Page 22 of The Retreat
Imogen thought for a moment. Then shrugged. ‘Quick-fire questions. No lying. The first thing that comes to your mind. Helps us get to know each other. Build… rapport.’
Talia hesitated. Then nodded. ‘Alright. You go first.’
Imogen settled onto the bed and gestured for Talia to sit next to her. Which she did, putting a full foot between them and pulling a decorative cushion off the bed and onto her lap as if she needed a further barrier.
Imogen gave her lap a light slap. ‘Right then. Off we go. Favourite book as a kid?’
‘Northern Lights,’ Talia said.
Imogen liked that one too, but decided not to mention that.
‘Yours?’ Talia asked.
‘The Secret Garden,’ Imogen said.
Talia’s eyebrow went up. ‘Oh.’
‘What?’
‘It’s a good book, that’s all.’
Imogen had to laugh. ‘You thought I’d be more of aSweet Valley Highkind of girl?’ Imogen asked her.
Talia put her hands up in defence. ‘I never said that.’
Imogen looked at her.
‘I wasn’t exactly thinkingSweet Valley High,’ Talia said weakly.
‘But something vapid?’
Talia put her hands down. ‘Fine, you got me.’
Imogen decided not to linger on that point. It was contrary to the spirit of the game to find even more things not to like about each other.
‘Worst date you ever had?’
Talia’s face dropped. ‘Really?’
Imogen nodded.
Talia looked like she was thinking about refusing to answer, but then her shoulders dropped. ‘I once met this woman who brought her ex’s dog on the date and kept crying into its fur.’
Imogen’s mouth went up slightly in one corner, a dimple popping. ‘I was once stood up by someone who said they’d gone into early labour. She wasn’t even pregnant.’
An amused snort escaped Talia, but she was quick to bat it down.
‘Most irrational fear?’ Imogen asked, folding her arms.
Talia hesitated, then said, ‘Pigeons. I know it sounds ridiculous.’
Imogen blinked, surprised. ‘Pigeons?’
‘Yeah,’ Talia admitted, curling her lip slightly. ‘They’re loud, unpredictable, and bloody relentless. One time, a pigeon followed me for about half a mile after I gave it a bit of croissant.’
Imogen cocked her head. ‘It probably wasn’t the same one.’
‘Its markings wereverydistinct. I still see it outside my office window sometimes.’
