Everyday Love

Contents

Sarah and Matilda

Sarah's love life is one that is lived vicariously through the customers who buy greeting cards and gifts from the card shop where she works. One of those customers just happens to be Matilda, a fellow student she has a crush on just from seeing her around the university campus. As the two grow closer, Sarah learns to curb her crush and instead value Matilda as a friend. Wouldn't it be good, though, if their relationship could become something more?

Stephanie and Gemma

This isn't like Stephanie at all. She would never come to a bar and let a stranger get her off. Though this is also the fourth week she has sat here in a booth waiting for the appearance of Gemma to do just that. What is she going to do to her this time? 

Sophia and Mai

On a sleepy Sunday morning, Sophia thinks back on Mai becoming a part of her life.

Josie and Debbie

Debbie is perfect. Josie would know. She has been crushing on the woman for years. Unrequited love is hell, but it's worth it, especially if it means she gets to keep Debbie in her life. Though a shift in conversation on a night out for the two of them threatens to change everything. Is Josie about to lose the best friend she's ever had?

Grace and Erica

On a long overdue few days away in the middle of nowhere, Grace and Erica enjoy the benefits of a roaring fire, a massage bar, and really good whiskey. And, of course, the time alone to really indulge in one another.

Francesca and Hannah

As a flight attendant, Francesca doesn't get a lot of free time. Neither does Hannah, the newest member of her crew. Would it be so strange for them to spend that limited free time between flights together, in hotel rooms in beautiful locations across the world?

Clara and Veronika

Clara never realised, really, that she was attracted to women, not until one evening in a cafe corner with Veronika. The two have been inseparable ever since, and tonight is the first time Veronika is staying over. Though just because this evening is a first for Clara, doesn't mean she doesn't know what she wants.

Natalie and Shona

Natalie's last night in a hotel while helping out in another office doesn't quite go to plan. Though she isn't complaining; not if it's brought Shona into her life. Who says there aren't perks to working away? But as the two women grow closer while keeping things casual, perhaps it is inevitable that Natalie starts to want more. How is she supposed to deal with learning Shona doesn't feel the same?

Emily and Abigail

Emily has been dreaming about this wedding day for as long as she can remember. How is she supposed to contain her excitement for being about to marry the love of her life?

Sarah and Matilda

Sarah has worked in this card shop three days a week since the first weekend she arrived in Brighton for university. It suits her well; Saturdays is her only full day, while her Tuesday and Thursday shifts fit in perfectly with her classes and time for studying. She likes stock days when she gets to see all the new cards and help rearrange the racks for their new content. And though busy, Sarah’s favourite shifts to work are the ones leading up to special occasions, things like Valentine’s Day or Christmas, and even the growing popularity of events like Teachers Day. Watching customers spend time choosing the perfect card is one of her favourite things about her job.

Sometimes she even gets to help them decide, Sarah working her way through an armful of choices to help someone pick the perfect birthday or wedding card as though she is buying them for someone she knows. One of Sarah's most memorable days was in her first year of working here, watching three friends crowding round a display then excitedly rushing over to her counter with the most ornate Happy Divorce card she had ever seen.

Is it this card shop that has made her a helpless romantic? Or has Sarah always had a longing for someone special in her heart? Sarah's friends say the latter every time she argues the former, though Sarah knows the truth of it, even if she won't say it out loud. Sarah loves the idea of being in love, loves the thought of finding that one person for her only, with whom she'll spend her entire life. She has good reason to believe in a happy ever after. Her parents, unlike those of most of her friends, are still crazy about one another after twenty-five years of marriage. When she goes home to visit, Sarah catches the way they look at one another like they are still freshly in love, and hopes one day she will be lucky enough to have a love just like that.

Not that she has been particularly lucky in love so far. Sarah had no boyfriends in secondary school, only realised in college that she'd actually prefer a girlfriend, and at university has had a couple of experiences; neither of which had lasted more than a couple of months. And now she is starting her Master’s year in art history, Sarah is beginning to wonder if something is wrong with her. How can she be so in love with the idea of love, and still be without it?

