Page 44 of One Hot Summer

“The problem is, after everything we have been through, not just the last twelve months, everything, you couldn’t pick up the phone and tell me you were going on a date with Dan.”

“I didn’t know how you’d react.”

“And that’s the problem. You didn’t want to find out how I might react. You just went ahead even though you thought there was a possibility that I would be mad. That is the problem.”

“I’m sorry.” It was her turn to be at a loss for words. Dan appeared at the doorway, not saying anything. Sarah tried again. “I did a really shitty thing. I’ve betrayed you. Please, Jenny, can we talk?”

“I need to go. I’ll see you when I get back.”

Sarah stepped back and allowed me to shut the car door. I pulled away and drove off, not wanting to look at either of them.

I barely registered my brother’s Tesla parked outside my house when I got back. I just reversed onto my drive without really paying attention. I was so upset and distracted that I had to do a quick check to be sure that I’d pulled onto the correct drive.

My head was spinning with thoughts by the time I got home from Sarah’s. I’d needed to clear my head, so on the way home I drove to Ogden Reservoir, where I knew it would be peaceful at that time of day and I would be able to clear my head.

As I followed the trail around the water that was surrounded by trees and passed the odd dog walker who nodded in greeting, I found a sheltered bench and sat down. I tried picturing Sarah and Dan together. I had known them both for such a long time. Dan had matured over the years. From the look of his dating-app profile, he really was ready for love, and I trusted him to look after Sarah. Also, if he was going to find the right kind of girl anywhere who would be a partner as well as a best friend, it was Sarah. She had learned from her mistakes with Max The Wanker, and while her barriers might have been up with other dates, she would know what she was getting with Dan as I had spoken about him for years, so why couldn’t she speak to me about him?

After a while, I wandered around the reservoir once more, and thought about all that Sarah and I had been through together, over the years. The immature boyfriends, the horrors of university hangovers, the first holiday to Zante all those years ago, and all the other trips since. We were best friends, maybe even soulmates, so why couldn’t she have spoken to me first? Why couldn’t she have told me they were meeting up for a date?

Zack met me in the hallway as I walked through the front door.

“Where’ve you been? I was getting worried.” He hugged me close. “I tried calling, but you didn’t answer. Are you all right?”

I could see the worry in his eyes. I could feel his heart beating fast.

“Oh, fine,” I lied. “I was just making sure Bing was settled in before I left. Got his litter tray set up and all that.” Great, now I was the dishonest one. On my walk, I had wondered about telling Zack why I’d had a falling out with Sarah. Would he take it the wrong way and think I was jealous about Sarah and Dan, like she had thought initially? Or would he understand that I felt betrayed? I didn’t want to be a hypocrite and keep things from him. “Actually, I had a thing with Sarah…”

“Is she back? Is she still in one piece?” Andrew’s voice shouted from the living room. Had Zack called in the cavalry to search for me?

“Hey,” I walked into the room and found Andrew sitting comfortably in an armchair with a brew, “what are you doing here?”

“Liz found my stash of sausage rolls in the garage and threw me out.”

“What?!” I dropped my bag to the floor at his announcement. “Are you being serious? Oh, that bloody woman…”

“I’m kidding! Calm down. I have that integrated fridge in one of the units, so she’ll never find out.” He winked. “But if you have any bacon, I’d be up for a butty. And sausages. And burgers. Anything, just feed me something meaty so I don’t call at Burger King on my way home.”

Zack laughed. “The poor guy! He’s lacking good, decent protein. I’ve got us a pepperoni pizza for tea, you’re welcome to have some if you like?” he offered.

“Actually, I won’t stick around much longer.” Andrew checked his phone. “Liz is needing me back to help get the kids fed, bathed and in bed. But if I leave now, I’ll be able to nip to Tesco and grab something to eat. Build up my strength. Cora isn’t a fan of going to sleep without a fight.” He rubbed his eyes and stood up.

“You never answered my question,” I said. “What are you doing here?”

“Can’t a big brother call in on his little sister to chew the fat? Actually, I was just passing, had a conference at a hotel in Halifax and thought I’d call in while I was over this way. Zack and I were just catching up, talking sports, debating the best way to build a fire, typical man stuff.”

“Okay, okay. Go back to your mud hut and eat your homemade hummus. We’ll be tucking into a meat-filled pizza as soon as you’re gone.”

He playfully punched my arm, and then pulled me in for a hug goodbye.

“Have a great holiday. Zack was telling me about the villa. It sounds awesome! A lot better than that place you stayed in Zante with the–”

“We don’t need to go there!” I almost shouted. I knew I’d regret telling him about it when it happened, but I needed him to cover for me at the time.

“Oh, before I go, Mum told me to remind you to shave your legs. ‘Tell her it’s Greece, not Germany’,” he said, mimicking her voice.

“Oh my God. Goodbye Andrew, it’s been a pleasure.”

“Ha, ha! See you soon, bud.” He patted Zack on the back as I forcefully but nicely shoved him out of the door before he could say anything more to try and embarrass me.

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