Page 64 of Pillow Talk
‘Actually, I’m not staying for supper. I’ve just remembered that I have some work to do ahead of a court appearance tomorrow,’ she said.
Sen could spot a lie a mile away but he wasn’t going to convince her to stay because this evening had been a nightmare from the minute he’d walked into Thirsty’s.
He expected Anni to try to get Natasha to stay but she quickly nodded.
‘We completely understand. Work is work,’ she said kindly.
Sen wasn’t a complete jerk, although he was starting to feel like one because – with Shona right there – he was on what looked like a date. So, as Natasha gathered her phone and bag, he stood to walk her out.
She hugged Anni and Sam and said her goodbyes. Sen followedher out and accompanied her to her car.
‘I won’t tell Anni, but she’s going to figure it out soon,’ Natasha said.
Sen raised an eyebrow.
‘You and Shona. Something is happening there,’ she said.
Sen didn’t deny it. He watched her get into her car and lifted his hand to wave but she’d already driven away.
He re-entered Thirsty’s and spotted Shona at the booth with Sam and Anni. Relief washed over him.
He hurried back to join them. As he sat down, he ran a hand through his hair.
‘Anni and Sam please don’t ever do that again.’
He braced himself for an argument, but instead his friends exchanged glances and began to apologise.
Shona hiccupped and everyone turned to stare at her.
‘I think I’m drunk,’ she announced.
Shona was definitely drunk and Sen helped her into her apartment. ‘I’m Cinderella,’ she slurred.
Sen played along. ‘Cinderella, can you please stop moving around. Just let me help you to bed.’
‘Ah, bed. There you don’t make me cry,’ she said.
Sen steered her to the bed and pushed down on her shoulders for her to sit on the bed.
She sat but immediately flopped onto her back.
He managed to get her shoes off, but he didn’t even try to get her jeans off because by then she’d turned onto her side.
‘Do you know what my fairy godmother said?’
Sen didn’t want to argue with a drunk person at 11pm when all he wanted was a shower and to get into bed himself, so hedecided to humour her.
‘What did she say?’
‘She said you make me cry although I can’t see it yet.’
Sen stood up from where he’d been kneeling to take off her shoes.
He didn’t know if Shona was trying to tell him something in her own way or if it was just alcohol-induced nonsense.
‘I would never make you cry,’ he said seriously.
She rolled onto her back and, fumbling a little, undid the button and zip of her jeans.
