Annie nodded and looked away. There was a new caution in her that he wasn’t used to. Annie usually spoke her mind. ‘I’m sure you’ll patch things up again,’ she said, like that was all she had.
Harri peered at her. ‘You reckon? I thought you might be glad.’ Like, deep down, he was. Harri inwardly berated himself. What an awful thing to think.
‘Uh-uh. I’m saying nothing. I’ve learned my lesson over break-ups.’
‘What does that mean?’
Annie’s face softened into a sad smile. He wasn’t used to seeing her unsure of herself.
‘What’s the matter? Has something happened?’ He searched his mind trying to recall if she’d mentioned seeing anyone lately but there hadn’t been anybody since that thing with Billy the maths teacher had fizzled out last spring and she hadn’t mentioned him since. ‘Did I miss something?’
Annie let out a heavy sigh. ‘You remember Cassidy?’
‘Course I do.’
She was Annie’s best friend back in Texas. They’d been joined at the hip as kids and after uni they’d picked up right back where they’d left off. Harri was always glad Annie had her in her life, a true friend amongst all the hangers-on and admirers.
‘We haven’t spoken since New Year’s.’ Annie’s voice wavered. ‘Remember I told you about her boyfriend?’
Harri set his mug on the floor. ‘Deadbeat Dave?’
‘That’s the one.’
Of course Harri remembered him. Annie had hated him on sight back when he and Cassidy first got together. He’d been one great big red flag for two whole years, but Cassidy couldn’t see it. It had killed Annie to see him breaking down her best friend, one undermining comment, barefaced lie or outright insult at a time. The women had been planning on moving in together, finally getting Annie away from her grumpy father, but Dave had put the mockers on that idea.
‘He finally got caught cheating?’ Harri asked.
‘Yep, and they had a blazing row. Whole thing imploded and I can’t say I was sorry. Fact is, I let it all out. I really thought he was gone for good, so I told her I’d had him figured for a skeeze since day one, and how she was a million times better off without him. Even told her he’d tried it on with me at happy hour on Christmas Eve! We did the whole break-up bit; revenge hair dye and cocktails, everything. We had a blast. It was like having the old Cassidy back.’
‘What colour did she go?’ Harri asked.
‘Red.’
He nodded. ‘Good choice.’
‘Right?Anyway, Dave came crawling back at New Year’s and they got back together.’
‘No way!’
‘I know! And I couldnothold my tongue. I told her she was a fool and he’d only do it again, and it hurt me so bad standing by watching her slumming it with a two-bit man baby.’
‘Ah!’ Harri winced, realising what was coming. ‘She didn’t take it well?’
‘She did not.’ Annie’s eyes flooded with tears, something Harri had never seen before.
‘Oh my god, Annwyl!’ he was reaching for her but she had already drawn her knees up and was hugging her legs, hunched over.
‘She hasn’t spoken to me since,’ Annie said into the fabric of her skirts before turning her face to Harri’s. ‘And I’ve called and messaged, even went round her place…’
‘How did that go?’
‘Dave was there and he stood in the doorway with his arm around her neck like a chokehold, and she looked so mad at me. He told me to get off their property and I left. That was the last time I saw her.’
‘Their property? I thought the house was hers?’
‘It is. He knows when he has a good thing going.’
‘Hmm. And now she won’t talk to you?’
