Page 20 of Glow

“What’s the matter with you?” Carla asked, slapping him on the arm. “This is your big moment.”

He was being stupid. Even so, it all felt out of his comfort zone. He’d even considered getting Carla to come with him. But this Prin sounded twitchy.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Scott said. “I’ll finish up a few things and go. What’s the worst that can happen? Plus, an early finish for me. Don’t mind if I do.”

“You can log on at home and tell me what happened. I’m not spending the evening wondering.”

Scott shook his head. “You’re a bloody slavedriver, Carla Jennings.”

She pinched his cheek. “Go and solve the case. You’ll be Pleasure Seekers answer to Miss Marple.”

“Who?”

“Shut up.”

Scott had to admit more than a frisson of excitement about going on a secret mission. Even if it was at a hipster coffee shop in the Lanes in town.

Oh well, it’s all for the greater good.

SIX

PRIN

Prin had taken the table at the rear of the coffee shop. As it was early for a Friday, there weren’t many other customers other than a group of schoolkids and a couple of people on their own. The kids were more interested in being the loudest in the group than anything Prin was up to. As for the others, they were focused solely on their laptops.

Nervously, Prin sipped his hot chocolate.

The door opened and Scott walked in. Butterflies swarmed inside Prin. The whole thing had him on edge. Scott’s model looks didn’t help either.

Scott noticed him and came over. “Prin?”

“That’s right.”

Scott dropped his bag and sat down. Prin barely met his gaze.

Maybe this was a bad idea. It’s too bloody late now.

He shifted in his seat.

“Can I get you anything?”

“No thanks,” Scott replied. “I’ve got to go home and log on after this. How did you get out early without raising suspicion?”

“I often work from home so it wasn’t a big deal,” Prin replied.

Scott looked at him expectantly. For some reason, Prin had no idea how to begin.

“It’s probably nothing?—”

“I hope not,” Scott interjected. “I’ve had a shit day. I’m banking on you making it a better one.”

Prin had been right. Scott was a self-absorbed queen. He should never have listened to bloody Colin.

“I…”

Scott held up his hands. “I’m sorry,” he said. “My stupid mouth. I didn’t mean to sound like an arsehole. The truth is, I have a humdinger of a hangover. But I have no right to take it out on you. Can we start over?”

Prin’s nanny always used to say to him that he shouldn’t judge other people’s actions until he had an idea of what they were going through. Perhaps Prin had Scott wrong after all.