A sardonic smile slid onto Ashleigh’s face.

Just when Kelly thought she was off the hook, Ashleigh reeled her back in.

“Oh, no you don’t.” Ashleigh waggled a finger. “I might be ten years your senior, but I don’t suffer from CRAFT yet.”

Say what?

Kelly took the bait. “What’s craft?”

“Can’t Remember A Fk’n Thing.”

It took a moment for what Ashleigh said to sink in. Once it did, Kelly burst out laughing, both amused by the acronym and the fact Ashleigh wouldn’t say the F word.

“That’s a good one. I’ll have to tease mum next time she can’t find her car keys.”

Although, at the tender age of forty-nine, Kelly’s mother was still sharp as a pin. Not much got passed her, especially when it came to her daughters.

All traces of humour gone, Ashleigh turned serious. “I’m all ears,” she said softly. “And rest assured, I won’t repeat a word of what you tell me.”

The mere thought of that fateful night made Kelly break out in a cold sweat.

She took a deep breath and relayed her story, how she was supposed to meet Paula in the bedroom, seeing Paula in the hallway, not knowing who she’d slept with, and how her and Nicole had concluded it was more than likely Ashleigh, and why.

“I wasn’t entirely convinced, and with no way of knowing for certain, I tried to put the night behind me.”

When Kelly didn’t receive any righteous comments, she finally met Ashleigh’s gaze. Her eyes were full of a tenderness that made Kelly want to jump into her arms.

For a hug.

As a friend.

Nothing more.

Yeah, right.

“When you turned up at the café talking in hushed tones and stating we needed to talk, I put two and two together.”

“And came up with six?” Ashleigh smirked.

“You got it.”

“If it’s any consolation, I think you did the right thing not telling Paula. Not that I’ll ever admit to saying that.”

Once again, Kelly wondered how deep Ashleigh and Paula’s friendship went. From where she was sitting, it appeared they kept a lot from each other.

Then again, Kelly didn’t tell Nicole everything so perhaps she shouldn’t be judging.

As if reading her mind, Ashleigh reiterated her thoughts.

“I have two close friends, but some things even best friends shouldn’t share with each other. Know what I mean?”

“Yep,” Kelly replied.

“For all you know your flatmate, Nicole isn’t it?”

Intrigued and slightly amused by where Ashleigh might be going with this, Kelly nodded.

“Nicole might own a strap-on.”

Without thought, Kelly replied, “She’s straight.”

A slow smile crept across Ashleigh’s face. “I know.”