“Oh, thank God. I was so worried about you,” she gasps. Flinging herself at me, I endure the bone-breaking hug until the stench of alcohol that still clings to her skin makes me gag.
“Kelley, you need to shower.” She’s not the only one. It feels like alcohol is leaking from every pore in my body.
She’s nodding enthusiastically. “I know, and I will. I just had to make sure you were okay. I can’t believe you wandered off. I was so scared.”
“Do you remember what happened? Because I’m drawing a blank.”
“Oh, God, I understand. I’ve only just started piecing things together again. It was the replay of Allegra barging past us with you in her arms that did it. I’m not likely to forget that in a hurry. She looked like she wanted to kill someone.”
My jaw goes slack. “What did you say? Allegra had me…”
“In her arms. You were zonked. All muddy and dishevelled. We tried to come over to you but she near on ran us down. I think Pete fell in a giant plant pot. Oh, boy, she was pissed.”
Allegra. Had me. In her arms? Fuck fuckity fuck.
“Crap.” I try to run my hands through my hair, but my fingers snag on something. As gently as possible, I pluck what looks to be a bit of a plant. Yeah, I definitely did something stupid last night, and I’m guessing Allegra is going to be super mad. Damn it. I’ve done so well staying away from her.
Saying that, it’s been a weird few days. I stayed out of sight but missed seeing her, which makes zero sense considering she’s the Devil. I’ve also come to realise that I’ve possibly been letting go a little too much. I’m self-aware enough to know this is less “enjoying a holiday with friends” and more “drinking to cope”. It’s a shock my parents haven’t intervened. Maybe they’re doing it too.
Looking around the room, I take in the state of it. Clothes are strewn everywhere. I got super mad when I realised allmyclothes were gone, only to find expensive replacements in the wardrobe. I was all geared up to storm into Allegra’s office and have it out with her, but then I changed my mind. I didn’t want to play her games, so I did a fashion show instead and embraced the situation.
If Allegra carried me to bed last night, she would have seen the mess I’d left. It must’ve looked like I’ve thrown a fit and trashed the place. I didn’t. I just started to party and never got round to tidying up, which is so far from who I am, it’s scary. I’m not handling this as well as I thought, apparently.
“Where’s Pete?”
“By the pool. He’s already on his second cocktail.”
Ugh, the thought of alcohol is not helping. I cannot imbibe today.
“Ah, you’re awake,” Rosa says from my doorway, “and you look like shit. Good, you deserve it. Allegra wants to see you. Now!”
“C-can I have a shower first? I stink.”
“No. I’ve just had my arse handed to me because of the stunt you pulled. Get your backside down there and don’t make me ask you again.” Rosa practically growls the last word out, and for the first time, I seejusthow intimidating she is. Don’t get me wrong, Rosa always looks like she’s one bad mood away from pulverising something. But this is the first time I’ve genuinely felt afraid of her.
Gulping, because I know I’ve fucked up, I timidly slip past a seething Rosa and head slowly downstairs. My feelings towards Allegra are not an excuse for going against her wishes. She asked me nicely to stay within the interior garden for my own safety and I ignored that.
I only know that’s what I did because of the plant I plucked out of my hair. There are no vines in the interior garden. Granted, I was three sheets to the wind and have no recollection, but I shouldn’t have put myself in a vulnerable position like that in the first place.
If I apologise quickly, maybe Allegra won’t shoot me on sight. “I’m sorry,” I bark as soon as I enter the room.
Allegra is sitting at her desk looking at something on her computer. She ignores me for a second and continues to click away. Finally, after I think I’m going to have a stroke, she looks up and pushes away from the desk slightly.
“Not looking too bright this morning, Bonnie.”
At least we’re not back to the Ms Moorside thing. Then I really would have panicked.
“I’m sure you’ll be happy to know I feel like death warmed up.”
“Believe it or not, that doesn’t make me happy at all.”
Huh, okay.
“I’m genuinely sorry. I don’t know why I went wherever I went.”
“You took an evening stroll to the edge of our territory. I found you collapsed on the ground. You were metres away from the edge of a fucking cliff.” Even though she swears, it’s not rage I hear but…anxiety. She was worried about me.
“Bloody hell. I…don’t remember any of it.”
