Page 81 of Pucking the Team

“That’s odd.” I glanced at the big clock on the wall. “It’s the middle of the night in the UK, who could it be?”

“Answer it, perhaps it’s about Mae’s shoot.” He slid it over the marble surface of the island to me.

I didn’t recognize the number. “Could be.” I hit answer and then speaker so I could carry on slicing strawberries.

“Pippa.”

A sudden coldness hit my core.

“Pippa, we need to talk.”

“Steven?” My grip on the knife tightened. “What…why are you calling?” My heart pounded, and I was aware of a throbbing in my temples.

“Cheryl feels just terrible about this whole thing.”

“I…I…I don’t care how she feels or how you feel for that matter.” I stared at the phone. It seemed to come closer, back away, come closer again. My vision had blurred.

“That’s harsh, Pippa, you’ve never been cruel, but that is how you are being now.”

Ben came to my side and curled his hand around my waist in a firm grip. He knew I needed grounding. He stared down at the phone the way I was.

“You think I’m cruel?” I could hardly believe my ears.

“Yeah, you could have called her.”

“She didn’t call me.”

“She was upset, she hoped you would call. You should have.”

“And say what?” I snapped. “Thanks for being the worst best friend ever. Thanks for being a liar and a bitch and a total fake and for smashing the future I thought I had into a million little pieces.”

There was a strange sobbing sound in the background.

“Fuck, is she there with you now?” My knees weakened, and my belly clenched. I was glad I hadn’t eaten because it might have come up.

“What…I…er…” Steven stammered.

“Don’t deny it.” My voice was rising. “And where are you? In the Maldives? Enjoying the holiday I picked out forus. Last time I spoke to you, you told me you didn’t care about Cheryl, that she meant nothing to you.”

“Shut up, what does it matter what I said last time?” He was getting frustrated, his voice higher than usual.

“Fucking loser,” Ben muttered.

“Who is there withyou? Tell me.” Steven demanded.

“Nothing about my life is any of your business, Steven, you saw to that, so piss off and leave me alone.”

“I’ve seen it, you know.”

“Seen what?” I frowned at Ben.

He kind of shrugged.

“Him. You and him. How long has that been going on for?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Huh, it’s not exactly a coincidence that the guy who nearly strangled me in Cardiff is the same guy the paps find you fucking up against a wall.”