“Go on then,” I retorted, twisting my body to him. Facing him full frontal, chin up, battle ready. “Fucking speak.”
“I met her because she set an ultimatum. Remember?”
“I don’t,” I said sulkily, folding my arms and hating myself. “I really don’t.”
“Don’t do this.”
“What?”
He shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t know what this is.”
“She asked you out on a date to give me the space and equipment to film,” I replied. “But you did that two days ago, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
I pushed the door open. “So, you must like her, you agreed to a second date. Great. Congratulations. I hope you’ll be really happy together.” He reached for me and I pulled away, shooing him. “I’m fine. It’s fine. Go and have fun.”
“Let me explain,” he said.
“No need. Really. I’m happy for you. This is fantastic news. Stacey’s found love and…now you. I’ll buy myself two bridesmaid dresses, or maybe you’ll have the same colour scheme as Stace, and I can save some cash. That’s an idea. I’ll suggest it to her right now.”
“Why are you talking like this?” he asked, frustration laced through his voice. He reached for me again and as I pulled away, unable to take his touch I fell backwards and balanced on the first step of the staircase that led up to the flat. Sitting up, I tried to get my dignity back. A backbone. Something. I pushed the hair out of my eyes and leant back on my elbows.
“I hope you’ll be happy.” I stood up, afraid to say anymore in case I lost myself completely, spread out the truth and made everything twice as worse. I looked up the staircase and started laughing, a low rumble that was more despair than humour. “Matt’s up there,” I said, pointing up. “If I’m really lucky they’ll have finished shagging for the night, and I might get some sleep without wondering if the walls are going to collapse.”
“Skye–”
“Oh, no, don’t worry about me.” I started climbing up on all fours. “It’s fine. It only highlights how very single I am.”
“Don’t you see this? Don’t you see what’s happening here?” I looked behind me. His eyes narrowed and he quickly ran his hands through his hair. I, however, watched him like he was a hand grenade after the pin had been pulled. “Come down,” he sighed, gesturing with his hands. “Talk to me.”
“I don’t need to do the talky thing,” I replied, squeezing my eyes shut as I turned away from him.
“I do,” he said, folding his arms. “I really do.”
Staring up at the flat door and biting my lip, I ignored him, deciding this was the best course of action when I had a head full of what the fucks to sort through. “I think I’m going to have a bath and ask Stace if she fancies a Netflix marathon.” He went to speak, but I continued. “Have you seen the cat one? Crazy.”
“I need to tell you something,” he shouted from the bottom.
“You don’t need to tell me anything.”
“Stace and Matt are coming with us.”
I stopped. Hands on the next step, knees below. I could hear shallow breaths, the rush of blood whooshing through my ears. “I knew they were going and I asked if we could–”
“Double date,” I interrupted robotically.
He didn’t reply.
He didn’t say anything.
I could hear the shuffle of his feet.
Now my hurt transferred to someone else. I saw Stacey as I closed my eyes and let my mind wander, Will dancing next to her with a slow-dancing Margot wafting her best assets in front of his face. The hurt swirled and grew and changed into anger. Red mist. Clenched fists. I hauled myself up the next step, somehow getting to the top with my knees burning and a newfound desire to hunt down my best friend of the female variety.
“Have a great night,” I shouted down to Will as I pushed the door open with my fingers. Faint music danced around the living room, the place that was once my safe space now only held the voices of my betrayer, Stacey Clifton.
“You!” I slurred as I saw her standing in the kitchen.
“Hey, fancy a cuppa?”
“Don’t you dare offer me a cuppa with your friendly voice and your sunny smile.” I pulled myself up from the floor and pointed at her. “Judas!” Stacey came through to the living room and that sunny smile dropped. “How could you do this to me?”
“What?” she asked, looking genuinely concerned.
“Facilitate!”
“What are you talking about?” she asked. “Come here.” She held her arms out and I snarled at her. What the hell was happening? “Did you just snarl at me?” I smoothed my hair back and tried to regain my composure, realising quickly that Stacey knew nothing about my feelings for Will and I was coming across as a goddamned crazy person. I wasn’t going to lose my cool now. I’d already done it crawling up the stairs. I hadn’t even thought about the fact that I was wearing a leather mini skirt. Will would have copped an eyeful.
Not that he cared.
“Where are you going tonight?” I wiggled my fingers silently asking her to speak. “Words would help here, Ms Clifton.”
“Erm, some new club that Matt wanted to go to,” she replied before clapping her hands together. “Oh Christ, is this what it’s about? Because I didn’t ask you?”
“Yes. Yes, it is.” I nodded my head dramatically, reaching for the opportunity she’d given me to explain why I’d snarled at her without breaking into sobs and admitting I was in love with my best friend.
And he was going on a second date.
“Skye, I would have asked you to come, but I haven’t really seen you these past few days.” She laughed to herself before fanning her face. “We’ve been a little bit…indisposed.”
“You’ve been fucking like rabbits and have barely left your room.”
“I’m sorry.”
“How are you going to make it up to me?” I asked, cupping my ear and raising an eyebrow. Reggie, Stacey’s bulldog plodded over and sat on my foot. Yes. Clarity. I needed a plan. I needed…
A man.
Yes!
I could get over my crush by getting under an ex. A cure for my sex drought that was obviously causing the malfunction in my brain telling me I wanted to climb Will like a tree!
“You know I’d love you to come,” Stacey said breaking my thoughts. She was on the floor trying to entice Reggie with a dog treat. Bloody hell, I didn’t realise how heavy he was until he sat on my big toe. “In fact, I need you to come. Will’s bringing someone with him and although you know I can talk to anyone, it would be great to have a wing woman.” Matt came through and slumped on the sofa. Reggie got up and bounded next to him. It seemed like he had a new best friend. I tried not to take it personally but, crap, I was having a pretty bad night. Abandonment all around.
“Skye’s coming with us.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “You’re going to be the filling in a double date sandwich.”
My heart sank again and suddenly my skirt felt three sizes too small. Shit. No one wanted to be the filling in a double date sandwich, especially if the sandwich was a deluxe meatball foot-long with extra cheese that you’ve been fantasizing about for years. I needed to act fast and bring my plan to life. I had to harden the edges that were softened through love, hope and exasperation.