Meagan had bitten her tongue too many times and frankly, she’d had enough of that.

‘You need me, Simi. You couldn’t decide your way out of a one way street. You use tarot cards to choose your breakfast!’

‘I trust the cards more than I trust you,’ Simi spat back.

‘Is it?’ said Meagan popping her neck. ‘If it weren’t for me, do you realise how many more failed relationships you would have, how many fewer acting jobs you would have landed? You can’t even take a decent headshot without someone holding your hand.’

‘Acting jobs? You and your insane notes have lost me at least the last two I’ve gone for.’

Meagan could take just about anything but criticising her efforts was the rawest betrayal of all. Yes, being an acting agent was harder than she’d anticipated but she’d given Simi a lifeline when no one else would. To have that flung in her face wounded bitterly.

‘Well maybe you should find yourself another agent who knows what to do with your “talents”!’ said Meagan viciously waving air quotes at Simi.

‘Maybe I will,’ Simi said, flouncing off towards the cloakroom.

Meagan watched as Simi shook on her coat and stomped down the vaginal tunnel and out into the street. The space where she had been quickly filled with party goers who zipped to and fro laughing and chatting together. Meagan went to move but was unsure where to go. In the side bar, Jemima and Miles were still engrossed in conversation, oblivious to her presence. Shaheena was enjoying a school-disco style snog behind the cloakroom and Simi was, by now, probably writing wedding vows for her marriage to Risk or Gamble or whatever that guy’s name was. All at once, Meagan felt so alone.

Chapter 37

Simi

‘Jem,’ Simi called down the hall.

There was no reply. Jemima was out and the flat was empty. Simi puffed her cheeks, relieved. She had barely seen Jemima since the party three nights ago but given all that had happened, maybe it was best. Her date with Chance had finally arrived and she just wanted to focus on that. Her tummy fluttered at the thought of him. He was her best date of the game so far. And to think, if she’d taken that break from men, she’d have missed out on this kind, almost-doctor with the gorgeous smile who was fit as.

He was so wonderful Simi decided she was not even going to sleep with him. She wasn’t going to do what she had done with Mo because this was not a sprint. Besides, someone as lovely as Chance would not be in a rush. He was a good person. Simi could tell from little things like how lovely he had been to her friends, well, Meagan. Jemina had run away before they’d been introduced which was kind of rude – and strange. At the weekend, Jemima had toasted to Simi finding the man of her dreams yet the second someone materialised, Jemima hadn’t wanted to know. Was she only happy when all three of them were as terminally single as her? Perhaps that’s why she’d told Simi to take a break! And why she’d turned to Miles. It was out of a fear she’d be the last to meet someone. That could also explain the strange stuff she’d said about Chance having a girlfriend or a wife. Sabotage! Maybe Meagan was right all along about Jemima being up to something.