Chapters (50)
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication Page
- Contents
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Ninteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Thirty-nine
- Forty
- Forty-one
- Forty-two
- Epilogue
- Letter From the Author
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author
‘It’s not like that,’ I said.
‘You’re not going to get rolling-pinned if you’re late?’
‘You’re hilarious.’
Sasha crossed to the window and looked out. She was visibly trembling.
‘Sasha, are you going to be all right? I’m really worried about you.’ I joined her by the window. The street was deserted, trees bending in the wind, litter swirling in the dark corners.
Her voice was quiet. ‘I’m worried. What if one of Mae’s brothers tries to get in during the night? Rapes me in my bed? I can see it happening, the night before I actually get the locks changed.’
‘I’ll stay,’ I said.
‘No, don’t be silly.’
I wasn’t sure how Charlie would react to me staying over at Sasha’s. But Sasha was my best friend. There was no way I could leave her in this state. ‘I’ll stay here on the sofa. I’ll be your guard dog. Then tomorrow, we’ll call a locksmith, get this situation sorted, and talk to the police. All right?’
Her eyes were wet. ‘You’re a good friend, Andrew.’
‘Yeah, yeah. I know. I haven’t been much of a friend recently though, have I?’
She sat down on a beanbag in front of the TV. ‘I’ll make more of an effort with Charlie, I promise. I know how important she is to you. And if I’m still going to be your friend, I’m going to have to get on with your missus, aren’t I?’
‘It would help. Thanks Sasha.’ I took out my phone. ‘Right, I’d better call Charlie, let her know what I’m doing.’
I looked over at the dry cleaning bag, which I’d left by the door. I didn’t think Charlie needed the suit tomorrow. Regardless, this was more important.
‘What’s that?’ Sasha asked.
‘Oh, just a suit of Charlie’s. I had it cleaned today.’
She laughed. ‘You’re turning into a good little house-husband, aren’t you?’
‘Sasha.’
‘Yes?’
‘Fuck off.’
Sasha dug a blanket and spare pillow out of her airing cupboard and I lay on the sofa, uncomfortable but pretty drunk. Sasha and I had polished off a bottle of wine after we’d got back, then she’d ordered a delivery pizza and we’d spent the evening watching television, taking the piss out of reality TV contestants like we were students again, though our hearts weren’t in it. Every now and then, Sasha would get up and look out the front window, but there was never anything to see.
To my relief, Charlie had been cool about me staying over at Sasha’s, making a joke about how it was my loss, and I was pleased to have made things up with my best friend. The unspoken falling out had been stupid and I wouldn’t let it happen again.