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‘You know I know that isn’t true, right?’ Leigh said.

‘Yeah, I know that, Leigh. But just for tonight, just let me pretend?’ Alex asked.

Leigh saw the strain in her, how much it took to hold it all together. And she wanted to say something dramatic, bold, sincere, and insane. What she wanted to say was, ‘I know what you’re hiding, and it’s your best part.’ It was on the tip of her tongue to say it.

But Leigh never found out if she had the gumption to say that. Because she’d just spotted Erin staggering into the party, ripped to the tits, some woman on her arm.

‘Oh, my fuckingChrist,’ Leigh swore.

Alex followed her gaze, but when she saw Erin, her reaction didn’t match Leigh’s. She smiled, delighted. ‘Nowit’s a party,’ she said with a chuckle.

‘Excuse me, I’ve got to deal with this,’ Leigh said, heading for Erin.

‘Let me know if you need me to get security,’ Alex called after her.

‘If it comes to that, I think you’ll know,’ Leigh called back and marched over to her.

‘Hey!’ Erin cried as she clapped eyes on Leigh. ‘Here she is!’

‘Erin, what thehell—’

‘This woman is a miracle worker, you know? She dragged my arse out of a burning building,’ Erin explained sloppily to her companion.

The woman nodded, looking nervous. ‘I see.’

‘How did you get in?’ Leigh asked Erin.

Erin grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing tray. ‘This lady here has a vote for the MOKDA’s. She had a plus one for the party. Your name’s…’ She stopped. ‘IknowI know it.’

‘It’s Lily,’ she said, looking quite remorseful about her choice of date. ‘I was round the corner having pre-drinks, and we happened to match on Bumble,’ Lily explained to Leigh. ‘She seemed more sober fifteen minutes ago.’

‘You know who this party is for, right?’ Leigh asked Lily.

‘She knows,’ Erin broke in. ‘I told her I just needed atinychat with the ex, and then we’ll move on. You know she served me today, right?’

Leigh didn’t give a shit. ‘Do you need the toilet?’ Leigh asked Erin urgently.

‘What? No,’ Erin said, confused.

‘Yeah, youdefinitelyneed the toilet,’ Leigh said, dragging her by the arm away from her relieved-looking date.

In the bathroom, Leigh pushed Erin into a stall. There was no one else in the toilets, but if she was about to berate Erin, she didn’t want anyone walking in on it. ‘What the hell are you doing?’

‘I told you. I want to talk to Isabelle,’ Erin said.

‘Then call her. You shouldn’t have shown up here.’

Erin narrowed her eyes. ‘What doyoucare?’

‘I care because I’m your PR person, obviously.’

‘Are you, though?’ Erin asked.

‘What are you talking about?’ Leigh asked irritably.

‘You haven’t taken my calls all week. You didn’t even thank me for the gift basket.’

‘If you thank someone for a thanks, you end up in a loop that you can’t get out of,’ Leigh improvised.