Page 79 of Girls Just Want to Have Sun

‘Come on, pet, we’ll look after you,’ says Liberty kindly. ‘We’ve all been there, haven’t we, girls? Remember me and Mehmet?’

They all nod their heads, and we listen to Liberty, who wants to get something off her chest. It’s the harrowing account of how she could have been Mehmet’s fourth wife if only karma had been kinder to her and blessed her with an accidental pregnancy to trap him with. Even I have heard this story three times this week.

Big Sue reaches in and lifts me up like a newborn kitten and carries me through to my lounge. She puts me gently down on the sofa. The girls take a good look around.

‘What is this place?’ Cherry remarks. ‘How did you find it?’

‘Is this where you’ve been staying?’ asks Tash. ‘It’s fucking lush.’

Big Mand picks up the remote, presses a few buttons and they watch open-mouthed as a TV slides out, the air con blows, music plays and the twinkling lights transform the lounge into a magical romantic honeymoon suite. I can’t help but remember that first soulful evening with Matteo. I let out a fresh howl of sobs.

‘I’ll neh… eh… eh… ver be happy eh… eh… ver again,’ I wail, remembering the way he set my pulse racing and my bones on fire with just a single touch.

‘Men are right users. They’re such twats, aren’t they?’ Cherry says, slinging her arm over Liberty, before suddenly turning to me. ‘Connie? Did he make you any sort of verbal contract? Youknow, like, any commitment that would render him liable? We could hit him where it hurts.’

‘Yes, or we could get the nuns to show him the meaning of respect,’ says Liberty.

‘No need. Big Sue’s a sensei in ju-jitsu. She could snap his neck like a twig.’ Big Mand demonstrates with her hands.

‘Erm, now I think about it,’ I say, slightly anxious at how things are escalating, ‘things weren’t quite that serious between us.’

Cherry elbows her way to me. ‘The hell they weren’t. We all saw what a fool you were prepared to make out of yourself for him. I know shame when I see it,’ she announces to everyone. ‘It is totally my thing.’

‘No, Cherry. Shame ismything. I’m trained for exactly this sort of shitshow. I’ll handle it.’ Liberty lifts my chin. ‘People forget I’m not your typical blonde airhead doctor.’

‘Fuck off, Liberty. You’re not even a real doctor, never mind a typical one,’ says Cherry.

‘I have a PhD.’

‘Yes, but what in? Psychology? You’ve never actually said.’

‘Mood Management. It’s practically the same thing,’ Liberty says.

‘It’s not practically the same thing at all. Connie has real issues. She’s too intense, closed off, damaged.’

‘What she needs is to watch Netflix, theBridgertonbuttocks scene.’ Tash looks around. ‘Somebody, quick, get it on your phone. Whose account do we all use? Big?—’

‘I’ll never forget my first love,’ says Cherry, cutting her off. ‘Very powerful, Connie. Very raw. Very real.’ She reaches down to stroke my arm. ‘Robert… or Richard. No, it was Gary. That’s right. Gary.’

‘It wasn’t friggin’ Gary.’ Liberty frowns. ‘Unless he was two-timing you with me and his wife and his other wife.’

‘Come on, before they kick off,’ says Tash softly. ‘I’ve got something that will help.’

‘So, what kind of help is better than theBridgertonbuttocks scene?’ I ask through my tears.

‘Cocktails, love. Four for the price of one. At The Knee Trembler, remember?’ Tash gives my shoulder a squeeze.

‘No. Definitely not,’ I say, shaking my head. ‘We have a show to put on. A really important show. We can’t turn up drunk. We need to be really good.’

The Dollz look at each other.

‘She’s quite cute really, isn’t she?’ Liberty says. ‘She has no idea how all this works. None at all. Bless.’

Cherry clicks on some upbeat music and they all leap up. Big Sue drags me to my feet. While I’m sniffing up tears and dancing around, I summon up a smile for the girls. They may be nun-obsessed boozehounds at times, but at least they’re all here for me now. Tash surprises me by reaching for my hand.

‘It’s just like me and Mehmet all over again,’ Liberty sighs, giving me a supportive shrug. ‘Only my two-week relationship lasted a lot longer than yours.’

‘Right, that’s enough crying over wankers for one day. Let’s go,’ insists Big Sue.

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