Page 16 of The Lottery Win
‘She did. She said I’d have done the same if it was me who’dwon, and she’s right. I would. Being a twin’s a strange thing. It’s like Iwouldn’t be able to enjoy the money if Carrie wasn’t sharing it with me.’
He nods. ‘Yeah, I can see that. But wow, Krystle. That’samazing. What the hell are you going to do with all that money?’ He grins. ‘Orhave you already spent it?’
‘No! Of course I haven’t.’ I grin at him, enjoying hissurprise. ‘It only arrived in my account the other day. I haven’t had time togo shopping – well, not much, anyway.’
A dark cloud blocks out the sun for a moment. I have aflashback to my unnerving encounter with April, handing over the cash and herparting threat.
‘Well, I’m pleased for you, Krystle. Really pleased.’ Hesqueezes my hand and releases it, smiling into my eyes. ‘You deserve it.’
‘Thank you.’ A feeling of sheer happiness suddenly takes meby surprise. Maybe it’s the wine or the excitement of the lottery win, butseeing Ryan tonight has been so unexpectedly lovely. Were we too hasty, endingthings between us the way we did?
He grins. ‘Right. This calls for champagne.’
‘Champagne?’
‘Yes. Why not? Just a glass each. Then you can take me outfor dinner. If you like.’ He gives me a mischievous wink and I laugh and say, ‘Okay,then.’
Sighing, I settle back and watch him at the bar. He keepsturning round and making funny, secret faces at me as he waits for his turn,and my resolve not to get drawn in again are starting to crumble.
Couples make mistakes but get back together. It happens allthe time...
My mobile buzzes with a text and still laughing at Ryan, Ipick it up. It’ll be Carrie. She promised to send me photos of her lusciousdinner at The Buttery. Smiling, I glance at the text on the screen, thinkingmaybe I’ll have photos of my own to send her later... whenI’m having dinner with Ryan at an equally lovely restaurant.
But as I read the message, something doesn’t seem right.
It’s not from Carrie.
And then I realise it isn’t a message for me at all. I’vepicked up Ryan’s phone by mistake. It was lying next to mine on the table. Ireread it in a daze:
How much did you say Krystle got? A million? Trish wantsto know.
I glance at the name of the sender. Themessage is from Tom, Ryan’s best mate, and Trish is Tom’s girlfriend. And whenI scroll back through Ryan’s messages, I see that he first texted Tom aboutCarrie’s win several days ago...
A horrible feeling of betrayal grips me.
So Ryan knew all along about Carrie and me hitting thejackpot. Goodness knows how he found out. The gossip grapevine? I supposethat’s why he ‘just happened’ to get back in touch with me after all this time...
I feel hollow inside. And nauseous. And so very, verystupid.
Why the hell didn’t I take heed of Carrie’s warning?
She was spot-on about Ryan. It kills me to admit it, but shewas...
Ryan’s on his way back now with the drinks, no idea thatI’ve rumbled him. He’s smiling as he hands me my glass of champagne. ‘A toast,’he says, holding up his own glass. ‘To a very special woman, who deserves allthe luck in the world.’
I force a smile. ‘Thank you. I guess you were reallysurprised when I told you Carrie had won the lottery.’
Instead of returning to his seat opposite, he sits down nextto me, shuffling his chair closer so that our thighs are touching. ‘You couldhave knocked me down with a feather.’ He smiles into my eyes.
‘Funny. I’d have thought the village gossip grapevine wouldhave kicked into action almost immediately. But you never knew about it until Itold you?’
He shakes his head but his eyes are shifty. I grab my glassand swig down half the champagne in one go, forgetting it’s not wine. Thebubbles rush up my nose and fill my throat, and my resulting coughing fitattracts surprised looks from the guys on the next table and has Ryan leapingup in alarm and bashing me on the back.
At last, feeling almost normal again, I wheeze in disbelief,‘So you’re saying you didn’t know a thing about the lottery win?’
‘Hadn’t a clue until you told me just now. Are you sureyou’re okay? Your face has gone bright red.’
‘Yes. Because I almost died just then, or didn’t you noticeme gasping for breath?’ I snap.
