Page 45 of Behind Frenemy Lines

But was that true? Wouldn’t want to see just anyone. But if it were Kriya, it might be all right if she came and said the right thing to me.

No point arguing with myself. I wasn’t about to return to the hotel to knock back champagne with the cosplayers while Kriya was out here, upset.

CG: “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Kriya started. Looked up and saw me. Shook her head.

She was struggling to speak. Opened my mouth to say,It’s all right, don’t worry about it, let’s get you inside,when I heard someone shout:

“Kriya!”

Guy had come out of the hotel. Looked like a wedding guest—in a suit, face vaguely familiar. Kriya couldn’t see him from where she was standing, but she stiffened at the sound of his voice.

Kriya: “It’s Tom.” Panicky, like a cornered animal, the whites of her eyes showing. “I can’t let him see me, I’m a mess. What do I do?”

Kriya was shielded for now, but the guy—Tom—would see her if he came this way, and there were only two directions to choose from. He’d definitely spot her if she tried to leg it.

Could see him addressing the attendant. Attendant looked torn, couldn’t help glancing in our direction. Tom caught the look and started over.

CG: “He’s coming this way.” Could I step out and misdirecthim? What would I even say?Nothing to see here, guv, move along now—

Kriya, in a strange, urgent voice: “Charles, can I kiss you?”

My head whipped around. “What?”

She put her arms around me and pressed her lips to mine.

Kriya’s lips were soft, slightly tacky from her lipstick. Her hair grazed my face, ticklish.

It wasn’t a real kiss, or a real embrace. Kriya wasn’t doing anything with her mouth other than resting it against mine. She was holding her body away from me, the way one does when colleagues from overseas offices insist on hugs. Or worse, air kisses.

But Kriya wasn’t one of those colleagues, none of whom I’d wanted that close to me. I didn’t mind it with Kriya.

“Didn’t mind it” was understating it. My body didn’t know the kiss wasn’t real, and it was extremely excited about this development. And the smell of Kriya’s hair, and her breath on my face, and the flutter of her eyelashes against her cheek.

Despite the distance between us, I could feel her trembling, very slightly. Cooled me down a bit. I patted her on the back, gingerly.

Kriya laughed against my mouth. Sounded more like a sob than I would have liked, but when she pulled away she was smiling, though tremulously.

She whispered: “Is he still there?”

I could hear footsteps retreating away from us. Sneaked a look out of the alcove. Tom was disappearing through the revolving door. The attendant stood by, stone-faced.

CG: “He’s going back into the hotel.”

Kriya: “Thank God.” She collapsed against the wooden doors. “I’m sorry for lunging at you. I couldn’t face talking to him. It was the only thing I could think of.”

Nodded, mute.

Kriya looked at me, concerned. “Are you all right? I’m really sorry.”

CG: “There’s no need to apologise. It’s fine. I understand why you did it.”

Good idea, really. Don’t know why it didn’t occur to me.

Realised I was staring at Kriya’s mouth. Adjusted my gaze, fixing it on a point two inches above her left shoulder.

CG: “Who was that guy?”

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