Page 16 of A Lethal Game of Trust

He looked down at her with a fondness my father often gave me. Since we were taken those months ago, he had softened.

He ruffled both of our hair. “I’m going now. Your mum and dad will stay a bit longer. Did you want to come back with me?”

Issy always left early as she would be at the beach everymorning at 5 am to surf.

“Yeah,” she said and grabbed her school bag.

Anton gave me a salute and said, “See ya, lion.”

I returned the salute and he left us. Is was hot on his heels but at my door, she paused and leaned back into the room. She hissed, “Text lover boy, yeah?”

“Fine,” I said and threw the cushion from the chair she had vacated at her head. My aim was rarely off.

“Bye, bitch!”

“Bye, sis!”

Issy had dared me to save Sam Yun’s number as ‘Sammy Yun X’ and I had. Because I wanted Dom to see. Sometimes, I made the calculated move of texting him while Dom was in the room, hoping he would reply and Dom would notice.

LEONIE: What are you up to tonight?

The moment I sent the text, I threw it on my bed and balled my hands into fists, scared to touch it, scared to see his response.

The reply was immediate. I peered over and, with a quick index finger, opened the message.

SAMMY YUN X: Waiting for you to text me.

And I squealed.

Because Sam Yun was one of the boys all the girls wanted. He was muscular, tanned, athletic and smart. His parents had come over from Korea last year, and with the air of mystery as to who the new family on the block were, everyone wanted to be in with him, to know the most about him.

It didn’t hurt that he was in Dom’s year and ran in his social circle.

I climbed into bed, pulling the sheet over me and grinning. Boys were never interested in me.

LEONIE: Are you not celebrating your last exam with Dom?

My heart raced as I waited for his response. I wanted him to tell me about Dom. I wanted him to flirt with me.

I wanted to put my hands between my legs.

SAMMY YUN X: I may have had a few drinks. I’d rather celebrate with you.

Damn, he was smooth. I could celebrate with him.

My thumbs hovered over the send button as I bit my lip, rereading my penned reply. And I sent it.

LEONIE: And how would we celebrate?

This time, there was a minute before my phone buzzed in my hand. I’d tried to busy myself with the book on my bedside table, but my fingers itched to do something other than flip the page.

SAMMY YUN X: In very little clothing.

LEONIE: Surprised there’ll be any clothing at all.

Something within me felt very bad. Naughty. And fucking free.

I should not be texting this man. But the only texts I’d got from the person I really wanted had been variations of, ‘see you soon’ and ‘my exam went well.’