Page 54 of Tricky Girls

I blow out a breath. ‘Good. Fuck. Want me to get you anything? Cuppa, food?’

‘I’m good.’

‘You better be. I’ll be in for a bit so just let me know.’

I leave the room, taking a moment to gather my shit.

Fuckingdrugs.

I grit my teeth, molars clacking as I jog down to my room. In a drawer there, I root around until a find a bottle. The green label stares out inoffensively, pills rattling around inside.

She doesn’t stir as I deposit them on her bedside table, a sense of foreboding following me all the way back down the stairs.

I take out my phone, rattling off to Elly,House meeting. Just us.

CHAPTER 15

Elly

‘I think we should do a warmup,’ Tilda says, executing a quick runners lunge on the living room floor. ‘We don’t want DADA.’

I watch those legs tighten and flex, able to see the definition of every single muscle. She does like her tight clothing, does Tilda, today wearing black leggings and a crop top. Can’t say I mind much either.

‘We don’t want what now?’

‘DADA. Day After the Day After. You know, when you don’t stretch and the pain hits you not the day after but the day after that. Trust me, it kills.’

‘I trust you. I gym remember. Painful as fuck.’

‘You never stretch. I watch.’

‘You watch, huh?’ I pop into the kitchen to make up a couple of water bottles. We’re not in for a jog or anything, but getting to the top of one of those towers is a workout in itself.

‘Not in a pervy way,’ Tilda assures, trailing me to the sink.

‘Shame.’ I hand her the first bottle, letting her pack it in that black backpack of hers. ‘But I guess any way will do as long as you’re watching.’

‘You spend more time talking to girls,’ she points out.

‘Be my girl and I won’t.’

‘If it helps you with your gym game, I’ll take one for the team.’ She takes my bottle next and adds that to the bag. ‘I’ve got a schedule now. First team isn’t for wimps.’

‘I’ll help spot you,’ I offer.

She snorts. ‘You’ll just be looking at my tits.’

‘But they’re so nice.’

‘Cheers, pal.’

‘Hey, no friend-zoning today. We’re off on a date, remember?’

‘A pretend date. Don’t forget that.’

‘Forgotten, sorry. Completely and utterly forgotten.’ I glance out the window where the sky’s already filled with pink clouds. ‘We better run or this’ll be a waste of time.’

‘What’s in the basket?’ she asks, trying to sneak a peek at the one I’m carrying.

---