What happened?
This is stupid.
How did you feel?
This is stupid.
What was the trigger?
This is stupid.
Friday:
What happened?
Sod off.
How did you feel?
Bugger off.
What was the trigger?
I’ve had enough.
CHAPTER TWELVE
‘You never really wanted to go to Franco Manca!’ Sam hisses accusatorily. She’s being far too loud, so I yank her into a dark corner of the street, out of the path of drunk tourists. Andi and Jools join us, looking a bit baffled.
‘What’s going on?’ Jools raises an eyebrow.
‘Liv tricked us!’ Sam declares melodramatically, with more than a hint of excitement in her voice. She jabs a finger in the direction of Justin and Orla, standing just outside a busy restaurant in a queue. They’re laughing happily. I take them in as they stand there together, looking so natural and content. I wince at the feeling of needles stabbing my insides.
Justin looks so clean. He was never that clean when we were together.
‘That’s her ex,’ Sam continues. ‘Andhis new girlfriend.’
‘Ooooh!’ Andi spins on her heel to take a better look, while Jools gives me a disapproving once over.
‘The silly boy from the TikTok video?’
‘That’s the one,’ I confirm shamefully. ‘Justin.’
‘You should’ve told me this was the plan!’ Sam complains, turning to face me. ‘You know I love shit like this. I would’ve been well up for it!’ She pouts. ‘I can’t believe you tricked us. I would’ve brought binoculars and some kind of listening device if I’d known.’
‘He’s better looking than I thought,’ Andi says, still craning to see. ‘He looked a bit… meh on TikTok.’
‘Hewasmeh,’ I say fiercely. ‘But his new girlfriend has magically turned him into the perfect boyfriend.’
‘How did you know they’d be here?’ Sam says, sounding fascinated.
‘Orla was talking to a pal on Instagram,’ I explain, aware I’m about to sound demented, ‘in the comment section of her most recent post. She said her “new fella”?’—I pause to let the disgust wash over me—‘wanted to take her to this fancy new restaurant tonight, and her friend said it didn’t take bookings. They recommended arriving by 7pm and being ready to queue.’ I shrug. ‘I took a shot.’
‘But why?’ Jools frowns. ‘Do you want to get him back?’
‘Please say you don’t, Liv,’ Sam pleads. ‘We’ve just spent the last hour talking about orange flags, and it’s like you can’t see the flaming fireball that man represents. He is awalkingorange flag. His mum still pays his rent, for fuck’s sake.’
Andi snorts at this.
