‘You think this is bad? You want to see the bathroom.’
‘Ew, no!’ Kate scrunched her nose. ‘Why don’t you leave and find somewhere else?’
‘I don’t know … it’s a lot of hassle to move all my stuff, and I’ve already paid for the room. I’m sure I can survive a couple of nights here.’
It spoke to how much Olivia hated admitting defeat that she was willing to submit herself to two more nights sleeping in this hellhole.
‘Hmm, rather you than me! But as long as you’re safe, that’s all I care about.’
Jacob’s advice not to leave after dark reverberated around her brain.
‘Eugh, stupid know-it-all,’ she hissed out loud.
‘Excuse me?’
Olivia’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘No, no, sorry. I wasn’t talking to you; I was thinking about someone else.’
‘Really?’ Kate’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. ‘Who?’
Olivia knew that any mention of the opposite sex would throw her friend into a spin. Did she have the energy for this?
‘Oi, Olivia. Can you hear me?’ Kate’s frowning face zoomed closer to the screen.
‘Sorry, the signal went for a minute,’ she lied.
‘Well, don’t leave me hanging. Who is the stupid know-it-all?’
Olivia steeled herself. ‘Some guy I met today.’
‘Olivia Jackson, you dark horse.’
‘Trust me, it wasnothinglike that. I got lost on my way to the phone shop and he gave me directions. Turned out to be infuriatingly smug and rather annoying.’
‘The best ones often are.’ Kate sighed dreamily.
‘In your opinion, yes. But in mine, they are exactly the kind of people who should be left well alone.’
‘Well, I don’t think you should write him off so quickly. It might be a good idea to make a friend or two out there. He clearly knows his way around.’
‘And likes to show off about it! I have Google and guidebooks for all my travelling needs.’
‘Yeah, that guidebook has done you a solid so far, hasn’t it?’ Kate teased.
‘All right! Enough about me, how are you? And more importantly, how are the attempts at making out with the guy at work going?’
‘Terribly. Nothing’s happened,’ Kate grumbled.
‘Well, have you tried my suggestion of asking him for coffee?’
‘No, don’t be stupid. I can’t do that.’
Olivia rolled her eyes. For someone who took no prisoners in nearly all aspects of her life, Kate was painfully shy when it came to men. The number of hours they’d spent discussing the trials and tribulations of Kate’s dating life didn’t bear thinking about. Olivia was suddenly struck with an overwhelming wave of homesickness. What she wouldn’t give to be in her flat, cup of tea in hand and her friend by her side.
‘I miss you,’ she whispered.
‘Oh, my love.’ Kate’s face softened. ‘I miss you too.’
Olivia could feel her bottom lip wobbling and the urge to cry rising up strongly inside her.
