Page 40

Tess paced the dimly lit foyer of the cinema, her fingers tracing the edge of the concession counter. The place felt too quiet, too still. In about forty minutes, screen one would let out and it would be loud again. Tess wanted the noise now. She didn’t like being alone with this feeling. The meeting earlier had been a disaster, but it was only now, hours later, in the familiar space of the cinema, that the anger had really started to burn in her chest.

Tess heard a few indistinct words blare from the screen. The new Yorgos Lanthimos was playing with subtitles for hearing-impaired folks. Tess didn’t rate Lanthimos, but he was a big name in indie movies, so she was playing it at Zara’s insistence.

But what the hell was the point in playing popular shit if they didn’t make those bastards at the bank happy? Why was she letting anyone tell her what to do when the reward was a telling-off for being rubbish at running the place?

She was seething so hard that she barely noticed Zara walk in, but when she looked up, there she was—standing near the door, hands clasped in front of her like she wasn’t sure how to approach.

‘Tess,’ Zara said softly, taking a few tentative steps closer. ‘Are you OK?’

‘Yes, of course. The headmaster just hauled me up for ten strokes of his cane. No biggie,’ Tess said, trying to sound unbothered.

‘I didn’t like the way he talked to you,’ Zara said.

‘Neither did I,’ Tess said flatly.

‘But you know, you don’t have to take it personally. It’s just him,’ Zara said.

Tess clenched her jaw. Zara, always trying to smooth things over, always the diplomat. Tess didn’t need that right now. ‘Mmm,’ she mumbled.

‘I’m on your side,’ Zara said. But it didn’t feel like that. Her voice was too measured, her words too deliberate, as if she was walking a tightrope between Tess and the bank. ‘We both want the same thing—for the cinema to succeed. It’s just—’

‘Just what?’ Tess snapped, the heat rising in her chest again. She could feel the sting of the meeting still fresh, the feeling of failure hanging over her. ‘Just that I’ve failed?’

Zara looked immediately hurt, but Tess was too angry to care.

‘I never said that,’ Zara replied, her voice even, although it carried a strain now. ‘I’m trying to help you, Tess.’

‘Help me?’ Tess scoffed, throwing her hands up. ‘By reminding me every chance you get that this place is a mess? That I can’t keep this place alive without you swooping in to clean it up?’

Zara flinched, just a small movement, but enough for Tess to see it.

‘I’m not your enemy,’ Zara said, more quietly this time.

For a moment, Tess wanted to let go of the rage, to admit she was lashing out at the wrong person—but she was too far in, the frustration too raw.

‘No, you’re just their lackey,’ she muttered bitterly.

That was the last straw. Zara’s face closed off, her shoulders stiffening as she nodded, more to herself than to Tess. ‘OK,’ she murmured, stepping back. ‘If that’s how you feel.’

Tess watched her turn and leave, the door closing softly behind her. The sound of Zara walking away filled the empty space, and Tess felt a sharp twist in her gut. Zara didn’t deserve Tess’s anger.

‘Zara,’ she called out suddenly, but her voice came out too late, too small.

Tess sank against the counter, the weight of what she’d just done crashing down on her. Zara was on her side. She bloody knew that. Why had she hurt her like that?

‘What the hell is your problem?!’ Fi asked, popping up from behind the popcorn counter.

‘Jesus!’ Tess exclaimed. ‘How long have you been there?!’

‘About five minutes. I was just having a sit down to play on my phone. I heard the way you talked to Zara.’

‘That’s none of your business,’ Tess sputtered.

‘You were such a shit to her.’

‘Yes,’ Tess admitted. ‘But you weren’t in that meeting. It wasn’t good, Fi.’

‘The bank guys were mean?’ Fi said.

‘Are you taking the piss?’ Tess spat.

‘No, seriously. What did they say?’

‘They said we’re doing better, but it’s not good enough. If it doesn’t improve in the next month, they’ll be reassessing the terms of the loan.’

‘Which means?’

‘They’ll make it unaffordable. And when we inevitably fall behind, they’ll take the place.’

‘But Zara said that wouldn’t happen,’ Fi cried, horrified.

‘Yes, she did.’

‘OK, now I’m mad at her,’ Fi said.

Though Tess had been on that page minutes ago, now she flew to Zara’s defence. ‘It’s not her fault. I don’t think she thought this would happen.’ She paused. ‘Why is it happening? The numbers are decent. We met the target. Why are they changing it?’

