Page 43 of Tricky Girls

‘Yep. And now you have some too.’

‘Can’t see Nic granting me any favours like that.’

‘Maybe not, but say the word and me and Haz will do anything you want.’

‘Aren’t I a lucky girl.’

‘Not sure about that.’ She’s smiling again. ‘We can be massive assholes.’

‘Lies. You seem really nice, Elly.’

‘Yeah,’ she sighs. ‘Always been my problem.’

It’s a quiet house the next morning. I leave Elly in bed, scooting out from under her arm. All feels a bit weirder in the light of day, but I don’t want her to know that. She was just trying to be sweet.

I use the bathroom. The view from here is the forest, morning sunlight filtering through the thin trunks. It’s a nice view to brush my teeth to, feeling grubby when I remember I hadn’tbrushed them last night. Elly’s comfort was too strong a call to resist. I’m surprised I slept the whole way through with her spooning me.

To be honest, I hadn’t wanted another run-in with Nic. It was easier to just stay put.

I’m not so lucky this morning. As soon as I exit the bathroom, she’s there on the landing, dressed in baggy shorts and a hoodie with the hood up.

She pauses there like she’s waiting for me to pass.

‘No, no, you go.’ I gesture her on with a hand. ‘Wouldn’t want you to push me down the stairs or anything.’

She gives a small shake of her head, thumping down the stairs in her bare feet.

I follow more slowly, unwedging my sleep shorts from my bum. I’m wearing a hoodie too, but it’s the thin kind that shows off my nips. I’m not normally shy in that way but there’s something about the idea of exposing myself to that nutcase that makes me uncomfortable.

Not wanting to retreat with my tail between my legs, I follow her into the kitchen where she’s fussing with the coffee machine.

I know she’s not about to offer me one, so good job I don’t like the stuff. I take two glasses from the draining board and fill them with tap water, the two of us dancing around each other in strained silence.

‘Date went well then?’ she says just as I’m done.

I frown, turning to face her. ‘What?’

‘Your date with Haz the other night. I’m assuming that’s why you’re here.’ She stirs her coffee then tosses the spoon into the sink behind me. The loud clang makes me jump. ‘You wouldn’t be the first straight girl to buckle so don’t feel bad.’

I huff out a breath. ‘You don’t have a clue.’

‘Don’t want one. Just stay out of my face.’

‘Why? What’s your actual problem with me?’

‘If you don’t know then you don’t need to know.’

I shake my head. ‘Whatever.’

I try pushing past but she keeps me pinned against the sink.

‘Do me a favour,’ she says.

‘Absolutely not.’

‘Answer a question for me and I’ll let you go. Name of your childhood teddy, what was it?’

I tut at the water that spills on me from the glasses. If she couldn’t see the definition of my nipples before, she definitely can now. ‘You really have a thing for pushing me up against this sink. So…violent.’

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