Page 46 of Behind Frenemy Lines

Kriya: “My ex-boyfriend. He’s dating Hayley’s childhood best friend. Turns out he was dating her for about a year before he broke up with me.”

CG: “Shit.”

Kriya dug around in the tiny bag she was carrying and took out a tissue, dabbing her eyes with it. “I just found out. I was chatting to the new girlfriend and she didn’t realise who I was. I didn’t realise whoshewas, until I saw Tom.” Wiped her eyes. “I feel so stupid. I should have seen it coming. He moved to America last year. We talked about me coming along, but he said, let’s see how it works out first. Guess he wanted to try out his new life before committing.”

Her voice broke. She crumpled the tissue in her hand. “Sorry. You don’t want to hear all this.”

Didn’t know what to say. So I said what I was thinking:

“Those shoes must be uncomfortable to stand around in.”

Kriya blinked. Looked down at her feet. “They’re fine. They’re pretty comfortable, for heels.”

Her toenails were red. Was it creepy to stare at her feet? I’ve got feet, too. My feet aren’t as good, though. Tore my gaze away, to be safe.

CG: “But you could probably do with a break. Do you want to go get a coffee and sit down somewhere?”

Kriya hesitated, glancing at the hotel.

CG: “Not in there. There’s a good café around the corner.”

Kriya gave herself a little shake. “You should be at the wedding. Loretta and her family will be wondering where you are.”

CG: “You’re forgetting Loretta’s family have met me. They’ll assume I’ve holed up in a room to check my emails. That’s what I used to do at all the family gatherings—without the emails. It wasn’t Chinese New Year unless I was off in a corner, hiding from everyone else.”

Kriya laughed. I felt like a superhero.

CG: “It’s only a couple of minutes away. We’ll have a coffee and come back. No one will notice.”

Loretta would probably approve. Stealing Kriya away was definitely what she’d think I should be doing.

After a pause, Kriya nodded.

I turned, but Kriya said: “Wait first.” She produced a packet of wipes from her bag. “Hold still.”

She reached out and smoothed a wet wipe across my mouth.

Froze. Poor old body sat up and begged like a dog.

Kriya was close enough that there was a real risk she might hear my heart trying to hammer its way out of my chest. Her touch was firm as she stroked my lips once, twice. A third time.

Was going to stroke out myself if this went on for much longer. Shied away.

Kriya: “I think I got it all.” Showed me the wipe, smeared with a plummy red. “Thought you wouldn’t want to be seen with lipstick all over your mouth.” She grinned.

CG: “Yes. No. Of course.”

Heart pounding as though I’d been sprinting. Stupid heart.

Caféwas quiet. We sat on a banquette in a narrow back room, with scuffed wooden floors, worn rugs, and tiny coffee tables with hairpin legs. Like having coffee in somebody’s living room, but more uncomfortable.

Wished café had seen fit to have normal tables and chairs. It was awkward perching on one end of the banquette while Kriya perched on the other. Because it was warm and we’d dressed for the weather, we didn’t even have coats to pile up between us.

Was acutely conscious of her: the warmth coming off her skin, the fragrance she was wearing.

It was that fake kiss, that was the problem. Couldn’t unknow what it felt like. Body wanted it to happen again. Brain knew better, of course.

At least the coffee was good. Kriya got a cappuccino, with chocolate on top. I had a black filter coffee.

---