‘We’re getting there.’
I smile, delighted by this news. It can mean only one thing. ‘I’m glad. Have you got your van?’
‘Yes. You want me to take you somewhere?’
‘Yes, I do.’ I smile and snuggle deeper into his chest. I’m not going with Ted. ‘Can we go to the bistro, please?’
Chapter 9
Gregory’s phone starts ringing as he pulls up around the corner from the bistro, and he lifts his arse from his seat to rummage through the pocket of his trousers as I open the door.
‘I’ll call you later,’ I say, leaning across to peck his cheek. He frowns down at the display. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘Hold up.’ He signals for me to wait a moment by holding up one finger as he answers. ‘Hello.’ Relaxing back in my seat, my hand resting on the handle of the open door, I watch as he listens intently for a few seconds. Then he seems to shrink into his seat. ‘She’s with me.’
I cringe, wince, and grit my teeth all at once, then instinctively dive from the van and shut the door, my feet working fast to carry me across the road. I should have anticipated a search party after leaving Ted waiting for me at the hospital and ignoring numerous calls from Miller and William.
‘Olivia!’ Gregory shouts.
I pivot when I’m safely on the other side of the road, seeing him shaking his head at me. I shrug guiltily, but only because I neglected to advise Gregory that Ted was waiting for me under William’s instruction. I didn’t intentionally drag him into the centre of locking horns.
Raising my hand in a little wave, I turn my back on my friend and slip down a side street that’ll take me to the bistro. But I’m cringing all over again when my fancy iPhone starts chiming “I’m Sexy and I Know It” from my satchel. ‘Damn,’ I mutter, pulling it out, howling on the inside at my choice of ringtone for my best friend.
‘Gregory,’ I say, maintaining my determined stride.
‘You devious sod!’
I laugh and check the traffic before crossing the road. ‘I’m not devious. I just didn’t tell you I had a driver for the day.’
‘Damn it, Olivia! William isn’t happy, and I’ve just had Mr Screw-Loose call me, too.’
‘Miller?’ I don’t know why I asked. Who else could Mr Screw-Loose be?
‘Yes. Jesus, baby girl! When did being your friend become a hazardous job? I fear for my spine, my bones . . . my fucking pretty face!’
‘Chill out, Gregory.’ I jump when a car horn honks at me and put my hand up in apology as I make it to the pavement. ‘I’ll check in with them both now.’
‘Make sure you do,’ he grunts.
This is ridiculous, and I’m now weighing up the lesser of two evils. My self-inflicted solitary life was a little stifling but far easier to deal with, as it was me, myself, and I who controlled the reins. No one else. I feel like Miller awakened me, set me free, just like he’s said, yet now he’s trying to take away that sense of freedom, and I’m beginning to resent him for it. Gregory’s supposed to be on my side. I’ll be damned if they’re dragging my best friend over to the dark side. ‘Whose friend are you?’
‘Huh?’
‘You heard me. Whose friend are you? Or have you and William become bosom buddies since I’ve been away?’
‘Funny, baby girl. Very funny.’
‘I’m not trying to be funny. Answer the question.’
There’s a brief pause followed by a long pull of breath. ‘Yours,’ he says as he exhales.
‘I’m glad we’ve cleared that up.’ I frown as I hang up on Gregory, then check left and right before I cross the road to the bistro. My steps are light across the tarmac, almost skipping as I come closer to my place of work. I’m smiling, too.
‘Olivia!’
The bellow, laced with dread, has me stopping in the middle of the road and swinging around. I hear car horns and more shouts of horror.
‘Olivia! Move!’
I’m confused, looking around frantically, trying to figure out where and what the commotion is. It’s then I see a black four-wheel drive coming at me. Fast. My mind is giving me all of the right instructions.
Move!
Run!
Get out of the way!
But my body is ignoring each and every one of them. They’re in shock. I’m frozen. A sitting target.
All of the sound around me is drowned out by the repeated demands in my mind. The only thing I’m focused on is that car coming closer and closer and closer.
The screeching of tyres is what finally yanks me from my trance, then the pounding footsteps on tarmac. I’m rugby-tackled from the side and sent crashing down to the pavement. I’m stunned back to life by the impact, but my landing is soft. I’m disoriented. Confused. Then I’m suddenly moving, but not by my own volition, and I’m soon sitting up with Ted crouching in front of me. Where did he come from? I left him at the hospital.
‘You’re gonna get me sacked, girl,’ he says, scanning my face quickly before checking my body for injuries. ‘Fuck’s sake,’ he grumbles, helping me up.
‘I’m . . . sorry,’ I stammer over my words, totally shaken, while Ted brushes me down with constant huffs and puffs of irritation. ‘I didn’t see the car.’
‘You weren’t supposed to,’ he mutters quietly, but I heard him loud and clear.
‘Did someone purposely try to run me down?’ I ask, dazed and motionless before him.
‘Maybe a little warning, but let’s not jump to conclusions. Where are you going?’