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

nothing but the truth’ then?'
    'For CVs,' Will says, taking a biscuit and dunking it in his coffee, 'you can skip the middle bit.  Just put BA (Hons) Economics, it looks better.'
    'What else?' I ask, munching my nice soggy biscuit.
    'Don’t put you were unemployed.'
    'But I was,' I protest. 'What else am I supposed to put?'
    'You helped out at that old folks group, didn’t you?' Will says, as his biscuit starts to disintegrate into his mug.
    'That was for about eight hours a week,' I say.
    'So?'
    'So I spent the other however many hours filling in application forms, watching daytime TV and eating Jaffa Cakes,' I say.
    'Wh ich is exactly what you did at university,' Will says, winking at me, 'but you still claimed to be studying full-time.'
    Hmm.  He has a point.
    'So I was volunteering in my community,' I say slowly.
    'Right,' Will says, nodding encouragingly.
    'Why did I quit?' I ask.
    'Because you realised that your talents lay elsewhere.'
    'Right,' I say, picking up my pen and crossing out ‘unemployed’. 'Obviously.  You should have told me earlier.'
    'You didn’t ask,' Will says, with a Cheshire Cat grin.
    Sometimes I just don’t know if I should kiss him or kick him.
    'Speaking of talents,' I say (it’s best to change the subject when he’s in this mood). 'I found you a potential web-design partner.'
    The Cheshire Cat look goes and Will looks interested. 'Really?  What’s he like?'
    I give him a stern glance.  Will holds up his hands in surrender. 'I’m sorry, what’s he or she like?  I just know a lot more guys than women who like this stuff.  No offence meant.'
    'None taken and it is a he,' I say. 'His name’s Matt.'
    'And what’s he like?' Will tries again.
    'Gorgeous,' I say dreamily. 'Tall, fit, blond and he has the greatest accent.'
    Will blinks. 'And from the point of view of someone who is neither sex-starved nor attracted to men?'
    'I’m not sex-starved,' I retort. 'It’s only been four days.' I grin. 'I’m good for at least a week.'
    Will laughs. 'So Matt-the-God has three days left?  Somebody should really warn him.'
    'Spoilsport,' I pretend to pout.
    Will laughs again.
    I’ve made jokes like that with guys I’ve dated and been looked at like I’m a disgrace to the good name of all woman-kind.  Will is so great.  I wish I could find a guy like him.
    'Seriously,' Will says. 'What’s he like?'
    'He’s nice,' I say. 'Friendly.  He wants to get into professional web designing and he’s building up a portfolio or something.  You could probably create something pretty great together.'
    'You bring him round one time and we’ll see,' Will says, drinking his biscuit-crumb-filled coffee.
    'I can live with that,' I say cheerfully. 'The three of us…and Beth.  In fact, we should have a picnic.'
    I love having picnics.  Admittedly it usually rains, but the food tastes just as good spread out on our floor.  Plus no ants.
    'Better consult the master chef,' Will says, frowning at the biscuit-mush at the bottom of his mug.
    'Right,' I say, shoving my chair back and heading over to Beth’s bedroom door.
    'You don’t think she’s busy?' Will says.
    'Maybe.  That’s what I need to ask,' I say.
    I knock on her door. 'Beth?' I call.
    No answer.
    I push the door open a little and poke my head in.
    Beth’s sitting at her desk, frowning over what looks like a letter she’s writing.  Her table light is on and she’s wearing her reading glasses.
    'Beth?' I say again.
    She jumps and immediately turns the paper over. 'Hi,' she says quickly.
    'Are you busy?' I ask.
    'No.  I was just…nothing.  Is something wrong?'
    'Will and I were just talking about having another picnic,' I say, pushing the door open a little more.
    'When were you thinking of having it?'
    I think for a moment.  I have to go to my parents’ house on Saturday.  I’ll need something to cheer me up.
    'How about Sunday?' I ask.
    'That’s fine,' Beth says, nodding.  She’s got her elbow on the letter now.  Hmm, I