Sarah is snapped out of slipping into a maudlin mood by an approaching customer brandishing an oversized birthday card and teddy bear with a huge heart cushion attached to its stomach. The man buying has been choosing his purchases for the past hour. His cheeks are red above a prickly-looking beard, his eyes crinkling in the corners for his huge smile. There is a story here; sometimes Sarah gets to hear them, but on this occasion the man looks like he's in a hurry. Sarah watches him rush from the shop wondering if he is on his way to a date.

Hello.

Sarah startles for the sudden appearance of another customer, her heart giving an unnecessary thud when she realises who it is. This is Matilda, another Master’s student she knows from around the campus, who Sarah has had trouble keeping her eyes off for the best part of the last year. Her hair is always up in a messy bun with bits falling out to frame her face in a way that is endearing. Matilda has curves that Sarah has dragged her eyes away from reluctantly more times than she would readily admit, and also the most perfect skin she thinks she has ever seen. If anything, Sarah should just ask her for her skin care routine, letting her gaze linger up bare forearms before landing on Matilda's face; though would that reveal how many times she's looked at her legs while Matilda has run around the campus track? Be calm, she tells herself, putting on her best smile.

"Hello. Can I have you? Help you; help you with something," Sarah stutters out cursing under her breath. Maybe this is why she is perpetually single. Sarah has never been able to get a good sentence out around people that she likes.

Thankfully, Matilda only seems to be amused by her wayward tongue. "Do you have anything like bunting, or paper decorations that are kind of generic? I don't need anything for birthdays or anything like that. Just something cheerful."

We do, Sarah replies with far more enthusiasm than is necessary, coming around the outside of her counter and gesturing for Matilda to follow. Up this close, she even smells amazing, all vanilla and jasmine; it isn't fair. She points out the rack, suddenly fascinated by the array of decorations on offer; easier than noticing those legs beneath Matilda's far too cute sleeveless black and white polka dot dress. We have rainbows, mixed colours, pastels, metallics; all kinds.

Oh, these are perfect. Thank you.

No problem. Let me know if you need anything else? Sarah asks, hovering and then returning to the counter when Matilda smiles, straightening up some cards on the way back just to keep in her proximity for a little longer. 

She continues to watch as Matilda rifles through the rack pulling out half a dozen packets that will definitely clash; this isn't for any formal event, then. Sarah keeps herself busy as Matilda makes her way to the counter pausing to pick up shredded tissue paper and table confetti as well, a beaming, gleeful smile on her face when she pours all her purchases on to the counter scattering them everywhere.

Did you find everything you need? Sarah asks as though Matilda hasn't just dumped half the shop on her to ring up.

I think so?

Stocking up for... events? Sarah adds, wishing her words once more were far more natural sounding than they are.

"Oh. No. One of my housemate is going through a tough time; an apocalyptically bad break up on top of falling out with her parents. We're throwing this random party tonight to make her feel better. I hope, anyway."

That's really sweet, Sarah says as she rings up all the confetti, streamers, and everything else, trying to wedge them into bags. She shouldn't be this endeared by a kind gesture but is still smiling about it long after she finishes work.

How was the party? Sarah calls out far too enthusiastically when Matilda comes into the card shop a week later. 

Matilda looks at her in surprise; it is only a few seconds before she answers but for Sarah it feels like several long centuries of repeatedly dying of mortification. "It was good. She really liked it. We were drunk, " Matilda adds with a slight wince that says she is reliving a hangover.

Oh, good. 

Matilda smiles, pondering over the family card rack giving Sarah time to admire jean shorts and flip flops and an oversized orange t-shirt that is threatening to slip from her shoulder. Is she buying for a dad? Brother? Uncle? These should be the only things Sarah is thinking, instead of, well, admiring the view.

How often do you work here? Matilda says as she slides a card across to her with best brother embellished across the front. Older? Younger? Twin? Sarah wants to ask but won't let herself.

Three days.

Always the same?

Yes.

Matilda's smile is this cute thing that threatens to steal Sarah's breath, making her drop the card instead of sliding it into a bag. "You have some really cute cards