sessions.  Beth is in her room.  Probably reading the collected works of Dickens or something.
    I take a ginger biscuit and dunk it in my mug of orange squash. 
    I have juvenile tastes, so sue me.
    'It’s basically fine,' Will continues, taking my CV back from me and running an eye over it again. 'It just needs tweaking.  For example, you don’t necessarily have to put that you got a third.'
    I stare at him. 'You’re telling me to lie on my CV?  What happened to it being fraud?  You gave me that whole long lecture about it.'
    'That was when you wanted to put that you got a first,' Will says firmly. 'That was fraud, this is just selective honesty.'
    'Not ‘the truth, the whole truth and