Page 23 of The Layover
Offence might be the best defence here, so I settle for saying to Gemma, ‘Maybe it upset Leon because you called his sister a bitch.’
She shows all her teeth now. ‘I didn’t hear you disagreeing.’
‘You caught me off guard, is all.’
‘Please. Webothknow she’s a bitch. If he wants to stick his head in the sand …’ She holds her palms up in surrender. ‘Anyway, it’s obviously notmehe’s angry at. Cut the tension between you two with aknife, my God. It’s like you were two seconds away from either mauling each other with your bare hands or fucking.’
I choke on my inhale, my cheeks heating. ‘That isnot—’
Gemma laughs. This one sounds less pretty than before, more brash – more sincere. ‘I’m just kidding. That poor boy … Oh, he’s a missionary man. Right? You see it.’
‘Um …’
I have no idea how we got here, but I do know I’d like to steer the conversation anywhere else.
Gemma must sense that and take pity because she leans in a bit closer, eyes sparkling with childlike mischief, and she folds her hands under her chin. ‘So? Whatdidyou say to piss him off? What’s he got against you so bad? I’ve never seen him this riled up.’
‘I … didn’t, really.’ It’s not exactly reassuring to hear that thisisn’tnormal for him, though, and therefore must be to do with me. ‘I just – I got a text from Marcus. He was weird about it.’
‘Why?’ Then she gasps, and jokes, ‘Was it a dick pic? I’m not being funny, but I’d be pretty mad if I saw my brother-in-law’s dick, too. And they never look very good in photos, do they? Like, I’ve neverlookedat a dick pic and thought,Wow, that’s attractive, consider me turned on. Have you?’
‘Uh … n-no.’
‘Women just photograph so muchbetter. And I’m not saying I don’t love a good penis, but they’re ugly things, sometimes, aren’t they?’
An awkward smile cracks my mouth. ‘Kind of, yeah. But, um, that wasn’t … I mean, it wasn’t anything like that. From Marcus. He was just saying it was a shame I was stuck here. Well, that I wouldn’t make it for drinks with everyone after dinner tonight. Not that it’s a shame I’m stuck here withyouguys, of course, but …’
‘Let’s see.’
‘Um.’ I seem to be only capable of stuttering and stammering in the face of Gemma’s unabashed confidence. I feel like abumbling idiot, while she’s a queen of self-assuredness. She’s even holding her palm out, ready and waiting for my phone.
It’s so invasive that I’m too shocked to be outraged. Doesshesuspect something of me, like Leon? She will, if I refuse to show her the text.
Left with no other choice, I unlock my phone, which is still open to our texts, and hand it over.
Gemma takes it delicately, finger poised above the screen as she reads.
There’s nothing incriminating.
It really is just a text.
Hey babe, just catching up properly on this now! That SUCKS, I’m so sorry you got caught in the weather. Grr! Fingers crossed you make it sooner than later – won’t be the same without you. I was counting on you being here to kick Tony’s arse at pool with me, lol! We’ll have an extra shot for you. Keep me posted about the flight, yeah? Safe travels and can’t wait to see you tomorrow! xx
Gemma reads it at least twice, then scrolls further up the chat. I swallow down the noise of indignation and protest that rises in my throat, and fight to keep my hands from snatching my phone back.
I know what she’ll see. Me letting him know about something that happened at work that he would’ve found funny (he did laugh-react); me wishing him a nice few days in Spain ahead of the wedding and him sending back a selfie giving a thumbs-up at the camera from next to the pool, beneath a big straw parasol.
There’s nothing tosee.
Not unless you go looking. Not unless you’re reading between the lines, and thinking about how he’s sent me a shirtless selfiehe didn’t reallyneedto send but obviouslywantedme to see, or thinking about the two kisses on the end of his text, or the in-jokes and tongue-out winky-face emojis sprinkled throughout, or …
On the surface, it really is just a friendly chat. Something that, if Kayleigh saw, he’d be able to say,No, don’t be silly, there’s nothing going on, that’s just how I talk …
But Gemma’s not an idiot, and I know she must be seeing all the things I see.
The same things I can’t tell my friends about, because they know Marcus is engaged andIpretend it’s all just friendly chat to them … And the same things I screenshot and send to my sister to eagerly dissect, knowing there’s a flirty edge to them.
Gemma hands the phone back to me.
