Page 71 of Tricky Girls

‘No. Sounds romantic though. Wanna give it ago?’

‘I’m always down for that.’ I look up at the blandly overcast sky. ‘Pretty clouds do something to me.’

Haz bumps her hip to mine. ‘You do something to me. You’re prettier than any fucking cloud.’

When she sees the direction we’re heading, she screws up her face. ‘Oh fuck, you’re not going to the library, are you?’

‘No,’ I laugh. ‘Why, do you have an allergy or something?’

‘Yeah.’ She grins. ‘All that book dust.’

‘Lucky for you we’re not going to the library. Though I will have to ditch you in a sec.’

To the east of the castle is a row of tiny terraces in the past serving as weaver, blacksmith and tannery cottages. This morning though, the smell of breakfast burritos and pancakes blow from the vents.

‘You’re picking up breakfast! Oh, good girl.’

‘Not picking it up.’ Entering through a side door, I unhook a key dangling there before exiting round to the rear. ‘Delivering it.’

‘What?’ Haz frowns as I perch on one of the quad bikes used for food deliveries. ‘You have ajob?’

‘Yes, Harriet, I have a job.’ Picking up the helmet, I slit my eyes at her. ‘I’m one of those tip tossers you love so much.’

‘But I thought all you lot had bursaries.’

‘Us poor bastardsdobut we won’t forever. I want to get some money in the bank before then.’

‘Hm.’ She eyes the bike speculatively, giving one wheel a kick with a booted toe. ‘Looks like there’s enough for two on the back of that. Wanna show me how the other half live?’

I look around the empty bike shelter uncertainly. ‘Might get into trouble.’

‘I live for trouble, baby.’ She swings her leg over the bike, warm thighs snug against my hips. I hold my breath waiting for her arms to come around me. ‘Lead on, noble steed.’

The thing’s harder to steer with the weight of both of us. As carefully as I can, I drift to the front of the building where I park, fishing out my phone to open the delivery app.

‘BRB,’ I say, hopping off. ‘Don’t go off joyriding.’

Whilst I wait with my insulated bag, I spy Haz through the door. She’s inched her way onto the front of the seat, hands on the handlebars pretending to drive.

My lips tick up. So cute.

She looks like the teen thugs from Mum’s estate, tearing round the roads with a fog of weed billowing behind them.

Though Haz isn’t about to indulge in that. She’s not subtle when it comes to her hatred for recreational drugs. I need to get the full story on that one day.

‘Got the goods?’ she asks on my return.

‘Yep. Quiet one today. Weekends are worse.’

Haz chuckles, winding her arms back around my waist. ‘I had no idea you led a double life.’

‘I’m a regular double agent. Now, hold on. Terrified I’m going to dump us on the road.’

Her chin comes to my shoulder, arms tightening. ‘Never letting go of you.’

My shift’s a hell of a lot more fun with Haz on the back. She takes control of my phone, taking it upon herself to do the dirty work and deliver the food. She even manages to scare up more tips than I usually do, the smug bastard.

And of course, at the end of it, she lets me keep them all.

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