Page 37 of Endgame

‘Aari. Are you attracted to Dominic?’

‘Yes,’ she whispers.

All the anger in my body leaves and is replaced with choking desolation.

‘Caleb, I don’t want to be with him. I want to try to work things out with us. It may take us a while but I want to try.’

I can’t even look at her.

‘I really didn’t want to hear that you’re attracted to Dominic, Ariella.’

‘You asked and I want you to know the truth.’

‘I wish you’d lied.’

Before I can say anything, the same kind of hurt that she had on her face, when she found out about Melissa, resurfaces.

‘You have learned nothing,’ she starts quietly. ‘This is the exact reason why we are here. Secrets and lies. Do you realise the damage you’ve caused?’

‘Hold on, you said you’d forgiven me.’

‘And I have, but forgiving you doesn’t free us of the consequences of your actions. Those don’t just go away, Caleb. We’re going to deal with them for a very long time and I’m prepared to do that; but to hear that you’re still open to accepting dishonesty to make life easy is…disappointing.’

She starts gathering her things up.

‘Where are you going?’

‘I need more time, Caleb. I can’t have lunch with you,’ she says, her eyes filling with tears. Shit. ‘I’m sorry,’ she says as she walks out of the restaurant. I call the waiter over and order a double whisky, then pull my phone out of my pocket and start my text.

Em, are you around?

Sure. Want to come over for dinner?

I look at the time. I can make it to Hampstead and have a chat for about an hour before she has to leave for the school run at three.

Actually, are you free in forty-five minutes?

Sure. Have you had lunch?

No.

Come round. I’ll put chicken nuggets and chips in the oven for you.

I neck the whisky when it arrives, pay the bill and head straight out.

NINE

ARIELLA

‘Lara, I’m not sure I want to go into the zombie apocalypse house.’

I’ve missed my lunches with Lara. We haven’t had the chance to chat since I came home for the wedding, so we decided to meet a little earlier to grab a bite to eat before the experience. I can’t wait to catch up on her news properly and indulge in her unique brand of hostile but useful advice.

‘Come on, it’ll be fun. It’s only an hour and a half. Honey is going back next week and I haven’t spent much time with her. She’s been up and down the country on bloody coach trips.’

‘Why don’t you just take her to dinner rather than have us all fighting pretend zombies for an hour and a half?’

‘I plan to, afterwards. I already have a table for two booked at a fine dining Sri Lankan place.’

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