He smiles. ‘She’s good. We’re going to Cyprus in a couple of weeks.’
‘Oh, that’s cool.’
‘Yeah?’ It seems meant as a question.
‘Sure. I’ve heard it’s lovely there.’
He looks at her a little curiously, then just nods again. The pair of them, bloody nodding dogs. ‘Yeah,’ he agrees, as the lift door opens. ‘Supposed to be.’
They step out together. ‘Well,’ he says, gesturing to the exit.
‘Yep,’ she says. But as he moves away, towards the sunlight beckoning outside the doors, she calls out behind him. ‘Mark?’
He turns back to her, and she bites her lip. She’s not sure how to say what she wants to say. He’s looking at her, expectant. She takes a breath. If her mother, of all people, can apologise, she can too.
‘I’m sorry, you know. If I hurt you,’ she explains, when he looks a little quizzical.
He seems to hesitate, then gives a little shrug-nod combo. ‘You didn’t. I was confused more than anything.’
‘Yeah, well,’ she says a little bitterly. ‘I’ve been told I can be quite confusing.’
There’s another moment of quiet between them, then Mark gestures again to the outside. ‘All right. Well, I better …’
‘Sure,’ Lissa says quickly.
‘I suppose I’ll see you at the funeral?’
Lissa frowns. ‘What funeral?’
Something flashes across his face, before it’s carefully controlled. ‘Oh. I assumed you’d …’ He clears his throat. ‘Ash’s dad. He, well, he died a couple of weeks ago. The funeral is on Saturday.’ Lissa can only stare at him, horror mounting inside her. Jack? Jack is dead?
‘You and Ash aren’t …?’ Mark trails off as Lissa shakes her head.
‘I didn’t know,’ she whispers.
He grimaces. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have told you.’
‘No, it’s fine,’ Lissa says quickly. ‘I’m sure he would have told me. I just—’
Darcy chooses that moment to come up behind her, putting her hands on her shoulders and making her jump. ‘Ready to go? You coming for dinner too, Mark?’
‘Ah, no,’ Mark says, shifting awkwardly. ‘I think I’ll pass this time. Thanks, though.’
‘Well,’ Darcy says, as Mark leaves the building ahead of them, ‘you two sure know how to drag the awkward post-dating phase out.’
Lissa turns to her and Darcy’s expression changes. ‘What’s happened?’ she asks immediately.
Lissa can only get out one word. ‘Ash.’
‘Oh my God.’ There must be something in her expression, her voice, that lets Darcy know it’s something bad.
‘He’s fine,’ Lissa says quickly. ‘It’s just … his dad.’ Her eyes spring with tears. ‘His dad died.’
‘Oh shit,’ Darcy murmurs, while Lissa gestures at the door.
‘I need to …’
‘Yes,’ Darcy agrees.
