Page 47 of A Lethal Game of Trust

“So why do you want him?”

“I just… he’s always been unobtainable,” she said with a hiccup. “Even when we were together.”

There was a knock at my door then the slow opening of it. Issy’s face poked through the gap and she lifted a thumbs up to me before swinging it to a thumbs down in question.

I shrugged. “Mia, I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you soon, though.”

Issy gave a long, angry blink at the mention of her.

“Okay,” Mia said. “Thanks, Leo.”

And I hung up.

Issy’s top lip was curled. “Mum said I have every right to fire her.”

Of course Vera would agree with her. Issy could do no wrong in her eyes.

And if she ever found out Dom and I had… oh, god. I was going to lose themall.

She gestured for me to follow her out to the living room and I sat in the armchair, feet up on the side with a huff. “Before you ask, she’s angry that Dom took Ghost and she wants everyone’s forgiveness. That was the extent of the phone call.”

Dom was scrolling through his phone. “Yeah, I don’t care.”

Issy looked at him, mouth slightly parted in shock. “Okay,you’re an emotionless mess.”

His eyes snapped up in warning.

“We’re going out,” she declared, not put off by his glare. “You need an Issy and Leonie special. Bar, bar, bar, home, takeaway, Just Dance.”

He groaned and leaned back on the sofa, placing a palm over his face. “We had a takeaway last night.”

Issy only gave him a shrug that said ‘so?’

“Mia told me about your Just Dance ritual. I am not playing. Over my dead body.”

“Okay, that’s fine,” she said with a little nod, stroking Ghost beside her on the sofa. “You can get laid and Leonie and I will come back here to get dancing.”

I felt Dom’s eyes on me, but I refused to look at him. I was right, it had been a mistake. It was in the past. He could be with someone else. He should be with someone else. And I should, too.

Jack’s text from earlier lit up my screen.

JACK: We could stick to the original plan if you wanted? I know it’s close to yours and I can always pick you up. If I wasn’t away, I would offer to see you tonight.

I couldn’t even remember the original plans, but if he wanted to escort me there, that was fine.

LEONIE: Sounds great.

Then I contemplated, stressed and sent my next text.

LEONIE: How is your weekend going? I hope the wedding is good! Can’t wait to see some pictures.

Awkward. Oh god, that was awkward. But I couldn’t follow it up with a third awkward text. I’d shown interest. Interest I wasn’t sure I really had, but interest all the same.

“Or maybe Leonie will get lucky, too,” Issy said, watchingGhost climb up onto the armchair with me. “That little bandage will have the men swooning to help a damsel.”

16

By Your Standards