Page 102 of Our Secrets and Lies

Kelly hugged Jenny. ‘Night.’

‘Night, beautiful. Please don’t think badly of me. I’m really sorry and embarrassed that you witnessed that.’

‘Jenny, I think you rock and I always will.’

Jenny kissed her and watched them leave.

‘Well, we certainly won’t forget tonight in a hurry.’ Lucy drank deeply from her wine glass.

‘Go on, tell me what a stupid slutI am and how I ruined Dad’s birthday. I couldn’t feel worse, so go ahead.’

‘Enough has been said tonight.’

‘What are you going to do about Frank being kicked out? Will he move in with you?’ Sarah asked.

Jenny frowned. ‘God, no. I mean, I don’t think so. I doubt it. He said she kicks him out all the time but never for more than a few days, so it should be fine. She always takes him back. Shelikes the money, the house and the lifestyle too much to give it up.’

Lucy’s phone buzzed. It was Damien.Hope your dad’s party going well. Call in on your way home. I’d love to see you.

Lucy was a little drunk, a bit upset about the whole Jenny saga and badly in need of sex. She grabbed her coat. ‘I’ve just had a booty call and I’m going. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.’

Jenny watched hergo, open-mouthed. ‘Well, I didn’t expect that,’ she said, turning to Sarah.

Sarah laughed. ‘You just lost out to Damien, of all people.’

‘I want her to get laid! It might lighten her up,’ Jenny said.

Sarah took Jenny’s arm. ‘Right, come on. You need a drink after that and I need to get out of this tight dress and these shoes. Back to my place. We can chat there.’

‘I’m on.’

Darren was in thekitchen, eating crisps and drinking wine.

‘Interesting night, ladies.’ He grinned at Jenny.

‘Just pour me a big glass of wine, please,’ she growled.

Sarah took off her shoes, then left to change out of her dress.

‘I hope this fella’s worth it,’ Darren commented.

Jenny put her feet up on the kitchen chair opposite her. ‘God, can we please talk about something else, like Lucy? All of thesebloody secrets coming out into the open tonight! Honestly, my head’s spinning.’

‘Ah, so Sarah told you about Tom getting in touch with her,’ Darren said.

Jenny stared at him. ‘What?’

‘Darren!’ Sarah stood frozen at the door in her dressing-gown.

Jenny’s eyes narrowed. ‘Did you just say something about Tom?’

‘No.’ Darren’s face went bright red.

‘He’s drunk, don’t mind him,’ Sarah said.

‘Bullshit. I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.’ Jenny folded her arms over her chest. ‘You know I won’t, so you’d better spill the beans.’

‘Jesus, Darren,’ Sarah hissed.

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