Page 34 of All the Right Words
Gina wasn’t sure how to put it so that it didn’t feel arrogant. But why? Was it so wrong to simply say she’d helped, take the win? Why did she always shunt credit to someone else? Maybe just once, just this time, she could let Harper know that she tried. ‘Well, I’m not sure how honest Brenda has been with you...’
‘Writers always tell you they’ve written tons or absolutely nothing, and usually, it’s a lie either way. I mean, not that writers are naturally dishonest as a species, they just see everything through a lens that’s distorted by the strength or weakness of their mental health at any given time.’
Gina had to chuckle at the truth in that. ‘Well, yeah, that’s probably true. But in this case, when she said she had nothing, I was inclined to believe it.’
Harper was shocked. ‘Nothing?’
Gina shrugged. ‘She didn’t even have an idea.’
‘Oh my god, it was worse than I thought,’ Harper said, shaking her head. ‘I’m glad I only found out now, once she’d cracked the block.’ She looked at Gina. ‘Now youhaveto tell me what you did.’
‘Well… I told Brenda to imagine how she’d kill her ex-husband,’ she said as a sandwich was slid in front of her. She thanked the waiter and took a bite.
Harper considered that for a moment as she ate a big bite of her sandwich. ‘I’m shocked she’s never done that before. Shehatesthat bastard. I assumed she’d killed him ten times over by now.’
‘Maybe it was still too fresh?’ Gina suggested.
They chewed in silence, and then Harper said, ‘Is something weird with this sandwich?’ She went quiet and kept chewing.
Gina swallowed her current bite, realising what she should have known at the first taste if she hadn’t been distracted. ‘I don’t think this mayo’s right.’
Harper sniffed the sandwich. ‘Christ. You’re right.’ She beckoned the waiter back.
‘Everything OK?’
Harper paused. ‘I hate to say this, but we think the mayo might be suspect.’
The waiter looked at the sandwiches. ‘What makes you-’
Gina decided to cut through the bullshit, shoving the sandwich under the man’s nose. ‘Smell it.’
The man sniffed and grimaced. ‘Umm, could you just wait while I go and check with the kitchen?’ he said, moonwalking at speed away from the table. He was off before they could answer.
‘So, we both ate dodgy mayo. Are we gonna die?’ Harper asked lightly.
‘Best-case scenario, we’ll have stomach aches,’ Gina told her.
‘What’s the worst-case scenario?’
‘Vomit.’ Gina checked her watch. ‘I’d say in about three to four hours. Give or take.’
The waiter came back out and addressed the restaurant. ‘Umm, hi? I’m sorry to announce this, but one of our fridges broke down some time ago without us realising. If you had the fish or meat, you’re safe. But anyone who had the mayo, well…’
The entire restaurant broke out into angry grumbles.
‘Please keep an eye out for the symptoms of stomach poisoning and accept these gift cards as an apology,’ he said, running around, handing out the cards.
A man looked at the gift card in his hand in disbelief. ‘You’ve poisoned me, and you’re saying sorry with another mealhere? Are you out of your mind?
Gina, ever the pragmatist, took the gift card. ‘I can always stick to dairy-free food,’ she shrugged at Harper.
Harper chuckled. ‘I like your pragmatism.’
Gina knew she had stomach issues due in the post, and they would get her sooner or later, but she was more annoyed that the lunch was cut short. She supposed she had wanted to talk about Brenda a bit more.
Yeah, that was it. She wanted to talk about Brenda. That made total sense.
Twenty-Two
