Page 15 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘And what did she say?’

‘That you need professional help,’ I quip, even though I know that’s not what she meant.

‘Oi!’ she chides, and I chuckle. ‘I meant what did she say about getting back at Jon?’

‘She’s conferring with her colleagues, but I sense it’s a no-go.’

‘Oh.’

I laugh. ‘What did you expect? They’re matchmakers, not the Justice League.’

‘Mmm, Henry Cavill.’ She moans suggestively, but she’s lost me.

‘What’s Henry Cavill got to do— Oh, right, Superman,’ I say, sidestepping a dogwalker whose legs are tangled up in the dogs’ leads.

‘So, what did she say about going to Amsterdam?’

‘She’s nudging me towards it.’

‘Interesting…’ Margot responds, drawing the word out. ‘I might like this Poppy woman. She sounds very sensible.’

‘She isandshe’s got me thinking. If I can help Adriana see Jon for who he really is?—’

‘Help her escape Arseface’s lies and general bastardery, you mean,’ she interjects.

‘Yes,that,’ I say impatiently. ‘Anyway, if Idohelp Adriana, then that could be its own kind of justice, perhaps dampen my desire for revenge.’

‘Ooh, I like that,’ she says, surprising me. I’d have thought she’d still be pushing for retaliation, being the poster child for wrathful women everywhere –andthe person who planted the seed in the first place.

‘I like it too, the more I think about it,’ I reply. ‘Even if it’s only Poppy steering me away from something more sinister.’

‘Which is what hedeserves.’ Ah, there’s the Margot I know and love.

‘Margot, I’m going,’ I say, deciding this instant. ‘To Amsterdam.’

‘Excellent. And I’m coming with you.’

‘You don’t need to do that. I’m perfectly capable of going by myself.’

‘Well, yeah,’ she scoffs, ‘but I want to meet Thor.’

I laugh again. ‘You muppet. I’m not having you come along just to perv on Willem.’

‘It’s not just for that, Kate,’ she says, her tone suddenly serious. ‘Actually, it’s not that at all. This is some intense bullshit and I’m not letting you go through it on your own.’

‘Oh, okay.’

‘Besides, I love Amsterdam, and I haven’t been for ages,’ she adds, slipping right back into Margot mode. And I love her for it – for her fierce protectiveness, for making it impossible to say no to her. Also, it won’t be as terrifying if she’s there with me. I may have decided it’s the best course of action, but it still scares the absolute hell out of me.

‘Okay,’ I reply. ‘I’ll message Willem, then check the train schedule to Amsterdam.’

‘Brilliant. And I’ll look for someplace to stay.’

‘Tworooms this time, Margot.’

‘I don’t snore.’

‘You do. Two rooms.’

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