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Please don’t shake, legs.She gripped the door for support.
Alison had obviously made an effort before popping round. She was wearing a cute floral dress, a denim jacket, and black boots. Jen certainly had a type. On anyone else, Holly would have admired the outfit. She suddenly felt underdressed in her joggers and sweatshirt, like she should be spruced up too, level the playing field.
‘Alison.’
She looked confused, like she was considering if she had the wrong flat. Realisation kicked in, and her features hardened.
‘And you are?’
‘Holly.’
She could feel Jen lingering behind her.
Silence filled the space between them. Hard. Heavy. Harsh.
Alison looked past Holly, leaning in the door to make eye contact with Jen. ‘Aren’t you going to invite me in?’
Not a word from Jen.
‘What do you want?’ Holly asked curtly.
Alison pulled a face that Holly could have gladly slapped. She didn’t, though. Her hand stayed on the door, ready to slam it if need be. It also helped keep her steady, as every part of her threatened to shake.
She ignored Holly and continued addressing Jen. ‘Kev said you were seeing someone new.’
‘You’ve spoken to Kev?’ Jen’s voice was distant, like she was in the next room. Holly could feel her at her shoulder, though, and she wasn’t going to move. Jen needed her as a shield.
‘Yeah, I’m doing a gig there tomorrow. I’m home for the week, so I figured, why not get in touch?’ she said with a shrug. ‘I’d really like to come in now, if your guard dog will let me.’
Holly looked at Jen, scared to linger too long, as if Alison would take the break in eye contact as an invitation and run in, like a sneaky animal.
‘I don’t think that would be wise,’ Jen said, her voice still weak.
Holly contemplated slamming the door right then, but something told her Alison wouldn’t take an abrupt end well. She was here for a reason, and she wouldn’t leave until Jen complied.
Alison pursed her lips, thinking.
Holly helped her along. ‘Tell us what you want first.’
‘I don’t think it’s any of your business.’ A moment later, she reconsidered her stance on Holly’s involvement. Her eyes didn’t blink as she talked to Holly. ‘Just wanting to catch up with Jenevieve.’ A smile pulled at her lips. ‘Sorry for the spoiler. Took me a good year to find her full name out, and then it was only because I finally met her mum.’
The anger radiating off Jen was palpable.
‘A year?’ Holly asked, keeping cool.
‘Yeah, Jen’s more guarded than the Tower of London. You’ll soon find that out.’
Holly smirked. ‘Sorry, it just seemed a long time. I spoke to Léonie on Facetime last week.’ She hadn’t. But she had learned the name of Jen’s parents via the hamper. The slight twitch in Alison’s mouth made the lie worth it.
She returned to ignoring Holly. ‘I’d love to catch up, without company. Just a coffee or something? I’m here a week.’
Jen’s silence spoke volumes.
Alison wasn’t for backing down. ‘Look, now obviously isn’t the right time,’ she said, glaring at Holly. ‘See you around, Jen.’
As Alison turned on her heel to leave, Holly slammed the door. Maybe a little too hard for a communal space, but the neighbour’s dog would stop barking. Eventually.
Without uttering a word, Jen stormed to the kitchen, grabbed a glass, and slammed the tap on full blast, downing water before gripping the edge of the counter, her breathing ragged.
