Page 48 of A Game of Lies

‘This isn’t how things were the last time we worked together,’ he says.

‘So?’

‘So if I’ve done something wrong …’

‘You haven’t done anything wrong,’ Ffion snaps. Two lines furrow between her brows.

‘Then …’

Ffion opens her mouth then closes it again. She looks at him. ‘Then why am I being such a cow?’ she offers, and the edge to her voice has tempered a little.

Leo makes a show of contemplating the accusation. ‘Look,Iwouldn’t have used that word, but …’

The ghost of a smile crosses Ffion’s lips. ‘I’m sorry.’ Immediately, she holds up a flattened palm, blocking Leo’s face from hers. ‘Don’t.’

‘What?’

‘Don’t do that face. Yourwonders will never ceaseface because I apologised. It’s fucking annoying.’

‘That makes two of us, then.’ Leo stands, hiding his own grin. ‘Would Angharad mind if we made coffee?’ He unscrews the lid of the tin closest to the kettle and sniffs at the ochre-coloured contents.

‘It’s chicory – I’ve already checked. Who’s Gayle?’

‘A woman.’ Leo puts back the tin. ‘Where’s George?’

‘At the hospital. Says Angharad’s adamant she fell down the stairs. A colleague?’

‘A …’ Leo hesitates a fraction too long ‘… friend. How is Angharad?’

‘Well enough to discharge herself against the doctors’ advice. George is bringing her back now.’ There’s a pause. ‘Would that be the samefriendwho wants you to “go all night”?’

It’s suddenly incredibly hot in Angharad’s kitchen. Leo wonders if it’s possible to spontaneously combust. ‘She didn’t … I mean, I wouldn’t …’ He swallows. ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’

‘Chill!’ Ffion laughs. ‘I’m winding you up. I’m happy for you.’

‘It’s complicated.’

‘Isn’t it always?’ They lock eyes for a beat before Ffion breaks away. ‘She can’t be any worse than your ex, anyway.’

‘I guess not,’ Leo says, but then he thinks about how, the last time he took Gayle out for dinner, he spent five minutes psyching himself up in the mirror.

‘Are you getting on better with her nowadays?’ Ffion looks up. ‘The ex – is she letting you see Harris?’

Leo doesn’t know if it’s hearing Harris’s name that makes him want to smile, or the fact that Ffion remembered it. He leans against the counter. ‘Yeah, it’s all good. She’s moved on, I think. Dominic’s dad died and left him some money and they’ve moved to a street with three footballers on it, so Allie’s in her element.’

‘I can’t imagine you with someone like that,’ Ffion says.

‘Nor can I.’

Something unspoken passes between them. This time, Ffion doesn’t look away. ‘You know … it’ll be another half-hour before George gets here with Angharad.’

‘Do you have something in mind?’ Leo lets his gaze travel over her face, taking in the tiny scar on her chin, the freckles across her cheeks.

‘I do.’

‘I’m all ears.’

‘I reckon there’s time to run to the garage for coffee,’ she says, dropping the tease.

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