Page 39 of Now and Again

‘What’s going on?’ India asked. ‘Not meeting any hotties at the office?’

Riley had three other people in her department atHelping Hand. Two of whom were over sixty, and one that was under twenty. None of that was Riley’s cup of tea. ‘No, but it wouldn’t matter much if my office was brimming with talent. I’m currently living with my dad. Can you imagine taking a date home? “Hey, let’s go to my room after I’ve asked my step mum if it’s OK first. Watch out for my sister’s teddy collection, they’re a real trip hazard.”

‘Then come and live with me,’ India answered casually.

‘What?’ Riley said, suddenly caught up in a coughing fit.

‘Yeah. It’s a two-bed. You and me. It’ll be fun.’

‘Ummmm….’ Riley muttered.

‘Why would you ever say no to that? You hate living with your dad.’

‘Ummmm…’ Riley continued.

‘I mean, you’veseenmy place, right?’ India said pompously.

It was big, high spec, open-plan, minimalist white. Riley didn’t know who paid for it, but since India had never had a real job in her life (if you didn’t count part-time influencer), she was definitely not footing the bill. The flat reminded Riley of a very fancy airplane hangar.

But maybe it wasn’t a bad idea to have an escape plan. ‘I’ll think about it. Thanks.’

The more Riley thought about it, the kinder an offer it seemed. Maybe Riley had underestimated India. Sure, she was flighty. But she’d always been there for Riley, in her way. Riley wondered if she should try with her, stop taking her for granted. It was easy after all this time to put someone in a box and leave them there. It was entirely possible that India had grown up, but that Riley hadn’t taken the time to see it. Maybe Riley just had to try a bit harder to connect with her. ‘Hey, you remember Juliet?’

‘What, the one we saw at the café? From school?’

‘Yes. I forgot to tell you, she’s working for my dad now,’ Riley said, interested to see how India would react.

India was struck dumb momentarily. ‘She what?’

‘Yeah. She looks after my little sister.’

‘In your house. Where your dad lives. Whereyoulive?’

‘That’s right.’

‘You’ve had Juliet frigging Sullivan at your house and you never mentioned it?!’ India goggled. ‘Oh my god, that settles it. You have to get the fuck out of there.’

‘Look, I know you two weren’t buddies back in the day…’

‘She’s a cunt,’ India informed in a hard, flat tone.

Riley was taken aback. ‘Why would you call her that?’ she asked, her hackles rising.

‘She attacked me, final year. Didn’t I tell you?’

Riley was sceptical. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘She was mouthing off about you, and I told her to shut up, then she slapped me with a book,’ India said easily, as though this was a story she’d told to death.

‘You never told me this. Why the hell wouldn’t you mentionthat?’ Riley asked, her head spinning.

‘I mean, it was only a paperback, but she clapped me right around the face with it.’ India paused, humility creeping into her tone. ‘I guess I was a bit too embarrassed to talk about it.’

Riley wasn’t sure about this at all.Was this true?It didn’t sound like Juliet.Then again, Riley couldn’t claim to truly know Juliet. Why did she keep forgetting that? Why did she keep forgetting there was no real bond, or history, or trust there? Why did she keep believing in Juliet, despite the fact she’d curb stomped her heart ten years ago?

She had to face facts. She was blinding herself to who Juliet was. Riley wanted badly to buy into her, the whole thing. But the real things Riley knew? They were at odds with the sweet girl next door that Riley kept imagining she was.

Whereas India? She’d known her for most of her life. If India said it had happened, then Riley had to believe it.

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