Page 68 of Fix Them Up
I nodded, pouting. ‘You’re just greedy.’
Lydia laughed, a dirty deep laugh, ‘Oh yeah, greedy and a bit of a slag too.’
I laughed, aware that if anyone took this out of the context, we would definitely be cancelled.
‘You should ask her out if you like her,’ I said, lifting the mug to my lips. The first sip was the perfect mix of bitter coffee, followed by the sweetness of the caramel syrup. It was what I needed for this hangover. Lydia waved to a table of four smiling older ladies decked out in garishly patterned athleisure. Their workout clothes looked more expensive than a month’s rent in London.
‘I might do.’ Lydia nodded, glancing over at Casey again. ‘So…’ Lydia’s face was uncharacteristically serious.
‘What?’ I asked, panic rising in my throat.
‘On the topic of romance. I should mention a new… development.’
‘What?’ Panic rose in my voice.
‘You and Liam. People have noticed some tension between the two of you.’
I felt my face going red. Had Lydia found out about the stupid kiss? Had Liam told Yasmin, probably laughing it off, and now everyone knew? Or was I that transparent? Was everyone talking about my stupid crush?
‘There is no tension.’ My breezy voice sounded like I was constipated.
‘Well, you bicker a lot.’
‘Yeah, we bicker.’ I shrugged. ‘He sometimes rubs me up the wrong way. That’s all.’
I didn’t mention I wouldn’t have been totally against him rubbing me up the right way…
‘I guess people are… reading into it. Everyone seems to have noticed your energy.’ Lydia grinned. ‘You stare at each other a lot. And Liam signed up to help you, with barely any complaints. He helps out but usually makes people work a bit harder than that. He stood up and volunteered in front ofeveryone. That’s as close as Liam would get to a confession of love. He always moans about extra work, even if he does it eventually.’
‘Cut to the chase, Lyd.’
‘They’re taking bets if you’ll end up together or not.’ Lydia blurted, then squeezed her eyes closed, like a bomb was about to detonate.
‘Who arethey?’ I hissed.
‘Some people at the club did a whip-round. Then word got around. They were feral when you got upset about your dad’s plans – everyone said they’d never seen Liam react like that. Apparently, once he saw you crying, he became possessed.’
My body heated up when I thought about the heat of Liam’s palm on my back as he guided me to the terrace garden.
‘He was just being nice.’
‘Sure, Liam is a softie, deep down. But he’s usually a bit more subtle with it. This was something else.’
If word got out about that stupid drunken kiss, it wouldn’t just line pockets – it would raise their hopes. I’d end up the town pariah when I returned to London, leaving their golden boy, Liam, in the lurch. Everyone adored him. They’d take his side, and I’d never be welcome back.
And I realised I’d really like to be welcomed back.
‘If I tell you something, you promise not to tell anyone?’ I asked, meeting Lydia’s eyes, the mirror of mine.
She frowned. ‘Sure.’
‘I kissed Liam,’ I announced, cringing. Lydia’s jaw dropped. ‘It was a silly drunken mistake – my drunken mistake. He was horrified, and I am very, very embarrassed. So I guess I’m saying that Liam and I aren’t going to happen. No chance.’
Lydia scratched her arm. ‘That doesn’t make sense.’
‘Trust me, it makes perfect sense. Besides, he still has a thing with his ex,’ I said casually.
I was not fishing for information at all.
