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I pull my belt on, drive forwards when the doors open, and quickly make my way round to pick up Lucy. Her face offers a little light relief when she scowls at me after I’ve pulled up at the kerb. ‘I’ve been standing out here freezing for ten minutes,’ she complains, dropping into the seat. ‘Don’t ever abandon me in that scary alley again.’
‘It’s not scary.’ I pull out into the traffic and fiddle with the controls on the wheel, flicking through the radio stations.
She brushes at her hair. ‘I feel like I’ve had a family of spiders move in.’
I laugh, feeling Lucy’s eyes on me, and I look to find her studying me. ‘What?’
‘I can’t believe you’re marrying him.’
‘I know. You’ve already told me.’
‘How do you think your mum will take the news?’
‘Better than you.’
‘I just don’t want you to get hurt. Do you really know him?’
‘Trust me, Lucy,’ I reply quietly. ‘I know him.’
I reach for the radio, flick it on, and CamelPhat & Cristoph’s ‘Breathe’ comes over the speakers. I crank the volume up and start to sing along as I jig in my seat, and Lucy quickly joins me, singing at the top of her voice. I laugh, all scratches and a potentially pissed-off fiancé forgotten . . . for now.Chapter 25For some strange reason, I feel all reminiscent when we pull up outside our building. I don’t know why, since I’ve shivered with dread each time I’ve been here lately. I see me and Lucy leaving together, whether on a night out or on our way to work. Either way, we’re laughing together each time.
‘I’ll walk up with you,’ I tell her, unclipping my belt. ‘I should collect a few things while I’m here.’ There’s no way I’ll get all of my belongings in this car, and I’m unsure as to what I should take, anyway. I’ve furnished my tiny apartment, but I doubt Becker will welcome all of the paraphernalia at The Haven. Should I sell it? Or just leave it in there? I have over nine months to serve on my tenancy. Which reminds me; I should get the paperwork and call the letting agent to hand in my notice. Or should I? What if things don’t work out between Becker and me? I’d be daft to leave myself with nowhere to live. My head starts to spin as I eject myself from the Audi, cringing when I see the full extent of the damage I’ve done. I’ll keep my apartment on. He might kick me out after he sees what I’ve done to his car.
After Lucy has let us into our building, I go ahead, taking the stairs and rounding the corner, but I come to an abrupt halt when I find someone loitering outside our apartments.
Lucy walks into me. ‘Jesus, Eleanor, what’s with you today?’ She huffs her way past me, but soon pulls up, too. ‘Mark.’
He offers a small smile. Lucy has frozen in front of me, and I can see and feel her anxiety. I want to jab my friend in the back to shock her back to life, to prompt her to get on with the apology she owes Mark, but Mark speaks up before I have the chance.
‘You’re a stupid cow, Lucy,’ he says quietly, stepping forwards. He looks a little untidy in some old jeans and a T-shirt. It’s a far cry from his usually well-turned-out self, and it’s also an indication that coming here to sort things out was more important than grooming and dressing well this morning. He sighs and shakes his head. ‘But I love you, you loopy cow.’
My heart melts, and I hear a whimper emanate from Lucy, her body relaxing. ‘I’m sorry,’ she wails, throwing her arms into the air before letting them fall like bricks to her side. ‘I’m an idiot. I didn’t want to lose you to that leggy thing. I didn’t know what to do.’
‘Come here.’ He opens his arms and she more or less sprints into them. ‘You stink,’ he says with little concern, squeezing her to him.
‘I need a shower.’
‘No shit.’ He pries her away and messes with her tangled locks on a frown. ‘I’ll help you.’
I start to inch towards my apartment door, set on leaving them to their happy reunion.
‘How long have you been waiting?’ Lucy asks.
‘Not long. Becker gave me the head’s up that Eleanor was bringing you home.’
‘He did?’ Lucy asks, surprised.
‘He did?’ I mimic, swinging around. I’m about to question how he got Mark’s number, but then I remember . . . he had Lucy’s bag retrieved from the bar. I’m not stupid enough to wonder how he’d get Mark’s number. That man’s capabilities frighten me. A measly telephone number in a locked phone isn’t going to give him much of a headache, especially with his whizz kid Percy on hand.
