Page 92 of You Belong With Me

‘Impeccable logic matched only by impeccable morals,’ Elliot said. ‘Thank God someone knows how to use the Hidden album … Speaking of which, at the risk of you saying I’m insulting your intelligence, Fraz …’

‘As if you would ever do that,’ Fraser said.

‘… can you change your passcode please? Now? Tonight? As a matter of urgency? Before a leprechaun tries their luck again?’

‘A big fat amen to that,’ Molly said to Elliot, and Edie was pleased to witness a moment of bonding between them.

Elliot grasped for Edie’s hand once they were alone and two nightcaps had been requested with the bill.

‘Oh, Edie. What a fucking evening. Thank you – you’re a genius. In case you don’t know, you saved Fraser’s wedding, if not the fraternal relationship for some years to come.’

‘I did?!’

‘I’d been stood down as best man.’

Edie’s face fell. ‘Shit! It really went that badly?’

‘Oh yeah. I was in a state, as you know. I said if it wasn’t him who’d briefed the Cam story, it was someone he was talking to. He puffed his chest out and said: “Well, I only told Molly about that.” Dared me to accuse her. You can imagine the amount of furious brinkmanship that then went on. Fraser went into defensive mode that it couldn’t be Mol and that I’ve never approved of her, etc. It got worse and worse. I can’t really blame him. As I said, he’d have got even shorter shrift from me if he was accusing you. He was no more protective than he should be.’

‘You’ve been incredibly understanding. I’m glad you didn’t lose it with Iggy, but he’d have deserved it.’

‘I was too relieved to have an answer, to be honest. I didn’t know what else to do other than show mercy. They’ve been friends since they were in junior school – he’s like the third brother. Fraz had told me Iggy’s got addiction problems. I should’ve thought of him earlier, given he absolutely fit the profile of someone capable of it, but I was so stuck on thisidea that because the crime was new, it couldn’t be an old friend.’

‘Plus, you didn’t know he could read Fraser’s messages.’

‘Right? Who thinks affording Iggy snooping rights temptation is going to go well?! Those two, honestly. The lovable fuckwit and the maladaptive live wire. The buddy cop comedy we didn’t want.’

Outside, when they didn’t immediately succeed in hailing a cab, Elliot slid his arms round Edie and kissed her neck.

‘You’re not going to pass out tonight again, are you?’ he said. ‘I want to show you the view from my apartment.’

‘Theviewoutside your apartment …’ Edie repeated.

‘Maybe the view inside it, too.’

He went for a pretty full-on kiss given they were in public. Edie had never seen him this drunk before, and she liked it.

‘I think there’s photographers across the street,’ Edie hissed.

‘Can I say, with some vehemence, I don’t care?’

48

‘Back to life, back to reality, as great philosophers once said,’ Declan said, setting down a large Americano on Edie’s desk by way of greeting on Monday. ‘How is it being sentenced to a cell with me, after swagging round the world’s greatest city with a top-level actor hunk?’

The enlivening workspace was bathed in spring sunshine, and Edie was actually quite elated by the return to comforting familiarity – if a little hollowed out by fatigue and short on funds for the rest of the month.

‘Horrifying, if I may be frank. I know now how defendants feel when the court copy says they: “remained impassive as the guilty sentences were read.”’ Edie pulled a morose face and toasted him with her drink. ‘Cheers, however.’

‘Shouts of “Premium Economy wanker!” from the gallery as the judge called for order,’ Declan laughed. He had a sharp memory.

He fished a paper packet out of his coat packet. ‘Well, ta. Regret getting you a Pret pastel de nata now.’

‘You hero!’ Edie accepted it. ‘Not only did you go to a second venue – you remembered I like these? Thank you!’

‘Thought you’d need reasons to be cheerful. Nice time?’ he said, putting on Talk Talk’s ‘Spirit of Eden’. He’d made them playlists appropriate for every day of the week: Monday’s was an easing in.

‘I’d call it tumultuous,’ Edie said, a variety of vivid imagery flashing through her mind. Turned out the showerwasroomy.

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