Page 101 of Save Me

“Do I get any details?”

The question surprises me. Lydia might have opened up to me about her and Sutton, but we’re not usually willing to discuss our love lives with each other.

I eye her dubiously. “Since when have you been interested in what I get up to at night?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “Since it’s been Ruby you’re messing around with.”

The words “messing around” feel absolutely insufficient for what Ruby and I have. “One, who says it was Ruby I spent the night with? And two, I thought you couldn’t stand her.”

Lydia rolls her eyes. “One, I’m not stupid. And two, if you like her, I do too. Simple.”

“That’s good. Because I think you’re going to be seeing more of her, and not just at school.”

Lydia’s mouth drops open. “Are you serious about her?”

I can’t help the smile that spreads over my face. The next moment, Lydia whacks me on the arm. “I can’t believe it! James!”

“What?”

“If Dad finds out, he’ll freak,” she says, shaking her head. Her hand is still on my arm. She gives it a quick squeeze. “But you look very happy. I’m pleased for you both.”

I didn’t know it would be like this. I didn’t know what it felt like to be in love or that the mere thought of Ruby would set my heart racing. I wish I could tell Percy to drive straight round to hers because I’m afraid I can’t survive a second longer without her.

“What’s up with Percy?” Lydia asks, out of the blue, as if she’s read my mind. She’s speaking quieter now and nods toward the driver’s area.

“No idea.”

“He didn’t even ask me how it went,” she murmurs.

“You can tell me,” I offer, but Lydia wrinkles her nose.

“You’re weird when you’re in love.”

I just pull a face.

We spend the rest of the journey in companionable silence. Lydia taps on her phone, and I stare out of the window, thinking about last night. When we reach the house, I walk around the car to help Percy with the cases. He holds out a hand to stop me and looks seriously at me.

“You should go in, Mr. Beaufort.” He hasn’t spoken that sternly to me since I was seven and spilled Coke on the back seatof a new car. Percy looks from me to Lydia and back again, then gives a gulp and turns his attention to the bags. Lydia and I look at each other in confusion and walk up the steps to the door.

“What’s wrong with him?” she whispers, even though we’re well out of earshot.

“No idea. Have you spoken to Dad since yesterday?”

She shakes her head, I open the door, and we walk into the house together. Lydia puts her bag down on the little table next to the front door as Mary, our housekeeper, comes into the front hall. At the sight of us, she goes as white as chalk. I’m about to say hello when she turns and heads for the sitting room. Lydia and I exchange glances again. Together, we walk across the hall and into the room Mary just entered.

Dad is standing at the fireplace. He has his back to us, but I can tell that there’s a glass of pale brown liquor in his hand—and it’s not even midday. The fire in the hearth crackles quietly, and Mary murmurs something to him, then hastily vanishes.

“Dad?” I ask.

He turns, his face expressionless as usual. Even so, the dark rings under his eyes make me feel uneasy.

“Sit down.” He waves toward the green satin sofa and settles himself in the armchair beside it.

I don’t want to sit down. I want to know what the hell is going on here. Lydia takes a seat, but I stay standing in the doorway, staring at my father. He lifts his glass to his lips and drains the rest of the whisky. Then he puts it down on a small table.

“Sit down, James.” It’s an order now, not a request. But I can’t move from the spot. The tension is too much. Something’s happened, I sensed it the moment I walked into the house.

“Where’s Mum?” Lydia asks. Her voice sounds fake, like she’strying to be cheerful, to lift the mood between Dad and me. But she must know that there’s something wrong here.

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