‘This is no time for jokes, Nella!’
I try to hide my smile. ‘Sorry. You’re right, it’s not appropriate.’
‘I feel awful because he’s got a girlfriend – I wronged another woman – but we were both drunk and it just happened.’
I smart, because ‘it just happened’, was one of Rich’s lines.
Putting my own baggage aside, I try to say the right thing. ‘If he was getting cold feet about his girlfriend, that’s on him. Not you.’
‘I thought you’d hate me because of … you know.’
‘Me being a wronged woman?’ She nods. ‘Look, I feel for the girlfriend, but you’re my mate. I’ll always have your back.’
She squeezes my hand. ‘I’ve been dreading telling you.’
‘You’re human. You’re allowed to make mistakes.’
She drops her head in her hands. ‘The problem is, I have to stay out until he goes to bed because I can’t face seeing him.’
‘Come on, Vands, it’s still your home. Let him be the one too embarrassed to show his face.’
‘I’ve never done anything like this before. I don’t know how to behave.’
‘You’re going to have to put on your big girl pants and talk to him. Tell him it was fun, but it was a one-off, and that it would be better to go back to being mates.’
‘I can’t be mates with him now I’ve seen his O-Face. And he’s seen mine.’
‘You can be mates again, I promise.’
She narrows her eyes at me. ‘What am I missing?’
‘What do you mean what are you missing? I’m giving you my free Dr Praxitelis advice.’
‘How was Cyprus?’
‘It was nice, thanks.’
This isnotthe question she really wants to ask.
‘Your sister put up some interesting pictures.’
Still not a question. ‘Spit it out, Vand.’
She leans forward. ‘Frig me, Mark is still hot. Possibly hotter than when he was younger. He’s actually smiling in some photos. Photos you’re in, too, where you’re also smiling. At each other …’
This is news to me. Not that Tig has put up pictures because she has to catalogueeverything, but that there are pics of me and Mark together, looking all … smiley.
‘What are you getting at?’
I won’t offer any information, but if she asks a direct question, I won’t lie.
‘Did you shag?’
I’m almost sorry I’m about to disappoint her. ‘No.’
She sighs. ‘Oh, I was so sure …’
I shrug. ‘My week hasn’t been quite as exciting as yours.’
