Page 28 of (Not So) Mad About You

Bea had an image of Alli leaning against the doorframe, bright green eyes slanted and suspicious, luscious blonde hair draped over one shoulder.

She smelled, somewhat strangely, of guava. It had taken Bea a long time to pin the smell down, but now that she had, shecouldn’t unsmell it.

“No, no, no troublemakers,” she said, because she couldn’t tell the truth.

What was she supposed to say? That she’d had a crash, lost her temper, let someone blackmail her into betraying the program that she was supposed to be trying her hardest at in the hope that maybe they’d pay her enough to live and give her a job with stability and let her move out from under her ex-boyfriend’s feet so she didn’t have to listen to him screw his new girlfriend?

Her heart started pumping too hard and she had to take deep, calming breaths.

“You alright?” Liz said.

“Fine, fine,” said Bea.

“Good, because I’ve got some great news. There’s a flat opening up in the building opposite mine. It’s small, but nice, and I put in a good word for you and the owner is really enthusiastic. Plus, the people aren’t moving out for another two weeks, so the timing is almost perfect.”

Bea felt herself get lighter. “Really? That’s amazing. I mean, it sounds perfect.” Living across from Liz would be perfect.

“It is, so, um, I did something that maybe I shouldn’t have done?” Liz sounded uncharacteristically unsure.

“Like what?”

“Listen, don’t be angry, you can say no,” Liz said. “But, um, I put down the deposit for you. You can pay me back. I just didn’t want you to lose the place. I’ve got pictures, I sent Den over to take some, and I’ll email them to you so you can see how good it is. I just wanted to give you a chance, Bea. You deserve this. You don’t deserve to be living with Robbie and whatever-her-name-is.”

“Marilyn,” Bea said faintly. “This is too much, Liz.”

“It’s not. Please don’t be angry.”

She was on the inside. There was a little piece of her that was angry that now she was in a position where she had to pay the money back. But she was also grateful at the same time. Liz was trying to help. She had helped.

“Listen, look at the pics right now, I just sent them through.”

Bea pulled her phone away from her ear and clicked on the email icon. She started to smile. The flat was small, but it was also light and beautifully finished. She could immediately see herself living there. “It’s really beautiful.”

“I know, and I know the owner. He’s a good guy. I realize that I probably stepped over a line, but then I was thinking that the only reason you’re there and not here is because of me, and if I hadn’t broken my leg, then you’d be here to see the flat for yourself.”

“I get it. No, I completely understand. It was really kind of you, Liz.”

“Don’t mention it. Are you sure you’re not a bit cross?”

She took a second to think about it. Cross? No. She needed a new place, she needed to be away from Robbie and Marilyn. The money was a different issue. “How much do I owe you?” she asked carefully.

Liz told her.

She felt it like a blow to the stomach. It was almost exactly as much as she’d be taking home from the program. And she’d have to hope that she got hired on for the next session too so that she could actually pay the rent.

“Thank you,” she managed to say. “It’s really nice.”

“You’re welcome,” said Liz. “Now I’d better let you get back to work.”

Bea hung up the phone. She could manage this. She really could. And the benefits of moving into a place of her own had to outweigh whatever inconveniences there were working here.

She opened the door and practically bumped straight into Alli. “Were you listening at the door?” she said without thinking.

Alli’s eyes widened. “Of course I wasn’t. I wouldn’t do something like that.”

“Are you sure?” Bea wanted to take the words back as soon as she’d said them. It was clear from the look on Alli’s face that she hadn’t been listening. But she couldn’t help herself. There was something about the woman that made her lose her temper.Some kind of trigger mechanism or something.

She just couldn’t figure out what it was. She was never like this, not with anyone.

---