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I narrow my eyes. ‘How would you know that?’

Eva cocks her head. ‘Because her Instagram account is public, and she’s posted about being back in Melbourne.’

I face Jaz. ‘I reckon I might head off. Ta for the drink.’

Eva places her hand on my thigh and squeezes. ‘Why don’t I come with you?’

I pluck her hand off my thigh, my anger rising, not only over what she did to Holly, but because she always has to have the upper hand. ‘Can you move, please.’

She stays put, her jaw tight.

‘For fuck’s sake, Eva. Move.’

She scoffs. ‘You’re seriously turning me down? For what? A bland Australian Blake Lively lookalike who’s on another continent?’

My face burns as my anger reaches its peak.

‘Ooh, I don’t think you want to say that about Holly,’ Jaz interjects. ‘And Blake Lively’s well beautiful.’

‘Yeah, she totally is,’ Leila says.

Eva shoots Leila a look. ‘Sure, if bland blondes are your thing.’

My eyes sting and I take a deep breath to halt the tears before I speak. ‘Holly is one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met,’ I spit at Eva. ‘She’s passionate and intelligent and creative and brave.’

Eva’s cheeks grow pink.

‘And she has a smile like sunshine,’ Jaz says.

I give Jaz a grateful nod and turn back to Eva. ‘She has a smile like sunshine, and I’ve been in love with her since I was twenty years old.’

Eva’s nostrils flare but she stands to let me out.

‘Nice to see you, Leila,’ I say, sliding out of the booth. ‘See you at home, Jaz.’

I storm out of the pub and head for Oxford Circus, wild heat coursing through me, hot tears threatening to spill.

‘Casey, wait up!’

I spin to see Jaz jogging towards me. She slips her arm around my waist. ‘Come on. I’ll buy you a laksa for tea at that nice Malaysian place near ours.’

‘What about Leila?’

She shrugs. ‘My best mate is more important.’

I give her some sceptical side-eye. ‘And you running off will make her more keen?’

She grins. ‘No, mate. I’m totally thinking about you.’

I ruffle her hair, my anger dissipating slightly. ‘What are you like.’ I rest my arm across her shoulder. ‘Fucking Eva.’

Jaz peers at me through narrowed eyes, mouth tucked in on one side, assessing what I need from her. ‘She’s a total cow. And there’s nothing bland about Holly.’

I give her a squeeze, grateful that she’s loyal to the core. ‘Cheers, mate.’

Chapter 35

Holly, Melbourne