Page 77 of Try Hard

I shot her an unbothered look. “That’s your prerogative, but it doesn’t change my answer.”

“It’s not fair for you to have secrets with her, you know? I knew her first.”

“No, you did not! You were still in primary school when I met her.”

She rolled her eyes and swept her long hair over her shoulder. “So, you admit it’s about her.”

“No,” I scoffed. “I told you it’s not.”

“Fine. So, where is she, then?”

I looked around, frowning. “At home, I assume.”

“And why isn’t she here? When are you inviting her over for dinner? I want to hang out with her.”

I fought against the uncomfortable wave of nausea. I really needed to get that under control. I still wasn’t sure whether Ophelia wanted anything romantic with me, but everyone had been right that it was me she was spending time with. Not Soph.

I swallowed hard and shrugged as nonchalantly as I could manage. “She’s a busy woman.”

Soph snorted. “And the fact that she’s spending so much of her precious time with a poor man’s American is, frankly, absurd.”

“A poor man’s American?” I stared at her, aghast. “What have I ever done to you? Jesus.”

She shot me a pointed look. “As if you’ve forgotten the time you took my Forever Friends flask.”

“That wasmyflask! It came with the lunchbox.You’rethe one who stole it fromme.”

Soph paused, looking mildly amused as the truth of the situation settled around her, the memory returning. She waved a hand in my direction. “Yeah, well, get over it. That was years ago.”

“You’re the one who brought it up!”

She laughed. “And, now, I’m telling you to move on. But make sure you bring Fia around while you’re moving on. Thanks.”

“You’re a menace,” I said, shaking my head and hugging Herc tightly.

“Thank you. I know.” She flashed me a grin, tilting her head in such a way that the light caught on her nose piercing and seemed impossibly like a sparkly special effect, like the whole universe was happy with how much she was winding me up.

The door opened again and Mum came in. Her smile became a little puzzled when she spotted Soph on the couch. I guessed she hadn’t been expecting her so early.

Soph sat up straighter, leaning towards our mum. “Ah, great. Now that you’re here, you can tell Eve that she should be inviting Fia round for dinner.”

Mum’s confusion cleared instantly and she looked at me with a mix of amusement and delight. “I think that sounds like a great idea.”

“I’m sure you do,” I shot back with a laugh.

“Is she free tonight?”

“No.”

She was, actually. Kind of. But I didn’t think being quizzed by my thirsty sister and my expectant mother was what Ophelia needed tonight.

“Apparently,” Soph said, sounding entirely exasperated, “she’s a busy woman.”

Mum smiled at her. “I believe it. Quite the jet-setting young lady.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I was certain that there were any number of people with whom Ophelia would take issue at being addressed like that. I wasn’t sure whether Mum was one of them, but I found myself desperately wanting to know the answer.

“Right,” Soph agreed readily. “So, don’t you think it’s weird that she’s spending so much time with this tryhard?”