‘And now you’ve replaced me with Kieran.’
Beth’s cheeks burned. ‘I haven’t replaced you with anyone. Kieran’s just…’
‘Handsome?’ Gigi supplied. ‘Brooding? With a voice that makes you go all squidgy around the edges?’
She glared at him. ‘Kieran is my friend.’
‘He’s yourcrush,’ Gigi corrected, smugly. ‘And I may have, you know, helped him along a bit.’
Beth’s stomach churned. ‘Helped him how?’
The lights flickered. Gigi lowered his voice. ‘I’ve been talking to him, in his head. Little nudges: a whisper here, a thought there. “Beth looks nice today,” that sort of thing. Nothing harmful.’
‘What?!’ Beth’s voice shot up an octave. ‘You’ve beenin his head? Gigi, that’s – that’s—Oh my God, that’sviolating!’
‘Oh, don’t be such a drama llama. It’s not like I’ve been rummaging around in his memories. I’m just … curating the atmosphere. Encouraging positive feelings.’
‘You’re manipulating him!’
‘Manipulating is such an ugly word. Think of it as … matchmaking.’
Gigi sighed, the glitter dimming slightly. ‘Relax, Beth. I can’t make anyone love anyone. I can only amplify what’s already there.’
Beth covered her face. ‘Gigi, you can’t just go around playing Cupid with real people. Kieran’s been through enough without you mucking about in his brain.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Gigi said brightly.
‘You’re unbelievable.’
‘Thank you.’
Beth was still fuming when she bumped into Ed, cheeks slightly flushed, a towel slung over his shoulder.
‘Everything all right?’ he asked, glancing past her to the pinball machine. ‘You look like you’re about to throttle something.’
‘Just … having a word with the electrics,’ said Beth, shooting the pinball machine a murderous look.
‘Want me to take a peek?’
‘No!’ She checked herself. ‘I mean, it’s fine. Honestly. How’s the beer line?’ They’d had problems earlier, with punters complaining about having to drink from poncy bottles.
‘Flowing like a dream.’ He grinned. ‘I still think we should get that beauty upstairs. Maybe a jukebox, too.’
Beth bit her lip to avoid screaming.
‘They’re here!’ Angela called, from above.
Ed pulled a wry face. ‘Sorry, I meant to say that my folks are visiting for a couple of days. Dad’s grand, Mum is too, but…’
‘She has dementia,’ Beth said softly. ‘I’m so sorry.’ She patted Ed’s shoulder.
He gave a small, tired shrug. ‘It is what it is.’
They climbed to the bar. Ken – an older, handsomer version of Ed – folded his son into a hug, then Angela. As he stepped back Mags clung to his arm, eyes skittering around the room.
‘Well, this is lovely,’ Ken said. ‘Isn’t it, love? You remember The Jekyll and Hyde, don’t you?’
Mags smiled vaguely. ‘It’s very nice. Oh, is that your friend? The one from the caravan park?’
