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Backed into a corner like this, even if it was one of my own making, it’s all I can hope for. Suddenly, my legs have turned to jelly, and with trembling hands I reach for the pot, Max closing the boot for me once I’m clear.
His eyes get drawn to the rattling pan lid so I burst out, “See you shortly,” and head for the front door, hoping I’ve not made a huge mistake.
CHAPTERFOUR
AVA
The others are drapedout on the sofas, talking about goldfish when I reenter our cabin and kick off my boots. When I head towards the kitchen, silent and nervous, Josie heads over.
“What’s wrong? You look pale.”
Jen and Tabi stop talking. I feel the sudden silence settle on my skin.
“Oh, God, don’t tell me there’s chilli spilt all over the boot of the car,” Josie says defeated.
“No, it’s . . .” I try again, worried I’ve put my friends in a dangerous position. “The delivery for next door got screwed up. They’ve got nothing to eat. They’ve had some beer and can’t drive. I offered to share our dinner.”
Jen laughs, her bottle-red hair shiny under all the spotlights. “That’s okay, Rivas.”
“They took that as an invitation to eat here.”
Josie cocks her head. “All of them?”
“I’m so sorry. It was a misunderstanding, and I’m . . . We just need to be mindful of our drinks. Watch out for each other.”
Tabi is on her too-big-for-her-frame feet. Pixie-sized, she has the biggest feet. Seriously. But then she does tend to constantly put her foot in it, so it’s fitting. “It’s okay to be suspicious. To be über-paranoid. I get it, I do. But this is Shropshire for fucks sake. Nothing bad is gonna happen.”
“It’s fine with all of us, seriously,” Josie confirms. “It might be a bit weird, but I’m sure we can handle them. Who knows—it could be fun!”
Arms enfold me. “We are here, and we will be careful,” Jen says, knowing exactly what I’m more worried about. I can excuse the intrusion, and the slight awkwardness of making conversation with strangers, but it’s the vulnerability I feel regarding the strength of multiple men that has my limbs still shaking and my voice wobbly.
Somehow, I’m still holding on to the big stainless steel pan. Tabi removes it from my ironclad grip and walks towards the hob, switching things on.
“Have a seat,” Jen says, ushering me to a dining chair. “When are they coming over?”
“In a few minutes. Max said they’d help.”
Jen smiles, her green eyes assessing me. “You have a good feeling about him, and Jose gives him the thumbs-up, so everything will be alright. Okay?”
I nod, pushing my hair out of my face.
“I’m going to freshen up quickly. Back in a sec,” Josie promises, heading to the rear bedrooms.
Her rush to look prettier, or more fashionable, has me looking at my own choice of clothes today. Black leggings, fluffy socks, and a tank top under a blue yoga sweater make me look like a yoga bunny.
“Do you want to put some make-up on?” Jen asks.
“I’m good.”
“Not that you need it; I always feel ready to meet anything with some war paint on.”
The evening feels like it’s slipping from my grasp, my confidence waning. And my head hurts, a migraine coming.
I rub circles on my temples, Jen suggesting, “Have a paracetamol and then help with dinner. It will help you focus.”
Tabi looks over at me. “Come on, we’ve got your back. There’s nothing to worry about.”
I know why they’re doing this. I bet Josie told them all about my latest session with Dave as soon as I left the cabin. Hungry for the latest developments, but not wanting to grill me for fear of upsetting me, Jen and Tabi got the low-down. The discussion on goldfish was a cover.
