‘Feelin’ strong, Kitty?’
Must be psycho season. I take another sip from my glass and narrow my gaze. ‘Let’s move on out of crazy town, Niamh. I’m getting married at the weekend. Again. So I don’t need talking down from the ledge. Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt already. Sort of.’
‘I think crazy town might be right. You might want to have a words with whoever did the invite list.’ She does that deceptively cute nose-scrunching thing. Totally makes her look adorable, even if it’s false advertising. More worryingly still, she tightly clasps my wrist with her hand. My eyes stare at my pale arm against her lightly freckled one as she adds, ‘ ‘Cos look what the catwalk just dragged in.’
Looking up triggers a sort of slo-mo effect, ensuring I take in every inch of this guest’s appearance, from dainty ankles up to her new made-to-look-unnatural fake tits.Would you go to the souk to buy a copy Prada and choose the most obvious fake? Of course not, so then why do women insist on having beach balls implanted in their chest?
Sofia. You whore.
‘You might need a bit of something.’ Niamh glances around as though a clue to ‘what’ might be written on the wall, muttering something about my having gone into shock. ‘Here, this’ll do.’ She hands me a bottle of vintageVeuvelifted from the startled waitress’ hand.
‘I don’t need a drink!’
‘I thought you might want to christen her.’ She adds a comic bottle-wielding mime. ‘Might be a bit late, though, given that everyone’s already had her out for a ride.’
Everyone including Kai.I shake my head, attempting to control my thoughts.
‘She’s had them done.’
‘Done what?’
‘Her boobs were never that big before. Shit, she’s coming this way.’ My eyes frantically scan the room for Kai—or an escape—but neither are in sight.
‘Let her come, the gobshite,’ Niamh says, flicking the length of red hair from her shoulder. ‘A bit of trouble only makes for a good night.’
‘Sounds like something Kai would say.’ Despite Sofia’s airy tone, I hear the tremor in her voice well enough. ‘He does so like a challenge.’ Her gaze flicks over me, a gesture implying she finds me lacking in that sense. ‘My heartiest congratulations,habibti.’ Somehow, she drags the endearment out into a sneer, her congratulations sounding more poisonous than hearty.
‘Condragulations.’ Niamh sniggers, pointing a thumb at Sofia’s face. ‘D’you think she shovels that shite on with a trowel?’
My laugh sounds abrasive, hard. And ridiculous, as Sofia’s make-up is flawless. In fact, her whole outfit is, as usual, impeccable; from her tiny gold body-con dress to the bronze gladiator stilettos laced up her long bronzed legs. She’s had a bit of caramel blonde added to her chestnut coloured hair since I last saw her, as well as the zorb balls she’s had implanted in her chest.
‘Well?’ Sofia demands, one fist resting on her hip.
‘Well?’ I make a gesture of not understanding, my gaze sliding to Niamh.
‘I suppose you’re satisfied.’
I blink wildly. And laugh. At least, I think that’s the noise expelled from my chest. ‘Are you for real?’ I glance between her and Niamh again, eyebrows sitting somewhere in my hairline. She’s screwed Kai, so she must know how satisfied I am. I want to say this. But I don’t, and despite how outwardly blasé I act, my insides are twisted and churning.
‘You overestimate him,habibti. I told you once before, Kais is never interested in one woman for long. This won’t last,’ she hisses, malice and jealously warping her face.
‘And I believe I told you once before that you canget fucked!’
Might’ve been a bit loud, especially as the noise in the room stops.Like a snapped thread.
‘Putain,’ she spits. You tie yourself to him by trickery! You are no more worthy of him than—’
‘Trickery?’ I yell right back. ‘You were the one on her knees inhaling his cousin’s cock! Don’t fucking tell me about tricks,you whore!’ It might be the same words I used earlier with Niamh, but the intentis notthe same.
Somewhat hazily, I hear my mother’s sharp intake of breath and Geoff’s apologies to those nearby. I also hear Niamh’s encouragement, telling Sofia in no uncertain terms where to get off, but it’s all sort of out-of-focus, like I’m hearing them from inside a bubble. A bubble of rage of my own. I’m seething; every pore of my being alight, right until she slaps me. Slaps me across my face. Stunned doesn’t even cover it. I don’t think I’ve ever been slapped before. Well, other than when Kai spanks me, of course...
‘That’s a fucking ‘nuff,’ Niamh yells. ‘The man wouldn’t ride you even for practise!’ She shoves Sofia’s shoulder hard, and Sofia raises her hand, but Françoisappears out of nowhere, grabbing Sofia’s arm as she looks set to strike again. It’s then I notice his clothing; François isn’t dressed for a party. More like the gym.
‘Stop thisright now.’Pulling hard, he forces her to face him. ‘You promised me,habibti. You promised you would not let your feelings get in the way. Kais has made his choice, and no amount of...’—he waves his other hand between her hair and chest—‘will change this fact.’
Ohhh...
For a moment, I’d swear that Françoisis next on her list for a slap, Sofia’s fist clenching and unclenching by her thigh, the other still in the air, fingers held wide. Angry tears spark in her eyes as the air around us pulsates with her ire.
