Chapter 15
The temperature and the atmosphere are as high as the music pumping from the portable speaker Amir has brought with him. Olivia has just opened another window because the heat from the fire is making the house feel like a sauna.
“Your go,” Pontus slurs.
He is very drunk again. Olivia knows what he’s like, but she can’t understand why he always has to get into this state. It’s as if Pontus only has two settings: Either he’s sober and barely speaks, or he’s drunk and very hard work.
“Shut up,” she says.
Pontus scowls at her, but she knows he won’t dare start a quarrel. He is no match for her.
They are interrupted by an aggressive banging on the front door. Olivia looks enquiringly at William, who goes into the hallway. The knocking comes again, even harder this time. William opens the door, and they hear a loud voice.
“You need to turn that damned music down! Have you any idea what time it is?”
From her seat Olivia can see a tall man with thinning hair standing in the doorway. He looks ancient, at least seventy, and he is waving his hands around as he shouts at William.
This must be the next-door neighbor. Olivia seems to remember seeing him earlier, when they got back from skiing.
“It’s gone midnight, for God’s sake—people are trying to sleep!”
William mumbles a barely audible apology. The man takes a few steps into the hallway and spots the rest of the group. He registers the bottles on the table and the clothes strewn across the floor because of the game. There is no mistaking the disapproval in his eyes.
“What the hell are you doing?” he yells. “Is this some kind of orgy?”
William opens his mouth, but then Filippa gets to her feet.
She is wearing only her bra, panties, and a camisole.
The game hasn’t gone particularly well for her, she kept choosing consequences, but she seems excited rather than embarrassed.
She really has gone for it tonight, almost as if she is trying to prove something.
“Don’t be cross, Granddad,” she chirrups, dancing over to the old man. “Come on in and play with us!”
He ignores her.
“I’m calling the police if you don’t turn the music down,” he informs William. “I’m serious!”
Filippa is so close now that she is almost rubbing up against the visitor. Then she suddenly pulls up her camisole and bra, exposing both breasts.
Olivia’s jaw drops.
“Is this what you wanted?” Filippa’s tone is teasing. “Is that why you came?”
The man recoils with an expression of disgust. Filippa must be even more drunk than Olivia thought.
“We’re playing Truth or Consequences, come and join us,” Filippa continues, thrusting her breasts forward until they are practically touching the old man.
“Stop that!” he says.
“Stop that!” Filippa imitates him.
Olivia doesn’t know what to do. She has never seen her friend behaving like this; it’s as if she’s turned into a completely different person.
How much has she had to drink? Or has she tried out William’s coke?
The neighbor’s face is getting redder and redder. He looks as if he is about to explode.
Filippa pouts coquettishly at him; then suddenly she reaches out and pinches his cheek, so hard that her fingers leave a red mark on his skin.
“What an old misery you are!”
Then she directs her attention to his crotch.
“Although you do seem to be a little bit interested . . .”
Then everything happens fast.
Filippa’s hand is on its way toward the old man’s cock, but before she gets that far, he gives her a hard shove, and she loses her balance and crashes to the floor.
“What are you doing?” she shrieks, wide eyed with shock. “Are you crazy? You hit me!”
Everyone is staring at the man.
The silence is broken by a howl from Filippa: “Fucking pervert!”
The old man’s mouth is half-open; he quickly backs away. Before anyone has the chance to speak, they hear the sound of the front door slamming behind him.
Olivia is dumbstruck. She doesn’t know what to say; the situation is completely ridiculous. Then Filippa starts giggling—she is still lying on the floor.
“I mean, did you see his face? What a loser!”
“What a fucking loser,” Amir agrees.
He is laughing too. Pontus joins in. Emil is smiling. Only William seems slightly concerned—maybe he is worried in case the neighbor calls his parents?
Filippa is on all fours now. She tries to get up, but it proves impossible. Eventually she grabs hold of Amir, who hauls her back onto the sofa.
Olivia notices him stroking Filippa’s breasts as he helps her. He’s a disgusting creep too, taking advantage of Filippa when she’s drunk. She has to get her friend out of here—she’s never seen her like this. Poor, poor Filippa—she’s going to feel terrible tomorrow when she remembers this.
If she’s trying to impress Amir, she’s going about it the wrong way.
“Shall we call it a night?” she says to Filippa. “I think we should go to bed—we’re going skiing tomorrow.”
She looks around for support, and Emil obligingly yawns. But Filippa ignores her and shuffles closer to Amir, who smiles smugly. Almost as if it’s a competition, and he has just beaten Olivia.
She is so fucking tired of him. Why can’t he help out instead of making things worse? Surely he can see the state that Filippa is in. He can try his luck with her some other time—right now it’s obvious that she doesn’t know what she wants.
Olivia glares at him, but he simply presses closer to Filippa.
“Let’s go!” Olivia says to Filippa, holding out her hand.
But Filippa shakes her head and waves a dismissive hand. “You can’t tell me what to do! I’m staying here.”