Page 166 of Vying Girls
‘Yeah, but they’re making an exception for us.’
I don’t ask why. I don’t want to hear it.
‘Okay,’ I say quietly. ‘Quick as I can, okay?’
I wait for her to hang up, my eyes falling closed with the exhaustion of it all, the break that never seems to last long enough for everything inside to recover.
Tilda tightens her arms, not saying anything, just giving me a minute.
I toss my phone onto the bed with a sigh. ‘Well, shit.’
‘They’re closing the ferry tonight,’ Tilda murmurs.
‘What?’
‘Because of the weather.’
‘Shit.’ I retrieve my phone. Tilda sits beside me, head on my shoulder, as I find the app that provides ferry updates. ‘Yeah. Last one today in about half an hour. Except for emergencies.’ I tug at my hair mindlessly, staring at the blinking ferry icon on the screen. ‘Would this count as an emergency?’
Tilda stands up. ‘We can make it. Come on.’
‘No, babe. You don’t have to.’
She just folds her arms, staring at me in silence. I feel my nose stinging at the memory of another time she did this, offering her support so unwaveringly.
I stand up sluggishly. ‘Alright. What about Nic?’
‘Haz can deal with her. Her mess.’ She glances at the door just as Haz walks in. ‘We’re getting the ferry in a mo. Elly’s grandad…’ She trails off, looking at me.
‘He’s in hospital,’ I supply. ‘Kinda bad but hopefully it’ll be fine. But we gotta go now.’
Haz nods. ‘Fine. Sorry, man, that sucks. But yeah, I’ll deal with Nic. I’ll keep trying her phone. Fuck going out again.’ She pulls Tilda in, giving her a kiss, then claps me on the shoulder. ‘Go on. I’ll hold down the fort.’
CHAPTER 28
Haz
Fucking hate it in the lodge alone. It’s too quiet, too weird. It’s been fucking days now.
I don’t even take my shoes off as I fall over the sofa, feet dangling off the arm of it. Nic would hate it, the thought filling me with an evil thrum of satisfaction.
Fuck her for making Tilda worry. Fuck her for makingmeworry. And Elly, too, with all the shit she’s got going on at home.
Things seem to have taken a turn for the worst after a brief spell of hope. They manage to fix whatever was going on with her grandad’s bowel, but I think it’s reoccurred again. He’s still in the hospital and to hear Tilda talk about it, it’s unlikely he’ll ever leave.
There’s not long until our project’s due. Can’t be helped, but this really has all come at the worst time. I’m doing my best, but it’s a lot of work, and I’m definitely the weakest link of the group. But whatever. I’ll keep plugging. Least I can fucking do just waiting here. Nothing but fucking waiting.
It’s about six o’clock now. They’ll probably still be up at the hospital, but I try Tilda anyway.
She picks up just as I’m about to hang up.
‘Hey.’
‘Hey, beautiful.’ I press the phone tight to my ear, just the sound of her voice chilling me out. ‘How are things?’
She exhales a long sigh. ‘Kind of fucking awful.’
With a wince, I sit up, leaning my elbows on my knees. ‘Yeah? No progress?’
