Page 118 of The Grosvenor's Ghost
“Fuck you,” Connie spits at Arthur before pushing his chair back and storming off.
“Well that went down like a sack of spuds,” Athena says, sipping on her champagne.
“But we all knew, right?” Arthur nods at us.
“Oh, yeah,” I nod right back. “I don’t know when it started but the second they moved in together I knew full well they were sleeping together.”
“Who’s sleeping together?” Astrid smiles, sitting back down, her face quickly falls. “Where did the other two disappear off to?”
“Probably having sex,” George mutters behind his hand.
Athena thumps him on the arm.
“Oh,” Astrid clears her throat. “Well…anyone want to play cards?”
“We can’t play with them,” I shake my head, nod at the twins. “They’re pathological cheaters.”
Astrid raises her eyebrows, smiles, and I can feel her awkwardness from here. Maybe we should go? Maybe I should wait for someone else to leave and then go with them? Will Arthur stay?
“Right,” George slaps his knees, stands up. “Best be off now, getting late.” He glances at his watch.
Albie and Athena go with him after saying bye to Astrid and she looks mildly pleased.
I stand up too, look over at Arthur.
“You coming, mate?” George asks, fake yawns.
His eyes go to mine but I’m not sure why.
I’m not going to tell him what to do.
But he knows exactly what I want him to do.
Astrid flicks her gaze between George, Arthur and me.
“I’m heading back,” I offer up.
Arthur nods. “I might stay for a bit, I’m not that tired.”
“Alright, then,” George says slowly, turning around.
I stay there for a second, hoping for a fake yawn or stretch and for him to change his mind.
“Do you want to stay for another drink?” Astrid offers awkwardly, already getting out of her seat.
“No,” I wave my hand at her, frown. “It’s okay. I’m tired.”
“You sure?” Arthur looks up at me.
I swallow, force myself to shake my head. “No, I’m going to go back now.”
“Oh, okay,” Astrid gives me a small nod and smile.
I turn on my heel and walk as quickly as I possibly can off her boat, leaving behind Arthur and any hope I had.
I’m not sure why I feel obligated to have Arthur all to myself. We’re not dating. It isn’t in my rights to feel the way I do but I can’t help it.
With every step I take, I feel that rope stretching. The one that pours out of my heart and tangles with the one stretching out of Arthurs. It makes it hard to breathe. I’ve wondered many times how to sever it. How to pull it away from Arthur’s and hand it over to Digby but everytime I try to, I realise that actually, I don’t want to.
