The Expat Diaries: Misfortune Cookie (Single in the City Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

were crazy about each other. In that jungle, mud-smeared and vomiting, we both knew that. ‘Right. Of course,’ I said. ‘Don’t worry.’ I wished I felt as cool as I sounded. ‘It’s only a couple of weeks, right?’ At least we had a few days left together.
     

Chapter 3.

 
    My, how trichinosis can take the shine off a romantic holiday. On the bright side, after spending four days sharing a room the size of an office cubicle, Sam and I took intimacy to a whole new level. Nothing more was said about the ‘L’ word, or if it was I didn’t hear him through the bathroom door. Never mind, when the chips were down (and everything else coming up), Sam couldn’t have been a better boyfriend. He was also the perfect nurse, though I made him leave the room to be the perfect tourist too. Given the unsavory nature of my condition, it was definitely better that way. Plus, now I’ve got loads of photos of our holiday, even if only Sam is in them.
    He did leave for Ho Chi Minh City though, as threatened, and it’ll be a few weeks until Stacy’s visa comes through. So for now I’m on my own in Hong Kong.
    Stacy has been my rock. As my lifelong friend, she’s contractually obliged in this regard. She calls me daily, like she did when I first moved to London. Then, her calls were tinged with the guilt of having played a key role in my (rather accidental) move. I didn’t relieve her conscience. She should have known that if you’re going to get your suggestible friend drunk on the day she gets fired, you’re partly to blame for what happens. If you challenge her to change her life when she complains that she’s in a rut, then point her to a British Airways sale when she threatens to move to London to find a new job, then not try to take her credit card away before she books the flight, you’ve got a bit to answer for. I was as grateful for her calls then as I am now.
    ‘How are you feeling? Did you try a spa yet?’ She asks first thing, like always. A girl needs this kind of caring support, and reminder to pamper, when moving across time zones.
    ‘I’m okay. Slowly finding my way around. No spa yet, but I’ve got a recommendation for a foot massage place.’ Stacy takes American grooming habits to a new level. As a nation we’re obsessive and Stacy makes the rest of us look like untweezed, unbuffed, frizzy, spotty amateurs.
    ‘Email me as soon as you go and tell me what it’s like,’ she demands. Thank the ether for email. Being able to regurgitate an entire day’s worth of minutiae in writing, without regard for time zones, makes these calls easier on the purse. Stacy gets my dramas daily by the paragraph. ‘Are you ready for your interview, Han? What time is it?’
    ‘Three o’clock tomorrow. I think so. I mean, there are only so many ways you can spin crappy jobs.’ So far I’ve spent three months having my online applications nearly universally ignored, and two phone interviews that ended when I said, ‘Work permit? Uh, no.’ I’m not asking to be CEO. I’m happy to be the lowest rung on a very long ladder. I had no idea that being a buyer’s assistant’s assistant’s assistant was such a coveted role.
    ‘What are you going to wear?’ she asks.
    ‘Well. I found a dark grey sleeveless shift dress just before I left London–’
    ‘Galaxy-esque?’
    ‘Yep, but sleeveless, not cap sleeves, and a higher neckline. But it’s got the same silhouette. It’s got a faint check through it. I thought that would look good with my peep-toe black platforms.’
    ‘Hmm… I’m not sure about the shoes. Have you got red? Or mustard?’
    ‘I’ve got the red flat Mary Janes.’
    ‘No, too clunky. I’ve never liked those shoes. They just don’t try hard enough. I know! Your metallic grey ballet pumps.’
    ‘Really? Not too, I don’t know, meeting friends for shopping?’
    ‘No way. Think Holly Golightly. Wear your Hermès scarf and it’ll be perfect. It’s got yellow in it, right?’
    ‘You’re