Page 121 of Pyg

Alice breathed a laugh and swirled the liquid around her bulbous gin glass. “She’ll be back. She’s just nipped off for a chat with someone.”

Nik glanced around and looked back to Alice. “Not Sam?”

Alice nodded. “Yeah.”

He scratched his beard. “Sam really did her over, you know?”

“Yeah, Ash told me a bit about it. But I think it’ll do them good to talk.”

Nik gave her a curious smile. “She talked to me about you.”

“She did?”

“Yeah, well at least I think it was about you. You’ve not known her long, have you?”

“No, not really. Only a couple of weeks, but?—”

“Feels like longer?” Nik laughed. “Yeah, that’s what she said.”

Alice’s stomach swooped. She took a long sip of her drink, the gin all but diluted by the melting ice. “So, did she say anything else about me?”

“Maybe.” Mischief flickered in his eyes.

A loud cheer went up from the crowd and snatched their attention. A row of waiters filed into the room, wielding trays piled high with steaming dishes. The aromatic smell of onions, garlic, and spices filled the air.

“Ah, grub’s up. I better dash or she’ll divorce me before we’re even married.” Nik smiled and touched Alice’s arm. “Make sure you get some food, alright?”

“I will, thank you. It smells delicious.”

He started to walk away but turned back mid-stride. “In case I don’t catch you alone again, I just wanted to say, be careful with her, won’t you?”

“Sorry?”

“Ash acts all tough and like she’s got it all together. But she’s as shit-scared as the rest of us. I just don’t want to see her broken again, like she was before.”

“I understand, but we’re just?—”

Nik held up his hand and smiled. “Gotta dash.”

23

BIG MISTAKE, DOCTOR

Ash sauntered over as Alice shovelled in her last forkful of chicken curry.

“Mmm,” Alice moaned as she devoured the mouthful. “You’ve got to try this. It is, without a doubt, the tastiest curry I’ve ever eaten.”

“Well, we are known for our curries.” Ash laughed as she took the vacant seat next to Alice.

“Yeah, but this was...” Alice chef’s-kissed her fingers and reclined in the chair. “Sorry, I didn’t wait for you, the smell was driving me wild.”

Ash batted away the apology. “No, I’m glad you ate. I was gone for ages. There was a lot to say, I guess. But I see you made friends, so I don’t feel so bad.”

“I told you I would.”

In the queue for the buffet, Alice had got chatting with a woman who turned out to be Ash’s second cousin. She’d complimented Alice’s outfit and guided her to avoid the extra-hot dishes so they didn’t blow her head off. Alice was sitting with her and two older women, who insisted Alice call them ‘auntie’, plus an elderly man, who only had three teeth but a lovely big smile.

“So, how did it go?” Alice asked.

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