‘Let me just... um... excuse me...’ Cameron inched past her with his face turned away. He took hold of Cyril and uttering more apologies he sidestepped out of the room and shut the door.
Ros threw on her most casual clothes and gave her hair a quick blast with the hairdryer. She reached for the doorknob and then paused. Was she intruding by joining them? But then it was her apartment and the invitation had seemed genuine. Although perhaps three was a crowd. What was she about to walk in on? She imagined Cameron and Gina in a steamy embrace. Instead of being cautious she was now keen to intervene and stop any such interaction without thinking too hard about what her motivation was.
Ros flew out of her bedroom to see Gina curled up on the sofa alone and Cameron carrying three mugs. ‘Heavens, Ros. You made me jump,’ he said, nodding at the drinks sloshing violently. ‘Are you okay?’
Her mother had cannoned into her life unexpectedly, she was utterly confused about how she felt about Cameron and she’d just exposed herself to a complete stranger. ‘Fine,’ she said in a small voice.
‘Sit next to me,’ said Gina, unfurling her legs and patting the space beside her. Ros was happy to oblige as it put her between Gina and Cameron. ‘We’ve ordered an Indian banquet so there’ll be plenty for all of us and you can just have whatever you fancy.’
‘Thank you – what do I owe you?’ asked Ros.
‘You’re good,’ said Cameron, putting down the mug and taking a seat in the chair opposite. ‘My treat.’
‘You seem to be doing okay for a student,’ said Gina. ‘I didn’t know any student who lived in a pad like this one. When I was at uni, I lived in a dump with mouldy ceilings and mice who lived in the kitchen wall and used to pilfer my Weetabix.’
‘Don’t worry, it’s only a stopgap until July, then I’ll be in some suitably scabby dump,’ said Cameron.
‘I wouldn’t be in a hurry to move out of here,’ said Gina, turning to face Ros. ‘Your place is really lovely,’ she added.
‘Thanks,’ said Ros. She wasn’t very good at small talk but that was usually because she wasn’t that interested in the mundane minutiae of other people’s lives, but Gina was different. She’d not known she existed until a few hours ago but now she was compelled to know everything about her. She looked at the woman sitting next to her – short dark hair framed petite features, pretty light eyes with a warm smile and of slim build but with an ample bust. She was quite the package. ‘Tell me about yourself, Gina,’ said Ros.
‘I’m from up north. Bolton,’ she said in a forced northern accent. ‘I studied business marketing at De Montfort and now I’m a brand manager for a pharmaceutical company in Derbyshire.’
‘She’s being modest,’ said Cameron. ‘She’s flying up the corporate ladder.’
‘Impressive,’ said Ros, with a tight smile. ‘And how do you know Cameron?’ Ros asked.
Gina wriggled a bit as if settling herself in for a long story. ‘Cam and I go way back.’ Ros noted her use of a name abbreviation. ‘We were like what? Eight or nine when I moved onto your street?’
‘Eight. She had roller boots,’ said Cameron, ‘and I was determined to get to know her so I could have a go on them. She saw this as an opportunity to boss me about. I basically became her bitch for a whole summer.’
‘Hardly the best start to a relationship,’ noted Ros.
‘Nah, I wasn’t that bad,’ said Gina, tucking her hair behind her ear.
‘Huh! I was at her beck and call 24/7, had to give her backies on my bike and I even had to let her have daily cuddles with my hamster.’
Gina started to giggle, which pulled Ros’s attention back to her. ‘Only thing was when I finally let him have a go on my roller boots his feet were way too big to fit in them.’ Both Gina and Cameron burst into laughter and Ros did her best to join in but it was hard when she was feeling tense and hadn’t gleaned much information of any importance.
‘You’ve been friends a long time then. You must be close?’ Ros tried to look at both of them but they were too far apart and it was probably beginning to look like she was shaking her head so she focused on Gina. Sweet perfect girlfriend material Gina.
‘Yeah, we’ve dated off and on for years. He’ll always have a special place in my heart,’ said Gina, getting up and kissing Cameron on the temple as she passed. ‘Loo this way, is it?’
‘Yes, third door.’ Ros pointed but Gina was already on her way.
As soon as she heard the bathroom door lock click, Ros turned her full attention to Cameron. ‘And do you feel the same?’
Cameron leaned closer. ‘Gina is the reason I’m here.’ He kept his voice low.
‘Sorry, I don’t follow.’
‘Her dad is high up in some consulting agency and he made a few remarks when Gina graduated. He’s always been a bit scary and protective like most dads are, but these comments were pointed and about me not amounting to much and sponging off Gina. And that’s when I realised I needed to better myself. I was working my socks off but in jobs that were going nowhere. It was Gina and her dad that made me want to get a degree and focus on a career.’
‘So that you were worthy of Gina and her achievements.’
‘Exactly,’ said Cameron. ‘But—’ There was the flush of the toilet and Cameron shot over to the chair opposite, leaving Ros with a lot to think about.
***
