“Ican’t believe you won’t tell us what happened when he dragged you out of that club.”
My head rolled back against the armchair, my glass of pink Moscato firmly clutched in my hands like a shield from my friends and their prying ways.
“Okay, A. He didn’t drag me; he escorted me.”
Goldie sniggered. “Over his shoulder.”
I bowed my head. “Exactly, he got me out of there with grace.”
Her face pulled. “Wouldn’t exactly call you kicking and screaming graceful, but sure, continue.”
I flipped her off with a smile. “Anyway. B. I’m not telling you anything because nothing happened. Marcus took me back to the hotel. End of story.”
My friends all gave each other looks, and I looked at each of them, my head pulling back. “You don’t believe me?”
They all pondered the question, then Finn raised his hand from where he was cuddled up behind Rory. “Well, I have noidea what happened past 8?p.m., so I’m not the best person to ask. I don’t even know what club we ended up in.”
Tristan sat up, clutching his beer bottle in one hand, while his other was wrapped around Golds. “It was the one with the lamp shaped like Boris Johnson that you thought was taking the piss out of you.”
Finn giggled, his dopey smile lighting up the room. “Oh yeah, he was a dick.”
Giggles engulfed the living room, but not for long enough that everyone forgot what we were talking about.
Goldie shuffled up, her eyes on me. “C’mon Cor, something happened. Just tell us.”
At this point I was convinced that what happened with me and Marcus in the phone box was being projected on my head. But I kept my lips shut. Not because I was embarrassed, or didn’t trust them with that kind of information, but because it felt like a memory I wanted to keep to myself for a while. It was precious and liberating, and to be honest, when I thought about it, I had to squeeze my legs together a little.
But it was mine, and I wanted to keep it that way. Just a little longer.
Tristan turned to his girlfriend, nudging her slightly. “Golds, just leave her. She went back to the hotel; that’s it.”
I reached my hand out, ogling Tristan and his sensible brain. “Thank you.”
Trist smiled at me before looking round, his mouth lifting into a smirk. “I mean, come on, what do you think happened? That they ran off into a phone box together and shagged?”
As the room erupted into laughter, I went still, my eyes finding Tristan. He looked at me so smugly. How the hell did he know? Oh God, it didn’t matter how he knew; the point was that he did.
I subtly shook my head at him, silently pleading for him to keep his big mouth shut. And all he did then was pretend to zip his lips and toss the key over his shoulder, winking at me like he knew what that night meant to me.
I felt my body relax into the chair, the tension leaving my joints as I mouthed thank you at him.
He sent another wink my way before redirecting the conversation. “Actually, what I’d love to know is where you disappeared to, Jess, my love.”
All our eyes pinged to Jess, who was sitting by the fireplace, a deck of cards in his hands, the cards flicking back and forth. He smiled a little before sitting up. “I still had a hangover from the night before. Stayed at the hotel, then went for a walk.”
“A walk where?” Rory asked, lifting her head from where she was tucked into Finn, cleaning her skates.
Jess shrugged, not looking up from his cards. “By the Thames. Watched the sunset, then went back.”
Jesse was quiet on the best of days, but ever since getting back from London, he’d been quieter, like someone had stolen his voice entirely. And I hated seeing him like that, especially after how much he’d come out of his shell around us.
So I cleared my throat. “Christ, is it question time tonight? I feel like I’m on trial for murder.” I lifted my eyes and caught the thankful look Jess shot me, and I sent him a half smile back. “Besides, we need to order before The Ugly Dumpling shuts. What does everyone want?” I reached behind me and stretched to the dodgy drawer that was full of stuff we never bothered to sort out, plucking out three menus before finding the right one. “Ror?”
Rory sat up. “Shouldn’t we wait for Daisy? She’ll be back any sec.”
I grabbed my phone. “Shit, yeah. Let me call her.”
Jess got to his feet as I said that. “Actually I’m gonna have to—”
