Charlotte squints at the screen, and looks back at me questioningly.
“Yoko Ono? What the fuck does that mean?”
I sigh, tucking my phone back into my coat pocket. “It means that they think Mia is breaking up the team.”
“Well that’s ridiculous.”
“Yes, yes it is.”
Our conversation is cut off as our food arrives, and we try and distract ourselves by making small talk. But on the drive home and all night lying in my bed in Charlotte’s guest room, all I can think about is that headline.
They’re blaming Mia for all of it.
And it’s all my fault.
30
MIA
“Will you stop fussing over me?”I grumble as Charlotte and Dominic escort me up the stairs to Charlotte’s flat. They maintain their firm grasps on my arms, as though I’m going to fold in half and fall backwards down the steps like a wonky laundry stand. “Honestly, you two, I am fine.”
“The doctor said we have to watch you for shortness of breath over the next two days,” Charlotte snaps.
“And you two carrying me up the stairs isn’t going to stop that, oh my god!” I yank my arms from their grasp with a laugh. “A right pair of nannies, you are.”
“You’re a bad patient, you know that?” Dominic mutters, shifting my bag in his hand. “Go on, upstairs with you then Miss Independent.”
I do a little curtsey and start up the stairs. “Yes, Mr Graves.”
There’s a resoundingcrackas Dominic slaps me across the bum.
“And you can lose the attitude and all,” he says, pointing a finger at me when I spin to regard him, slack-jawed but smiling.
“Ooh he is sexy when he’s bossy, isn’t he?” Char murmurs, leaning close to me but speaking loud enough that Dom can still hear her. “Is he like that in bed?”
I groan, and they both immediately look alarmed.
“Is it your chest?” Char asks, and I swat them both away.
“Oh my god, no!” I hurry up the rest of the stairs. “Just get me inside so I can sit down and you can both leave me alone, fuck’s sakes!”
Dom and Char chuckle as they follow me, grinning at each other when they catch up to me, tapping my foot at Char’s door.
“I’m the one with dicky lungs and you two are taking forever to get up them stairs,” I chide them.
A sudden yap sounds from behind the door, and claws scratch on the other side of it. Char barely has the key turned in the lock and the door open a crack before Tank squeezes himself out and hops around at my feet.
“Baby!” I scoop him up and snuggle him against my chest. “Oh my god, I’m so glad to see you!”
Tank licks my face relentlessly as we walk inside, and I settle down on the couch as Dom takes my bag to the guest room. Char swings her keys back and forth in her hands, eyeing me uncertainly.
“I can reschedule,” she says, her brows pinching together. “It’s just sodding Balenciaga."
“Char, go.” I smile at her and nod. “Dom is more than capable of looking after me, and this meeting is important for you. Go, please.”
Tank yaps, and I run a hand over his head.
“Yes, you tell Aunty Char that we’ll be fine,” I say, and Tank snuggles against my chest with a loud sniff.
