“Like you’ve made… effort.”
I scoff. “I put mascara on. Calm down.”
“Your hair is curled,” Emma says.
“It naturally does this.”
“It absolutely doesn’t,” Hannah adds.
I open my mouth to defend myself and then close it again because unfortunately I have known these women too long to lie convincingly.
Clara slides a glass of wine toward me. “Drink that,” she says. “Then tell us what is going on with you.”
“Nothing is going on with me.”
Three faces stare back at me with varying degrees of disbelief.
“Right,” Hannah says. “And you came here dressed like that for the darts team.”
Emma leans in slightly. “You’re glowing.”
“I am not glowing.”
“You are,” Hannah says. “Either you’ve had a facial or you’ve had sex. Or maybe a facial during sex.”
I nearly choke on my first sip. “Jesus Christ,” I splutter.
Clara’s eyes widen. “Oh my God.”
“No.”
“Oh myGod,” she repeats louder, pointing at me with one bright pink nail. “That is not a no face. That is absolutely an oh my God don’t say it too loudly in public face.”
“I hate all of you,” I mutter.
“YOU SLEPT WITH HIM?” Hannah hisses, somehow managing to whisper and shout at the same time.
My entire body goes hot. “Can you lower your voices before the woman two doors down learns my business?”
Clara slaps a hand over her mouth, eyes huge with delight. “It happened.”
I take another long drink of wine because apparently that is my coping mechanism now. “It happened,” I admit.
All three of them make the exact same strangled noise.
“When?” Hannah demands.
“In Wales.”
Clara’s jaw drops. “InWales?”
“Yes.”
“On the trip?” Emma asks.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
