Page 91 of The Secret

“And, what?”

“Okay, look, I don’t want details about my brother, but tell us if something’s happening.”

Not once had Murray appeared to give a shit if anyone saw us together, including his family. I was also certain the boys knew. Our agreement to keep it between ourselves had become redundant. “Yes, something’s happened.”

The collective gasp of excitement would have rivaled One Direction’s fans.

Wolfie clapped her hands together, momentarily rising out of her hungover stupor. Her eyes, so like Murray’s, lit up with glee. “This is so amazing! What happened? How did it happen? How long has it been happening?”

“Wow, give her a minute. You guys are so full-on.” Alex put her arm around me, giving me a gentle squeeze. “As someone who’s also come into this family, I can tell you I know what you’re going through. Feel free to ignore these two nosy parkers, although I do hope you don’t because I want to know too. You guys make the best couple. We’re so happy Murray finally found someone worthy.”

I laughed, grateful for her but also very amused at how eager everyone was about it, or why it was such a big deal. I’d been prepared for the cross examination, but was probably going to need something stronger than coffee at this rate, and I wasn’t giving the information up for free. Even though Murray had consumed ninety-nine percent of my thoughts, the final one percent had been taken up by someone else since Wednesday morning.

“I propose a trade of information. So before I say anything, what do you know about Dasha?”

“Who?” Alex and Wolf looked confused, while Freddie’s features deepened as she thought about it, chewing on her cheek as she did.

“Dark hair, abnormally tall?” Her hand shot up above her head.

“Yes. Her.”

She shrugged. “Not much, we’ve never met her. But what I do know about her, I don’t like. Why?”

I was thankful she shared the same opinion I did, because I hadn’t been totally sure how she’d react. For all I knew they could be massive Dasha fans, welcoming to anyone new, although I somehow doubted it given how Barclay had almost made her his next meal.

Wolfie looked between the two of us. “Who is she?”

Freddie glanced at her. “You know, that girl Murray was in a photo with last year, the one you kept taking the piss out of at the Halloween party because she wouldn’t stop following him around.”

It took her a second to remember. “Oh, her?” She turned to me. “Why d’you want to know about her?”

“She came to the apartment the other day saying she was his girlfriend, and that he’d told her to meet him there.”

The three of them stopped in their tracks, Wolfie throwing her arm across me in a halt, like we’d braked suddenly.

Freddie pulled her glasses down her nose. “Shut. Up. She did not.”

I smirked at the incredulity on her face. “She did.”

Her mouth fell open, and I already knew that shocking Freddie wasn’t a common occurrence, but I’d managed it with this news. “And what did you do?”

“I was kind of in disbelief because he’s never mentioned her, and I was holding onto Barclay, but my best friend, Payton, was with me, and she slammed the door in her face.”

Her eyes widened further. “Wow, I wish I’d seen that.”

“Yeah, just in time before Barclay launched himself at her.”

“Barclay?” Wolfie asked. “He likes everyone.”

“He didn’t like her.”

“Wow.”

“I know. She made Regina George seem like Mother Theresa.”

The three of them laughed loudly and we started walking along the beach again.

Wolfie hugged me with one arm. “You really are going to fit well into this family.”

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