Page 20 of All Our Missing Pieces

‘They’re here? That bitch and Mr Sleaze? Where?’

‘Just inside.’ I turned my face away from the window, which meant turning away from Luke. ‘You can see them from here. She’s wearing a red top, long dark hair.’

Beatrice peered past me. ‘And he’s the guy with the tattoo and acne scars? Nice.’

Luke looked bewildered. ‘Are you okay, Livvie? Do you want to go somewhere else?’

‘I—’ I began.

But Beatrice spoke over me. ‘No way. Come on, Livvie, you did nothing wrong.’

‘What happened?’ Luke asked. ‘Did you fall out with them?’

Reluctantly, I repeated the story I’d told Beatrice that morning, conscious that while it didn’t make me look that bad, it didn’t make me look good, either. I should have done something different. I could have handled it better.

‘I’m sorry, Livvie,’ Luke said. ‘I’m sorry that happened to you. So that’s why they were weird when we picked up your stuff. They can’t do anything to you now, you know.’

‘I know.’ I took a sip of my drink, the Pimm’s dulling the edge of my anxiety. ‘And you two will protect me if they come over, right? Pretend I’m someone else – my doppelganger.’

‘I’d offer to fight him and protect your honour,’ Luke joked, ‘only he’s the type to glass me and I don’t want my beauty ruined.’

‘Nothing could ruin your beauty,’ I teased, feeling that – thing – pass between us again, a small jolt of electricity between our touching thighs.

‘My turn to get a drink,’ Beatrice said. ‘Same again?’

She disappeared inside. It was getting dark now, but the evening was still warm. The air was heavy with the smells of cigarette smoke and women’s perfume, mingling with diesel fumes from the main road. Inside, music began to play – the DJ starting his set.

‘So that guy your old roommate’s with,’ Beatrice said, bringing over our fresh drinks. ‘He spoke to me.’

‘Gary did? What the— what did he say?’

‘He was next to me at the bar. He said, “Nice tits.” What a prince.’ Beatrice made a being-sick gesture with her index finger in her mouth.

‘Jesus.’ Luke grimaced, rolling his eyes.

Chatting and laughing, we finished our drinks and then Luke bought another round. The alcohol was going to my head – I felt relaxed and giddy. Luke’s shoulder was touching mine now, as well as our legs pressing together. As the night cooled, the warmth of his body felt more and more welcome.

‘I have to pee,’ Beatrice said. ‘Be right back.’

‘And then we should probably go,’ I told Luke reluctantly. ‘It’s getting late.’

‘We could stop on the way at the off-licence,’ he said. ‘Have a glass of wine in the garden.’

I imagined the two of us sitting under the stars, the smell of green, growing things surrounding us.

‘That would be nice.’

‘Are you warm enough?’ he asked.

‘Just about. It’s getting chilly.’

I edged even closer to him, and felt his warm arm slip around my shoulder. Goosebumps sprang up on my skin, and not from the cold. I leaned my head against his shoulder, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing, inhaling the clean smell of his T-shirt.

After a while, I said, ‘I should go and find Beatrice. She’s been ages.’

‘Don’t get lost in there.’ Luke grinned, and I said I wouldn’t.

I couldn’t see Beatrice inside, so I made my way to the toilet and had a wee. As I was washing my hands, Samantha came in. Taking a deep breath, imagining Luke’s arm around me, Luke’s presence protecting me, I ignored her and left.