Fi shrugged, her brows knitting together in confusion. ‘They’re just looking for a reason to tighten the screws. That’s what banks do.’

Tess let out a harsh laugh. ‘Right, so we’re just at their mercy, then? Why do I even bother trying to make this place work when it feels like they want us to fail?’

‘You’re not going to give up, are you?’ Fi asked, her brow creasing.

Tess shook her head, determination rising. ‘Of course not. But it’s just so bloody maddening. I’ve put everything into it, and for what? Some prick in a suit telling me I can’t run the place I’ve been running for fifteen years?’

Fi’s expression softened. ‘You’ve kept this place alive through everything. It’s just…’ she shrugged. ‘Capitalism, man.’

Tess had to laugh at the simplicity of the view. But also, she was right. It was capitalism, man. ‘Yeah, I guess.’

‘You need to sort things with Zara, apologise,’ Fi suggested.

‘I know,’ Tess said tiredly.

‘Maybe she can help us figure out what to do next,’ Fi said, and she folded her arms expectantly.

Tess paused. ‘What now?’

Fi nodded. ‘Yes, now!’

Tess groaned. ‘I think I should give it a day.’

‘No. We can’t wait. You like her, and we need her.’

Tess swallowed. ‘I don’t think I can say sorry and ask for help in the same conversation.’

‘Why not?’ Fi asked.

‘Because she’ll think that’s the only reason I’m apologising,’ Tess told her.

Fi groaned and rolled her eyes. ‘You see, this is why it’s a bad idea to mix business with pleasure.’

Tess gaped at her sister. ‘You said I should go for it! You practically pushed me on top of her!’

‘And you choose now to start listening to me!’ Fi shot back.

Tess shook her head at her sister. ‘Fine, I’ll message her,’ Tess said reluctantly, pulling her phone from her pocket.

‘What are you going to say?’ Fi asked.

‘Um… Sorry for being a total bitch earlier?’ Tess suggested.

‘Make it sound more sincere,’ Fi suggested. ‘You know, show her you care. Acknowledge her side.’

‘How do you know all this?’

‘Gen Z wisdom,’ Fi said. ‘A millennial wouldn’t get it.’

‘I’m Gen X, you cheeky sod,’ Tess told her sister, truly offended.

‘You’re forty. That’s millennial,’ Fi told her.

‘No way.’

‘We’re ten years apart. How can that be two generations of difference?’ Fi pointed out.

That was quite a strong argument. ‘I can’t get into this now,’ Tess rerouted. ‘I’ve got to fix it with Zara.’

‘Crack on, no one’s stopping you,’ Fi shrugged, annoyed.

Tess sighed, fingers hovering over the screen. ‘I know that. It’s just…’ She took a deep breath. ‘What if she doesn’t reply?’

‘Yeah, you might have fucked it,’ Fi said.

‘Great, thanks.’

‘I wasn’t finished,’ Fi said.

‘OK.’

‘You might have fucked it, but even if she never wants to take her clothes off with you anymore, she’ll probably still help us with this place,’ Fi finished.

Tess frowned at her sister. ‘That’s the comforting end of the sentence. Great, thanks.’

Fi raised an eyebrow. ‘It is comforting. Because you care more about this place, right?’

Tess didn’t know what to say to that.

Shock flooded Fi’s features. ‘Oh my god!’ she yelled.

‘Oh my god, what?!’ Tess asked, nervous.

‘Oh my fucking god!’ Fi said, staring at Tess like she’d grown a second head.

‘What is it?!’ Tess demand.

‘Do you love Zara?!’ Fi asked.

‘What? Shut up! What?!’ Tess flapped.

Thankfully, at that moment, the film let out and the foyer was flooded with moviegoers.

‘I’m going to find a quiet place to text her,’ Tess said, walking backwards away from Fi, still agape from the revelation. Tess was not having that conversation with her. Especially not if she’d just ruined things with Zara.

With a tight knot in her stomach, Tess tapped out something simple and noncommittal. Can we talk?

She pressed send before she could change her mind, staring at the screen as if the words would materialise into something more profound. Almost immediately, a bubble appeared, signalling a reply.

Tess’s heart raced as she waited for the message to appear. And that racing heart was the answer to Fi’s question.

She was in love with Zara.

She both accepted Tess and pushed her at the same time. She made her laugh. She made her comfortable. And she was charming as fuck, it had to be said. And so great in bed.

Tess didn’t know one person could manage all that. But Zara had. She was the perfect woman. And Tess was just realising all this at the moment she’d probably blown it. Typical.