Page 48 of All the Right Words

And then, there would be moments like just now when you could almost get a hold of her. It was frustrating, foxing, and irresistible. No, not irresistible. Another word with less sexy connotations. Though, Ginawassexy. But that didn’t mean that Harper was sexually attractedtoher.

Did it?

‘Hey, so, how long have you two beendating,’ Alison said, with horrid air quotation marks.

‘I’m not, umm…’ Harper began.

‘I don’t quite remember when we…’ Olivia said, just as uncertainly.

‘Not serious then,’ Alison said, a sly grin creeping onto her face. ‘You err… ever think of adding a name onto the roster?’

‘I don’t know what that means,’ Harper said honestly.

Alison glanced back at the bar where Gina was waiting. Once she was sure she wouldn’t be overheard, she looked back at Harper and Olivia. ‘I don’t think me and her are a fit. So maybewecould all just slip out together and-’

That sentence was ended by a drink flung in Alison’s face. Harper was surprised to realise she’d thrown it.

‘What theshit!’ Alison screamed.

‘Harper!’ Olivia exclaimed, and Harper could not miss the horrified tone.

Gina appeared at the commotion and took in the sight of a dripping wet Alison. ‘So what the hell is happening here, then?’ she asked calmly.

Harper wanted to explain, but Alison was quick to squeal. ‘This bastard threw a drink in my face!’ she said, pointing a razor-sharp nail at Harper.

‘Yeah, well,thisbastard,’ Harper replied, hiking a thumb at Alison, ‘is a disgusting pig.’

‘Alison, what did you do?’ Gina asked tiredly.

‘Me?!’ Alison demanded. ‘Why do you assume it’smeat fault?’

‘I’ve known you too long,’ Gina said.

‘Wejustmet.’

‘And it’s been too long.’ Gina turned to Harper. ‘What did she do?’

Harper wanted to put this kindly. She didn’t want Gina to feel bad that Alison had been trying to ditch her in favour of a three-way. ‘She was…’ She paused and looked at Olivia.

Olivia put it succinctly, if awkwardly. ‘She propositioned us for a group… situation.’

Gina looked at Alison. ‘Wow,’ she smiled angrily. ‘Alison, thanks for a lively evening. I shall, of course, be blocking you on all communication apps henceforth.’ And she walked out with more dignity than the situation should have allowed.

Alison, dabbing herself off with a napkin, looked Harper up and down. ‘I should press charges.’

‘Go ahead. If you can remember my name,’ Harper challenged.

Alison blinked. ‘Carper?’

‘That was closer than I thought you’d get,’ she commended Alison. ‘Come on,’ she said to Olivia. Olivia followed her out of the bar.

Outside, Harper looked back and forth down the street, trying to spot Gina. ‘Can you see her?’ she asked Olivia.

‘Who?’ Olivia asked.

Harper was shocked. ‘Gina, obviously.’

‘She probably got a cab. Come on, let’s go down the road. I know another place.’