Page 33 of Endgame

‘Jasper,’ Lara responds, matching his frostiness. There is clearly no love lost between those two.

‘What’s up with you two?’ I whisper to Lara.

‘Personality clash. Nothing to worry about. He thinks I’m dangerous and I think he’s a personality-less do-gooder.’

‘He’s all right, you know.’

‘Oh God, not you too. Is there anyone’s arse you’re not kissing at the moment?’

‘Behave. Anyway, he’s with Sophia now,’ I say, pointing to her.

‘What? Barbie? Hilarious – I’m pretty sure she knows exactly where she stands when it comes to Ariella. Look, she’s already scowling and nothing has happened yet. It’s only going to get worse when she gets the whole maid of honour and best man implied romance.’

I look down the row. Sophia is holding her hands in her lap so tightly that the whites of her knuckles are spreading.

‘We should sit next to her,’ I suggest, feeling sorry for her.

‘Why? No. I want to be at the end.’ Lara pouts.

‘Stop whining. You’re less likely to get kicked out in the middle of the row.’

‘Oh! When you put it like that…’

Lara and I get up and scoot down.

‘Hey, Sophia. Remember me – Caleb?’

Relief washes over her face. ‘Hi! Of course! Caleb!’ she says chirpily.

‘Sophia, this is Lara, Ariella’s best friend.’

‘Hi.’ She smiles cautiously at Lara. ‘How are things in Singapore?’

‘Great. Busy.’

‘It must be wonderful for you and Aari, moving somewhere and starting a new life away from everyone and everything.’ She looks wistful.

‘Well, Ariella and I aren’t really together any more.’ It’s hard to say out loud but, truthfully, I’m soothed by the night we spent together recently. I know, deep down, that we’ve not quite truly finished with each other yet.

‘That’s a shame, you seemed perfect for each other.’

‘Yeah. I think so too.’

‘Whatever, Caleb,’ Lara says. ‘What he’s not telling you is that Ariella dumped him because he failed to recognise and disclose that his psycho ex-“frenemy-with-dodgy-benefits” needed a sanatorium and a straitjacket.’

Sophia tries to contain her laughter.

‘Thanks, Lara,’ I sigh.

‘They’ll get back together eventually, but things are especially tense at the moment because there is a hot, loaded guy circling.’

Sophia’s face fills with fear. I act quickly.

‘Dominic Miller. He’s very American,’ I add and she relaxes.

‘American or not, he’s hot, has loads of dosh, treats her like a queen and takes her and her friends on yachts to expensive islands for her birthday,’ Lara adds.

‘I’d like to cash in my first thirty minutes of silence now please.’

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