Page 160 of Tricky Girls

Nic nods, resuming her lunch. She’s been pretty good since all the shit at Christmas, regularly asking how it’s all going, offering herself up to help. Mum’s home at the moment, having a bit of a mental lull. I know it’ll get bad again soon, as is the usual pattern, so we’re all making the most of this downtime.

I get the door of the machine shut when I hear a protesting buzz from inside. Yanking it back open, I unearth my phone from the heap of sheets.

Nic whistles. ‘Close one.’

‘Yeah.’ I unlock the phone. Saved by a text from Haz.

Haz: Congrats on winning the bet motherfucker

I blink at the message until the meaning of it sets in. ‘Shit!’

Leaving the washing, I run back upstairs two at a time. I don’t knock, throwing open her door to the sight of them both asleep in her bed.

Haz’s eyes crack open, gleaming in the dim. ‘Don’t worry. I didn’t defile her.’

‘Much,’ Tilda mumbles, stirring at her side.

There’s a ribbon going from her wrist to the headboard. Fucker tied her up. Now I sit with the meaning ofthat.I look around the room as though it might offer some clues. Nothing seems out of place. No lube or toys or shit. If she hurt her, I’ll kill her.

‘Hey.’

I’m drawn back by Tilda’s small voice. She smiles at me. ‘You okay?’

Dunno, am I? I take stock of how I’m feeling. Not much to be honest; I don’t think I’ve fully woken up yet. I don’t feel mad or jealous or anything. A little concerned, maybe. A lot protective.

It’s not awful, seeing the two of them together. In fact, it’s a big fucking relief. I hadn’t realised how much keeping a secret from Haz was messing me up. We don’t do secrets.

I grin, tossing my phone onto the bed. ‘Group spoon!’

There’s a certain satisfaction in hearing the breath being knocked from Haz. Relief or not, she clearly got her own back on me last night. I don’t know the ins and outs yet but it’s there in her smirking smug face, the way she keeps one arm possessively around Tilda.

‘Rather a group fuck,’ she says.

‘Sure you would,’ Tilda grouses. She smiles at me, a shy invitation in her eyes.

Brushing hair from her face, I lean down to kiss her. I linger there, putting a lot into it. Letting her know everything’s fine and also that I like her kind of a lot.

She sighs when we part, snuggling back into Haz whilst reaching out an arm for me. With her cuddled between us, I meet Haz’s eyes again.

There’s a lot going on in that gaze. I can’t make out what exactly, only that we’re going to be having a big fucking chat—and soon.

Tilda

‘Burritos are here,’ I tell the others.

‘I’ll get them.’ Elly removes her arm from me to sit up.

I push her back down. ‘I got it. You two stay cosy.’

I need a moment to breathe anyway. I slide out from between them, cooler air immediately rushing in. These dumb pyjamas. They’re practically underwear. I peek down at my nipples standing to full attention. If I lifted my leg even an inch, my pussy would be on display.

Not that these two would mind. Quite the opposite.

I hear a knock from the front door just as Nic thumps onto the landing. She’s in her walking gear—canvas trousers and a dark grey fleece, water bladder in hand. I’m relieved she’s going out, but she is the last person I want to see right now.

She flits her eyes over me then through Haz’s open door. When her gaze returns, it’s devoid of expression. ‘Not so straight then?’

‘Things change.’ I shrug.

---