Humouring Nicole, Kelly did as she was told. She bent her neck and fixed her gaze on her bare feet. Her long hair fell around Kelly’s shoulders and framed her face.

“Now, without lifting your head, look at me.”

The innocent act of peering through the long, brown strands made Kelly feel like she had something to hide.

“That’s what Ashleigh did,” Nicole exclaimed. “She didn’t make eye contact with me for the rest of the night. It was almost as if she knew I knew.”

Unconvinced, Kelly asked the more puzzling question. “What was she doing in Paula’s room?”

“Who the hell knows, it could’ve been for any number of reasons. Remember at our house warming, Tina drank too much and had to lie down for a while? Maybe that’s what happened with Ashleigh, or she could’ve been tired, or staying the night but couldn’t crash on the sofa until all the guests had gone home.”

Not knowing the answers, Kelly rubbed her friends shoulder. “I’m not disagreeing with you, Nicole. But we’re still relying on a lot of guesswork.”

The strap of Nicole’s pyjama top slid down her arm. “You’re right. The only way you’ll know for sure is by asking everyone you suspect. And that would be rather silly.”

After climbing to her feet, Nicole held out a hand. Kelly let her pull her up then shook out her legs. Nerves pinged as the circulation returned to her backside.

“Ashleigh’s a sexy woman for sure. She’s also engaged. To a man.”

“She’s also your soon to be ex’s dear friend.”

The word dear made Kelly cringe, it was a term of endearment she wouldn’t miss.

Nicole, who must’ve mistaken Kelly’s grimace as dread over the impending break-up, patted Kelly on the knee. “I know it won’t be easy. Breaking up never is.”

Resisting the urge to ask Nicole if she was going to break out in a song, Kelly returned her warm smile. “You’re right, even when you’re doing the dumping.”

It wasn’t something Kelly looked forward to and she hoped Paula didn’t turn on the tears. But if she did, Kelly would just have to remind herself that their differences no longer attracted her to Paula. And, if Paula’s shallow minded attitude and the ugly shadow who followed Paula everywhere, Colette, wasn’t enough to make Kelly stick to her guns, looking at her through her friend’s eyes certainly would.

A lawnmower fired to life putting an end to their peaceful chat. In unison, they bent and picked up their empty coffee mugs before stepping back inside and closing the door behind them.