Page 42 of Gold Digger
“I could sneak you out a pie and chips?”
Richard’s face flickered at the mention of chips, and his eyes went down and to the left when he said, “No, I’m fine. I’ll just be around here for when you two are finished.”
I winked at him. “I’ll bring you out some chips.”
He laughed as we exited the car and made our way to the door.
“Why are you going to bring him chips when he said he didn’t want chips?” Vicky asked in a perplexed voice as we pushed through the double door.
“Because he reallydoeswant chips,” I replied.
“If a man says to menoandI’m fine,then I would assume he’s fine. I don’t understand.”
“He was lying when he said he was fine. I can see more than just people’s words.”
Vicky sighed. “All I can see is their words. I’m the most literal person I know.”
I linked my arm with her and gave hers a firm squeeze. Vicky liked linking arms, just like she liked firm hugs – shaking hands she disliked but could manage. Holding hands was a big no-no for her with anyone, as was somebody touching her unexpectedly. I took a deep breath as we approached the group. Felix was standing with his arm around Lucy. Ollie was there too, looking at them with his head tilted to the side and a curious expression on his face. Lucy was looking nervous but notuncomfortable with being tucked into Felix’s side. To me this was not a surprise – I’d felt the vibes between them for ages, but clearly Ollie was taken aback, and Vicky…
“Hello,” Vicky’s voice cut through the tension. “Lucy, you’re here.”
“Er, hi,” Lucy replied with a small wave.
“Felix has his arm around you,” Vicky put in blunt and to the point as always. “Are you sleeping together?” Lucy’s eyes went wide, and her face flooded with colour.
“Vicky,” I said slowly. “Remember, we talked about questions that are okay?”
Vicky turned to me. “But you want to know this too, correct? As far as we knew, Felix wasnotsleeping with Lucy. But he’s here, and he has an arm around her. Why can’t I be direct?”
“Lucy’s embarrassed, hun,” I said softly, squeezing Vicky’s arm briefly. Vicky looked at me.
“Oh,” she said.
“You ask whatever questions you want to, Vics,” Ollie said in an irritated tone. He shot me an aggravated look, which softened when he transferred his gaze to Vicky and touched her arm to get her attention. They made eye contact, and he hesitated until Vicky gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, then he hugged her exactly as he knew she preferred. When he moved back, he gave me another filthy look. “Don’t tell her what to do, Forest.”
My chest tightened at another small rejection, but with Ollie, I’d found the best solution was a grey rock approach – I tried not to show any external reaction to his barbs. So I acted as if Ollie hadn’t spoken, turning to Felix and Lucy instead.
“I knew that jumper would suit you,” I said as I hugged Lucy. “You look like a fierce, wool-wearing badass.”
Lucy laughed. “I’m not sure how many badasses wear fleece-lined tights.”
“So, am I allowed to ask if Lucy is your girlfriend?” Vicky said. I sighed as I felt Lucy stiffen. Felix grabbed Lucy’s hand and pulled her to his side.
“Yes, Vicky,” he said with a conviction which made me have to stifle a smile. “Lucy is my girlfriend.”
“I am?” Lucy squeaked, and he frowned down at her.
“Of course you are.” Then it was like we didn’t even exist for her anymore. She looked up at Felix with a soft look. A slow smile spread across her face, her eyes shining with happiness.
“Awesome,” she breathed. No artifice, no game playing, no hiding how absolutely into him she was. And, as if he couldn’t really help himself, he kissed her. My chest tightened with jealousy. To have someone that into you. To have a man look at me the way Felix was looking at Lucy would mean everything. Then, moment ruining bastard that he was, Ollie cleared his throat, snapping Lucy and Felix back to reality as they broke apart.
“Does Mike know about this?” Ollie asked, a hint of accusation in his tone. Mike was Lucy’s older brother. Felix, Mike and Ollie had grown up together in a village called Little Buckingham. The protectiveness in Ollie’s tone made my throat tight. I’d never had anyone be protective of me and here Lucy was with basically two big brothers ready to jump to her defence.
“Not yet,” Felix said. “But he will, alright? I’ll sort it.”
Ollie whistled. “He’s going to lose his shit. Please, let me have a front-row seat to that nightmare.”
“Mike’s not my keeper,” Lucy put in. “AndI’lltell him. He’s my brother.”
