Page 63 of The Retreat
‘I suppose I can’t blame you. That isquitethe arse.’
Talia was sick of Jade’s shit, and this time she wasn’t making a joke out of it. ‘Could you knock that off? It’s inappropriate.’
‘I’m just kidding.’
‘Find other things to joke about,’ Talia warned her. ‘Because those kinds of jokes are not OK for work. You’ll get yourself in trouble. At the very least, it will hold you back.’
Jade blinked. ‘Don’t be so uptight.’
‘I’m trying to help you,’ Talia told her honestly. ‘You’re pissing people off.’
‘I’m pissingyouoff, you mean,’ Jade said. ‘Worried I’ll steal your girlfriend?’
‘No,’ Talia said. ‘She wouldn’t touch you with a barge pole.’
Jade laughed a bit too loudly. ‘Oh, really? You want to put money on that?’
‘Stop it, Jade. I’m not playing.’ And then something came out that was kind of weird. ‘She’s mine.’
Ugh, what?
Jade sputtered a laugh. ‘Man, I bet you were that kid who wouldn’t share her toys.’
‘People aren’t toys,’ Talia told her. ‘And we’re not children.’
‘I’m not the one getting red in the face at a few jokes.’
Talia turned away to find Jade was right. There was heat in her face. She would have loved to tell herself that she was simply playing her part with gusto, but what was the use anymore? That comforting lie just wasn’t cutting the mustard. Not anymore.
That became even more clear moments later.
‘Positions!’ Rebecca shouted.
Talia planted her feet, wrapping the rough rope around her wrist, eyes locked on the line. Across from her, Imogen dug in, muscles taut.
The whistle blew.
Rebecca was bellowing encouragement like she was coaching the Olympics. June was shouting contradictory instructions. Claire dug her heels in like she was trying to anchor herself to the Earth’s core.
Talia gritted her teeth and pulled, boots slipping in the wet grass, arms on fire. The rope wrenched against her wrist, and someone behind her screamed, ‘Dig, Talia! Dig like you mean it!’
Across from her, Imogen was pulling for all she was worth. Her face was flushed, strands of blonde hair escaping in wild tangles, grinning like she was having the time of her life.
‘Is that all you’ve got, Talia?’ Imogen called, dimples popping.
Talia tightened her grip and tried to focus. But her mind wasn’t on the rope. It was on the curve of Imogen’s smile, the way her amber-hazel eyes sparkled with mischief and confidence. For the briefest second, the world narrowed to just the two of them, and everything else faded away. She felt herself being pulled forward.
Talia pulled back with everything she had, but it was too late. The rope slipped through her fingers. Team Resilience lost.
Talia dropped the rope and stepped back, catching her breath. This was officially ludicrous. Now she couldn’t even hang onto a rope without getting distracted by Imogen Lake and her stupidly perfect face?
‘You alright?’ Imogen asked, walking over.
Talia nodded. She was brushing grass off her trousers, her eyes still fixed on the ground. ‘Pride slightly bruised. Legs intact.’
‘Jesus,’ said Daniel, strolling past with a bottle of something fizzy. ‘I cannotbelieveyou two have been together a year.’
Talia blinked, panicked. ‘Why not?’
