Page 95 of Toy Boy

He leaves a couple of beats before he speaks again. “Everything.”

Scott

“Where’s Megan?”

Laney narrows her eyes as she looks at me, and I don’t appreciate the accusatory glare. I’m not the one who upset her sister. “Has this got anything to do with you?”

“Where is she, Laney?”

“She left. With Xander.”

“She went with him?”

“Yes… Why? What’s the problem?” She places a hand on her hip and cocks her head, and that glare isn’t getting any less accusatory. “What’s happened, Scott?”

“She didn’t tell you?”

Laney shakes her head and checks her watch. “No. She came back to the table looking all flustered, and decided we were leaving. Then Xander turned up, looking just as flustered, asked her if they could talk, and then they left, pretty swiftly because Greta’s already started a nice chain of Chinese Whispers that’s currently making its way around the entire party as we speak. And I wouldn’t be at all surprised if your name comes up in there somewhere.”

“This wasn’t on me, Laney. This was Xander. This was all on him.”

“Okay, so, what’sthisexactly?” She narrows her eyes even further, and I throw back my head and let out a long, frustrated sigh.

“Where’ve they gone?”

“How shouldIknow? And even if I did I wouldn’t tell you. My guess is they’ve probably gone to talk about whatever the hell it is that’s gone on here. Maybe you’d like to letmein on some of the details.”

“Xander used her.”

“I’m sorry? Hewhat?”

“He used her, Laney. To get to me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find Megan.”

“Hang on… Scott!”

I head back inside the pub, I need to find Tim. I might be about to bail his party but I’m doing it the polite way.

“Scott! There you are! I’ve been looking for you.”

Tim comes over, all smiles, at leasthe’shaving a good time.

“Did you see Megan leave?”

He frowns. “No, I didn’t realise she’d left already.”

“You obviously haven’t seen Greta for a while either, then.”

“Huh? Has something happened?”

“I’ve finally found out who Xander Johansson really is. And why he’s here.”

“I’m sorry, Scott, you’ve lost me.”

“I’ll explain later. Look, I’ve got to go, I need to find Megan. I’ll call you soon, okay?”

“Okay… Hey, Scott! What about Tania?”

“Just tell her I had a call from the hospital or something.”

---