Page 66 of Outlier

“It is not fine, Vicky,” I said, keeping my eyes on this viper of a woman.

Vicky’s mother looked between me and her daughter with cold calculation, then she plastered the fakest smile I’ve ever seen in my life on her face.

“Goodness, well this is all just a misunderstanding. Of course, I’m a little tense from all the organising.” She turned to Vicky, her fake smile now looking like it was causing her actual pain. “Darling, do introduce me properly to your young man. You are naughty not telling me about him.”

“Mum, this is Mike,” Vicky said, still in that small voice. “And Mike, this is my mum. Mrs. Williams.”

“Oh please, do call me Janet.” She was all sugary sweetness now, and it was making me feel vaguely ill. But when she held out her hand to me, Vicky gave my other hand a squeeze, so I decided not to take any more of a stand.

“Janet,” I said in a short voice, giving her hand a brief but maybe too firm shake.

“Would you forgive me if I steal away my daughter?”

Could you stay with me today?

Vicky’s voice from earlier floated through my brain, along with that slight thread of fear that ran through it.

I tightened my grip on Vicky’s hand. “Lead the way.”

Chapter 23

Are you Vicky’s carer?

Vicky

“How much did you pay him?”Mum hissed at me after the photographer had arranged us where he wanted us all to stand.

“W-what?” I whispered.

“That man. How much did you pay him to be here?”

“I-I didn’t?—”

“Now, ladies,” the photographer interrupted. “Eyes to me, please, and big smiles.”

I turned away from Mum and looked towards the camera, trying to force my mouth to cooperate so that the corners would turn up even whilst my stomach was churning with nausea.

“Lady in the pale blue?”

I blinked and looked from his camera to him.

He smiled at me. “Yes, you, beautiful. Can you try for a smile?”

“Fucking freak,” I heard Rebecca mutter.

Darrell chuckled next to her, and my mother elbowed me sharply in my ribs.

I bared my teeth in what I hoped was a semblance of a smile. Thankfully, it was enough to satisfy the photographer, because after another couple of minutes, we were done.

“It’s my wedding day,” Rebecca snapped at me once the photo was over.

“Yes, I know,” I said, looking over her shoulder to search for Mike, but he’d been intercepted by two bridesmaids.

Lucinda and Fiona were Rebecca’s friends who took particular pleasure in being mean to me.

Fiona was leaning into Mike now, and she had her hand on the lapel of his jacket.

My throat felt too tight. Mike lookedsohandsome in his suit.