Page 81 of Tricky Girls

‘There’re wolves in this wood!’

I chuckle. I know, I throw them cooking scraps.

‘I don’t think you’re on their menu.’

Still, she hesitates.

‘Come on, Tilda. I thought you liked the dark.’

‘And I thought we were getting somewhere tonight. It was kind of nice.’

Then she turns and walks away, quickly swallowed up by the forest’s gloom.

No, that was just the blow,I want to yell after her.

Yanking the zip of the tent, I throw myself inside.

Hopefully the wolves will fucking get her.

CHAPTER 20

Tilda

I turn over in bed, closing my eyes against the thumping in my head.

Fuck.

I don’t usually get hangovers this bad but I’d packed a lot away between the meal, after drinks, and that dodgy-ass vodka. Didn’t even occur to me that it might have been spiked.

Considering how many illegal substances were flowing through that place, it should have been a given.

All feels like a fever dream now. I knew there was an offshore club, everyone knows that, but I hadn’t expected a whole empire. Is the university even aware? They must be, surely.

I suppose any trouble gets paid off around here. The fact you even have to have money to gain admittance to that place suggests that.

I’m not sure I liked it. Just seemed seedy. Dangerous.

Nic suited it though. With her rumpled shirt, choppy, messy hair, she looked like a fiendish pirate amongst her crew. Right at home.

What a weird night.

I thought maybe,maybe,us getting drunk together might bridge the gap between us. I’d been thinking of Mum’s and Callum’s dogs. First time introducing them, it had been on sight, not dissimilar to Nic’s reaction to me. We had them locked in different rooms until one rainy afternoon when we took them on a walk together. Best pals after that.

The Vaults had been our rain, but clearly it hadn’t been distracting enough. Nic’s more stubborn than any dog.

My newest cut chafes against my pyjama bottoms. I pull them up, running an eye over the stark redness. Does she bring that knife everywhere she goes? I remember a similar selection on one of the tables. Insane to think they’re peddling weapons to students here. All of a sudden those dodgy Mafia rumours don’t seem so dodge.

I’ve no desire to go back. Not unless Nic invites me again which is highly unlikely. Shame she’s almost human when only on drugs.

I think about her in her tent, wondering how she got on this morning. Must be bloody freezing out there.

My cheeks heat upon remembering her rejection of me.

I hadn’t meant anything; I just couldn’t be arsed with the walk home. The tent was big enough that we could have both stretched out without touching.

Maybe she just hadn’t trust herself…

No. Definitely wasn’t that. She just got sick of me.

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