Page 63 of Behind Frenemy Lines

Loretta: “That’s fine! Don’t stress out about it. It’s an excuse to buy more stuff while we’re here. We’re going to Ikebukuro today. We can stock up. I should go. You’ll want to go to sleep, or something.” Waggled her eyebrows.

CG: “Wait, Loretta—”

Loretta: “We mustn’t cramp your style. Are you wearing something nice?” Peered at me. “Babe, what’s sexy for guys to wear?”

Hayley, off-screen: “Women’s lingerie!”

Loretta: “True, but Charles isn’t going to go for that.” To me: “At least you’re not wearing your stripy pyjamas. Those make you look five years old.”

CG: “But what were you saying earlier, about being drunk at the wedding? What did you do?”

Loretta: “I said don’t worry about it. I’ll tell you when I get back. It’s no big deal. Have fun!” Winked meaningfully.

Hayley: “Bye, Charles!”

Call ended. Sat there gaping at my phone.

Loretta rejected the call when I tried ringing her back. She messaged:

Go to sleep, or whatever. It’s fine! I’ll tell you some other time

We’re going out now

She added an emoji of winged dollar bills in flight.

I texted:What were you on about? Did you say something to Kriya?

But Loretta didn’t answer, even though I could see from the double blue tick that she’d read my messages.

Turned off the lamp and flung myself back on the bed.

First thing I did when I woke up was grope for my phone. But there was nothing from Loretta. I wasn’t going to find out whatterrible thing she’d done at the wedding until she was back in the country, probably.

Almost certainly something to do with Kriya. The lack of denials in response to my question was damning.

Rubbed my temples. It was eight a.m. Could have done with another hour of sleep. But I had promised Kriya to clear out before her party. Best to get on with it.

Rolled out of bed, located my shirt, underwear, and trousers, and put them on. Folded Kriya’s dad’s clothes and put them on the coffee table Kriya had pushed into a corner to make space for the sofa bed. Then I stripped the bed and had a go at collapsing it so I could put the sofa cushions back on.

Wouldn’t collapse. I was struggling with it, trying to be quiet, when there was a knock at the door.

Kriya put her head round the door. “You all right?”

CG: “Sorry. Did I wake you?”

Kriya: “Yes, but it’s OK, I wanted to get up to tidy anyway. Don’t worry about the sofa, it’s a bit stiff. I’ll sort it out later. Can I come in?”

CG: “Of course. It’s your flat.”

She was in the flowy dress she’d worn to bed the night before. And presumably still not wearing a bra.

Strangely intimate, seeing her like this. Was consciously keeping my eyes averted, but somehow I’d managed to absorb a complete impression of early-morning Kriya, regardless. Soft, bright-eyed, stray curls escaping from her ponytail to frame her face. Her skin would be warm from sleep if I touched her.

Kriya was getting a mug out of a cupboard. Said: “Do you want coffee?”

Obviously I wasn’t going to touch her.Get a grip, Charles.

CG: “Yes. Thanks.”

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