Page 80 of The Rest is History
‘Yeah, thanks. Lovely.’ Elodie makes her way over to her desk and drops her bag. ‘You?’
I clear my throat and raise my eyebrows pointedly at Elodie. Zara’s brow creases in confusion.
Elodie sighs. ‘Zara, I?—’
‘Elodie and I are seeing each other,’ I blurt out. ‘Romantically. Obviously we’ll ensure you don’t feel uncomfortable, Zara. But we don’t want to discuss it. I’m off to see Phil now.’
Elodie’s gorgeous pink mouth twists into ayou just can’t help yourselfsmirk. And God help me, she’s right. The way I’m feeling at the moment, there’s a good chance I break onto the podium at this morning’s upper school assembly, wrench the mic from Phil’s hands and declare my undying love for her in front of hundreds of pimply, judgemental teens.
Zara, meanwhile, is dumbfounded. ‘You two.’ She points an index finger, and it veers between the two of us. ‘You’re dating? I knew it! I fuckingknewit. Didn’t I tell you, Elodie?’
I round on Zara. ‘Tell her what?’
‘That every time her back is turned, you look at her like you want to rail the living daylights out of her.’
My hand slides protectively to the silk at Elodie’s neck. ‘I don’t know whatrailmeans in this context, but I can guess.’
Elodie turns her face up to mine and smiles at me, and holy fuck. I will never tire of this woman’s smile. She is fucking everything. And the way she’s smiling at me, she knowsexactlywhat Zara means.
‘That’s it!’ Zara points at me. ‘That look. I knew you had a thing for her.’
I press my lips together. If I’ve really been giving Elodiethislook all this time, no wonder Zara picked up on my desire.
‘I look at her like she’s a beautiful woman, but I would never have objectified her or wanted to make her feel uncomfortable?—’
They both laugh.
‘Bollocks,’ Zara says. ‘Every woman wants a hot guy to look at her like that. Not that I’m saying you’re hot, Charlie. I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction. And you’re way too uptight for me. All I’m saying is, I called it. I’m totally unsurprised by thisnewsflash, and I’m very happy for you both. So there.’ She gives a little nod.
Well. That was nice of her to say.
‘Thanks, hon,’ Elodie tells her. ‘And I like this week’s nails.’
‘Ta.’
Zara holds her hand out, fingers straight, to admire her manicure. I lean over and peer. Are her nailsstrawberriesthis week? I do believe they are.
‘So this will be cosy, won’t it? The three of us?’ she goes on. ‘Like you’re the parents and I’m the child. Can I call you Mummy and Daddy?’
Elodie sniggers.
‘Call me Daddy even once,’ I annunciate through gritted teeth, ‘and I’ll find a way to have you fired. Got it?’
‘Weird,’ Elodie tells her. ‘He loves it whenIcall him Daddy.’
Zara snorts. I squeeze Elodie’s neck a little more tightly.
‘Maybe we should have a code,’ Zara continues, unbothered by the threat of termination. ‘Like, we could get a Do Not Disturb sign for that door, so I know when you’re banging?’
I am deeply uncomfortable with this conversation.
‘There will be nobanging, as you so crudely put it, on school property. Or any other funny business, for that matter. Elodie and I will be conducting our relationship strictly off the premises.’
Elodie clears her throat meaningfully.
‘Oh, I sense a story,’ Zara says. ‘Bugger off, Charlie, and go talk to Philly Willy. I need a chat with yourgirlfriend.’
ELODIE
