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Back The Bad Place Save as PDF
Chapters (72)
  1. Cover
  2. THE BAD PLACE
  3. Contents
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. Epigraph
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. Acknowledgements
  71. About the author
  72. An Invitation from the Publisher

‘That’s me told, then.’ Louis swung his legs over the edge of the bed to pull on his boxers. ‘And it’s a shame because I like you, Karin. I’m sorry to be a disappointment, but there it is.’

‘You don’t know me. We see each other once in a blue moon. We have a drink, a laugh, and we have sex. And it works, it worked.’ When he didn’t reply, she added, ‘And if you knew me more, you wouldn’t like me.’

‘I’ve seen the news, Karin, I even saw that stupid movie.’ She stared, shocked that he knew who she was. ‘But don’t let one thing that happened to you a lifetime ago define who you are. The truth is, I like you too much.’

‘This…’ She gestured around the room. ‘It’s not real life.’

He came to her – she should have just walked out as soon as he started talking – and cupped her cheek, and for a split second she instinctively pressed her face against the warmth of his hand.

‘I like you, Louis,’ she said, ‘but… you should stay away from me.’

‘I was hoping I could do just the opposite.’

‘Honestly, you don’t want to know me.’

‘Give me one reason why.’

‘Because I’m not a good person.’

‘Oh, well, we’ll have to disagree about that.’ He took his shirt off the back of a chair. ‘I’ve just gone and ruined everything, haven’t I?’

Karin went to the door and opened it, and he sat on the bed.

‘Where are you going?’ he said, but immediately held up a hand in apology. ‘It’s none of my business.’

‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I’ve got to see somebody.’

‘Can I call you again?’ he asked and she hesitated in the doorway, torn about how to respond, wanting to say, yes, I want you to, because I like you too, but instead she left without saying a word, slamming the door hard behind her.

33

Their neighbour, Nelson, stood on the doorstep, clasping a cheap bottle of wine.

‘Stuart!’ Ursula greeted him like an old friend. ‘So glad you could come!’

‘I hope I’m not too early. This is for you.’

He handed her the bottle and came inside, nodding warily at Sasha. ‘Thanks for inviting me.’

‘You are very welcome,’ said her mother quickly. ‘Let me take you outside, Kevin will be thrilled you’re here.’

Sasha stood mesmerized as Ursula took Nelson into the garden, and saw how stunned Kev was to see him. His eyes met Sasha’s through the patio window and she shook her head. I have no idea what’s going on.