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Mel relieves me of my towel and in my head, I instantly cancel all the meetings I have planned. I’m under no illusions though; I know that I am a distraction, a toy almost, that she enjoys playing with; and that nothing will ever come of this. That doesn’t stop me from wanting it to last for as long as possible.
NINE
ARIELLA
This morning was a nightmare.
Caleb left for Singapore the day after the boyfriend incident, and I was still jumpy, which made sleeping almost impossible. Then I couldn’t get any hot water through the taps, so I had to call one of the emergency numbers Caleb had left. Letting a strange man I’d never met into the house was frightening. Thankfully, the guy who turned up, Tim, was lovely. Embarrassingly, there was nothing wrong with the heating. He patiently explained the controls, then secured the flat before he gave me a wedge to put behind the door in the absence of a door chain. He declined payment when I offered, and volunteered to suggest a peephole to Caleb.
Only four hours of sleep has made me grouchy, and I’m also a little peeved to have been pulled into CrimeSpree’s orbit at work. Though he is as white as they come, he seems especially keen to communicate with me using slang that I suspect would leave Jamaicans unimpressed. I grew up in leafy Surrey with an African-American mother and a father from the north of England. I genuinely don’t understand what he is saying. Lara is going to have to claim this one back.
‘When were you going to tell me that CrimeSpree’s girlfriend is that “Bamidele” girl?’ I say at lunch, popping a chip in my mouth.
Bamidele is an artist dedicated to challenging the norms and pushing the conversation. Her last project was a 36-foot installation of the ungroomed female body, rumoured to be an ex-lover, lactating and menstruating, with audio of women during childbirth playing every fifteen minutes.
Lara’s perfectly manicured nails wave my question away. ‘Any normal person would have asked the internet.’
‘I shouldn’t have to go on the internet, Lara. Besides, you can’t trust Bamidele to keep this under wraps.’
‘Why not? Did you know her name means “take me home”?’ Lara raises an eyebrow. She is obviously not taking this seriously.
‘I’m certain that wasn’t the context her ancestors were going for. Give CrimeSpree back his girlfriend, Lara.’
‘She isn’t a possession. Plus, he hasn’t noticed for weeks.’
‘Think of your job, Lara – but, more importantly, think of your soul.’
‘I gave up on my soul ages ago. Have you not been to a CrimeSpree gig?’ She sniggers.
‘Glad you mentioned that; he’s gone from four concert dates to twelve.’
‘I hate you. Why didn’t you just lead with that?’
‘I was hoping you’d do the right thing.’
Lara reaches across the table with her fork.
‘Ow! Don’t poke me, it hurts.’ I rub my arm.
‘That’s for trying to force me to occupy the moral high ground with you. It’s insulting and way beyond my natural disposition.’
‘Lara!’
‘Okay, okay. I’ll end it. While we are sticking our noses in each other’s nightmares, any Jasper news? Is he still holding the butcher and grocer hostage?’ she says with a laugh.
‘Annoyingly, yes. I know he’s not cooking the stuff, he’s just being petty.’
‘You rich people and your problems. I don’t understand why you don’t just fight strangers for the last manky cabbage at the supermarket like everyone else. Aside from that, have you heard from him?’
‘Don’t overreact, okay?’
‘I won’t. What?’ Lara is absolutely going to overreact.
‘Mommy called me last night and demanded I bring a date to her fiftieth birthday, because Jasper is coming to dinner with a plus one.’
‘Wait, Dahlia has found out? When did that happen?’
‘Last night. Apparently, Jasper’s mom called her with the news.’
