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“I’m not making this up, Alfie. She’s been warning me off you since we met and you’re too blind to see it!” I yanked myself out of his grip. “Let me go home, Alfie. I want to get away from you before I start saying things I can’t take back.”
“Don’t be stupid. You can’t go wandering around the streets at night by yourself.”
“I’ll call a taxi.”
“Enough. You can get in the car or I’ll put you in it.”
I fumed at him, so mad I could scream.
With as much dignity as I could muster, I walked to the car, ignoring the satisfied expression on his face. I just about pulled the door off its hinges when I opened it and threw myself into the car, slamming it shut with as much force as I could.
“Really mature, Lola,” he said as he got in beside me. I opened the door and slammed it shut again, then did it againand again until he grabbed hold of me, forcing me to stop. I bit his hand and he winced and pulled away, shocked but…excited.
He opened his mouth to speak but I turned the sound system on. Vivaldi filled the car, drowning him out, and I turned it up as loud as I could stand it.
I turned to look out the window, ignoring him completely. I was being immature but I didn’t care. My cheeks burned. Tears filled my eyes. Why didn’t he believe me? Why had I let her get to me so much?
I focused on the music, the joyous tones of the Spring section ironically out of place in this frost-filled atmosphere.
Alfie put the car into gear and we screeched into motion. The drive home was furious. His hands gripped the steering wheel, white and angry. I sat and stewed in my own pot of boiling rage. I hated him and I hated her.
Alfie pulled into a space outside my house and switched the engine off, the music disappearing along with it.
“Lo…”
“Do you really believe her over me?” I turned to face him, waiting out the long silence that followed.
“I’ve known Angie for ten years, Lola. I’ve only ever seen her behave in a kind and professional manner. I don’t know what to believe.”
“Well, you just let me know when you figure it out. I’ll be waiting.” I threw myself out of the car, turning when I remembered something. “Oh and by the way, she seems to think that the two of you were sleeping together in London.”
“She’s lying,” he said immediately, and a small smile crept onto my face.
“Oh really? Because I thought you said that Angie would never do that. Now, which one of you should I believe?” I slammed the door on his furious face and hurried inside.
Sure, I might not be handling the situation with as much dignity as I could, but I could honestly say, on this occasion, my reaction was completely justified.
Thirty-Three
Sunlight and the smell of bacon sandwiches woke me the next morning. For a moment, I felt as if I’d woken in the past. Years ago when my gran was alive, every morning without fail I would wake to a bacon sandwich and a glass of orange juice.
I could smell the lavender she’d grown in her small garden, a garden she’d tended daily. She’d told me once that she couldn’t have the garden of her dreams – space and money wouldn’t allow it – but she could still have a dream garden. There was a distinct difference she’d said, and that was true of gardens but was also true of life. I couldn’t have the life of my dreams, because she wasn’t here, because my mum and dad weren’t here, but I could still have a dream life. I had Natalie and Ryan, I had Keira, I had ambitions that might one day become a reality, and I had Alfie. Maybe.
The events of last night came back to me with a rush and settled on my body like dead weight, willing me not to get out of bed. But it was Monday morning and I had to be at work in an hour, so I forced myself up because, as my gran had said,‘Lying in bed won’t get you anywhere but deeper into the mattress.’
My phone started ringing as I arrived at work. I pulled it out of my bag, both hoping and dreading that it would be Alfie. I got a bittersweet sense of relief when I saw Keira’s name.
“Hey, baby girl!” her voice rang out, way too chirpy for a Monday morning. “I just called to ask you to give my begrudging thanks to your man the next time you see him because I just answered the front door to a team of decorators. Apparently they’re here for as long as I need them. I’m going to have the house finished top to bottom within a week! I can’t believe it! Did he tell you he was going to send them?”
“No, but I think I know why he did.” The memory of Alfie’s glower when he saw the bruise I’d gotten from falling off that ladder was still fresh in my mind.
“Well, whatever the reason, thank him will you? I still haven’t forgotten that GPS drama, and his batshit behaviour on Saturday night, but this has definitely won him some brownie points. Plus he punched Adam in the face. Extra points for that.”
“Sure, I’ll tell him.” I was aiming for light and breezy but whatever came out set Keira’s Best Friend alarm off.
“Everything okay, Lo? Did you guys not kiss and make up or…?”
“No, we did. We just got in a fight last night, that’s all.”