She hums, as if going through her endless memories of torturing men.
Luna suddenly gasps, causing me to jump. ‘I remember that guy! He was such a nob head.’
‘How can you be chirpy about that but cover your eyes from pictures of giving birth?’
The girl is one big contradiction. She’s absolutely insane but in the best sort of way.
‘Making men suffer is a far easier task,’ Liz answers.
I laugh. Of course, she would agree with Luna on this one. Although she’s not fond of the pregnancy books, she has been trying her hardest to be as caught up on what to expect as Fauna and Luna have.
It’s just harder for Elizabeth since she can’t really read.
Fauna and I had suspected it for a while. It became clearer and clearer the more she mispronounced the names on cans and bottles but she hides it well from the others. Not that she needs to, they would never judge her but she’s always been a closed book. I guess that’s why we get on so well.
‘Exactly!’ Luna exclaims, jumping to her feet and aiming her pink and blue book my way.
‘Have you spoken to Liam recently?’ Fauna changes the subject and instantly sours my mood.
I’ve managed to avoid talking about him with the girls this entire time. Blissfully avoiding my complicated feelings for The Skull — the father of my child. But they know where the books came from, and when I told them, the ways in which they all made serious attempts to remain blasé were laughable.
Fauna looked like she wanted to begin organising the wedding whilst Luna assessed the pile with what was beginning to look like approval. Liz’s expression was as blank as ever but her eyes did shine a little brighter with something like hope for me.
I, on the other hand, had a panic attack.
I mean, seriously, get a grip girl. In what reality would it be normal for me to have a panic attack because the masked guy I fucked months ago, found me and wants to… help me?
I didn’t know how to feel about it, especially not with the memory of how his eyes darkened as he found Vishrut standing behind me. His muscles had tensed so much he looked like he was turning to stone… or the hulk. I’d wanted to explain myself, had the urge to tell him nothing was going on with Vish and me,but I was a coward. Instead of staying and … well, talking to him, I ran straight into my room to hide.
A small part of me felt disappointed that he did not follow me. And an even bigger bit of me feels unsettled by the fact he hasn’t really tried to speak to me since.
Instead, he has been sending Elsa and Archie over to me with an assortment of different food parcels. When the first time one came I didn’t know what to do with it. I just stood and staired at the gap-toothed little girl who held up a full-to-the-brim tin casing. In fact, I stared for so long, Elsa — much to my embarrassment — began to shake the box, asking if I was going to take it. Ever since, every day, like clockwork, I’ve had my own personal delivery of snacks, each one different as if he wants to give me a selection.
‘Isla?’
Drawing me out of my thoughts, I look at the three women waiting for my response.
Oh shit, Fauna had asked me about him.
‘Not really no.’
‘Maybe you should?’
‘And say what?’ I ask because what exactly is there to say? Oh hey… yeah, remember that time we had no idea who each other were, and we decided to fuck? Well I haven’t been able to think about anything else since and whilst we’re on the topic how do you feel about me being preggers with your baby?
I would rather run through another fire than admit to him how he makes me feel.
Fauna shrugs. ‘Anything. A simple hi would be a good start.’
‘Or you could just ask to fuck him again,’ Luna buts in. ‘You seem to be good at that part.’
‘Thanks,’ I grit out.
Truthfully, I do want to speak to him but I don’t know how. My social skills have gone to absolute shite since the outbreak andthat’s saying something considering I was always quite shy with strangers before the virus hit.
Is Liam a stranger? Does fucking in an abandoned building constitute for passing the finish line of not being strangers anymore?
As if saved by the bell, our bedroom door swings open and a glittering child with an even brighter smile comes barrelling inside.
