Page 85 of Perfect

‘Really’ I wanted to say, ‘you obviously know him so well’. Did she fancy him or not FFS?

“I just hope he doesn’t overdo it.”

We weaved up the path between two hedgerows which cut off the view of the rolling fields. The trees rustled, the sun was high in the sky and the scent of freshly cut grass lingered in the air. I could hear one of Dad’s tractors in the distance.

A silence fell between us but I didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable. From Ella’s body language and expression, there wasdefinitelysomething she needed to share. It didn’t surprise me that she’d chosen me. There was a serious trustworthy girlfriend drought in the village. Natalie, bitch-face certainly wasn’t someone you could rely on.

“I hear you and Connor are getting along?” she said and the looming dread rose to the surface. I didn’t identify jealous undertones in her words. Her voice was actually quite bright and friendly, but I decided I’d had enough circling around the subject. The fact that Connor confided in this girl still rattled my cage.

“Yes, things are good.”

“Just good?” she probed.

I shot her a sideways glance. “Stop fishing Ella. As you said yourself, it's complicated,” I threw her own words back at her and she cleared her throat and kicked a stone to the side of the path.

“That’s guys for you, I guess. Fucking unsolvable puzzles, the lot of them.”

As we turned the corner by a large oak tree, the hedge finished and field four came into view. Sheep were dotted before us; some being followed by their lambs who were still quite awkward on their feet. They were so cute.

I put my hands on the fence and stared out, delighted by the sight. Ella came to stand beside me. She didn’t seem as interested in the animals and just looked ahead with a peculiar expression.

I pushed myself back off the fence and turned to face her.

“How about you? You have anything ‘complicated’ you want to talk about?” I pushed again.

She leaned forward against the fencing and twisted to face me, her copped hair had grown almost to her chin now and the brown tufts bounced in the breeze. She looked nice today in denim shorts and an oversized hoody that swamped her slender figure. She should dress more feminine. She’d looked stunning in the dress at the club.

I gave her another nudge.

“Ella?”

“Fuck my life. It’s probably not that difficult to explain but I’ve never really opened up to anyone about it. Well, apart from Connor. He told me his shit one night and I told him mine.”

The girl swore far too much. Probably due to being around farm hands all the time.

I cleared my throat.

“You can talk to me you know. I won’t say anything to anyone, I’m not like that.”

Ella dashed a hand across her chin and I noted the chewed nails again, another sign that she was troubled. Nail bittersalwayshad secrets. Lisa forever had her fingers in her mouth.

At last, the guts that she had held into place for so long started their spilling.

“Sorry for being so cagey but I haven’t spoken to many people about my boy drama, only Connor really but it would be great to get a female’s perspective.”

I bobbed my head in agreement and did the cross my heart sign with one finger. “I get that, but you can trust me. Come on, we’ve known each other a while now.”

She grinned, feeling reassured.

“So, the boy problem?” I cursed the way that sounded, like I was a patronising mother. From her expression, she didn’t take it that way.

The pregnancy story started circling my thoughts as I waited, basically holding my breath for her to share the wealth.

“Well, it isn’t just one boy, there are two involved.” Her attempt at small talk was forgotten and I pushed the sudden image of a threesome from my immature mind.

Then another thought popped into my head. If she said Connor and Nate I’d literally throw up.

Due to all the weirdness, I now had my suspicions.

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