Page 39 of Endgame

‘Do what?’

‘Go running back to him and overcompensate for mistakes you made because it makes you uncomfortable. He fucked up with Melissa, big time. You need to take the time to learn to live with what he did and truly forgive him. You also fucked up – maybe not as much, but you need to forgive yourself, apologise to him and just not do it again. You’re both dealing with several shit shows all at the same time, and you need to clean it up before you move forward. Together, or not.’

I look at my best friend. She’s changed.

‘Lara, when did you start giving me practical, sensible advice that doesn’t involve choosing violence or arson?’

She reaches over and pokes me with a chopstick.

‘Ow!’ I laugh. There she is. But I’m not done.

‘So, are you going to admit that you more-than-like Honey with all your Sri Lankan fine dining plans or am I going to have to drag it out of you?’ I ask, winking at her.

Lara gives me a dirty look. She doesn’t want to share, which is a first, but I know she’s going to.

‘I like her,’ she whispers, then groans. ‘Like really,reallylike her.’

I squeal, leap up and give my best friend a hug in the middle of the restaurant.

‘Aaaarrgghh! Get off me!’ Lara shouts and tries to squirm out of my grasp, but eventually gives up and lets me hug her. Other diners are watching us but I don’t care. I eventually return to my seat.

‘You haven’t said anything to her?’

‘Of course not! She obviously knows I’m gay and she’s fine with that, but it’s another thing entirely when you know your gay friend is trying to sleep with you. It’s kind of gross.’

‘But you don’t just want to sleep with her, right?’

‘No. I don’t,’ she admits painfully. I reach out for my friend’s hand and she takes it.

‘Tell her. She might surprise you.’

‘No chance of that. She’s leaving soon.’

I’ve never seen her like this and I have to do something.

‘Come back to Singapore. You can stay with me. You need to wait another two weeks for the revisit time to elapse after we leave, but you should come back out. I can put a good word in with the new CEO, and your track record speaks for itself. The project team could benefit from your experience.’

‘Are you serious?’ She brightens.

I nod and this might be the first time that I have ever seen a tear form in Lara’s eyes.

‘If that doesn’t work, we can explore other avenues,’ I reassure her.

‘We both know there is only one other avenue that is almost guaranteed to work and, as long as I have your blessing, I plan to exploit every angle.’

‘You’re going to target DMVI, aren’t you?’

‘He has a ready-made soft spot I can poke. I have access and influence around something he desperately wants.’ She smiles.

‘Lara!’

‘What? I’m just saying that he has plenty of reasons to want to be nice to me…’

I can see a plan forming already. ‘Lara…’ I warn.

‘Don’t worry. No promises, just letting him know I can be an ally. He’ll just be unaware that he’s not immune to betrayal.’

‘You are so toxic.’ I shake my head.

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