Page 18 of Fake Rocks
I watched them go, checking the time. It was close to one thirty in the morning. I winced, Uncle Col would be at the house shortly after eight. At least I could simply roll out of bed and into work.
Barney prodded me with one of his long fingers. “You,” he mumbled. “I don’t remember you at all from uni. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before this evening. So howdoyou know Saff?”
Turning my glass around in my hands, I pondered how to answer his question. Different courses? Different year? I couldn’t go with different college. Or could I? I chewed the inside of my cheek, thinking that might be the way to go.
“Tris!” Darren’s voice travelled over the ambient music. “I need you. Saff’s been sick.”
Great. Now I had to deal with a vomiting pretend girlfriend. I hoped Jonas had included danger money in the contract.
Following Darren outside, we found Saff sitting on the picnic bench, bent over, her head resting on her knees, a puddle of puke on the concrete by her feet. I sat down beside her, rubbing her back.
“You okay?” I asked.
My question was met with a dry retch and coughing.Nice.
“I think it’s time we went home, don’t you?”
She sat up suddenly, almost losing her balance and falling off the seat. “You’re so good to me. And you don’t have to be.”
Darren’s brow furrowed. “Saff, of course he’s going to look after you. He’s your boyfriend.”
“Course he is! How could I forget that?!” She leaned toward me, as if she were going to kiss me.
“Er, I don’t think so. Let’s get you home, then see what happens.” I turned to Darren. “Keep her upright until I get back. I’ll get her coat and bag.”
I went back inside the pub and got Saff’s things, as well as my own. Darren had kept up his end of the bargain, propping Saff up while they waited.
“Shit, I should have ordered a taxi,” I said, reaching into my pocket for my phone.
“Looks like your luck is in.” Darren nudged me and pointed in the direction of the house opposite where a black cab was dropping someone off.
I scampered off to secure it, while Darren brought Saff after me. “Thanks, Darren. I owe you one.”
He shrugged. “Nothing I don’t usually do at the end of an evening out. Nice to see she’s actually going home with someone half decent tonight, though.” He held out his hand. “Good to meet you, mate. Hope to see you again.”
“You too.” I wrestled Saff into the backseat of the cab, giving the cabbie the address as Darren went back into the pub.
While he drove, I examined Saff, who was slumped against me, snoring gently. Hearing what Darren said made me worry for her. How many times had she headed off with someone totally unsuitable? How had she managed to stay out of trouble? If she had, of course. I pushed a strand of pink hair away from her face. She was totally oblivious to my touch, twitching slightly as my fingertips caressed her skin.
The sudden braking of the taxi woke her as we pulled up outside her house.
“Are we home already?” she whispered, her voice hoarse I imagined from the singing, smoking and being sick.
I thrust some money at the driver and helped Saff out. I hoped Jonas wasn’t there. It didn’t feel as if I would be making the best impression getting his half-pissed, half-stoned cousin home at after two in the morning.
Saff dropped her bag so many times it took her three attempts to find her keys. I had to keep her propped up against me as I unlocked the door and let us inside. The house was in darkness. I almost felt like a burglar. We stumbled up the stairs, and I noted Jonas’ door was open. Holding my breath, I got Saff up the next flight of steps to her room without any further incident. She fell down onto the bed, face first.
“Oh, no you don’t.” I turned her over, unzipping her boots and pulling them from her feet. The rational part of my brain told me to simply put her under the covers and leave her to sleep. But the other part won out and I carefully unbuttoned her leather jeans, and tugged them gently down her legs and off, before lifting her shirt up and tossing it on the floor with the rest of her things.
Honestly, I tried really hard not to check her out, not to examine the tattoos on her skin, not to admire her curvy body in vibrant cerise underwear.
I tried and failed.
She was exquisite. One of the most beautiful women I had ever seen.
This pretence was already killing me and we were only one day into this sham.
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