Chapter 41
Fuck…
I’ve done it again.
This tartan bedding isn’t mine. I’d never choose that wallpaper, too floral.
I pat a hand across my body and legs. I’m fully clothed.
I slowly turn around to see who this bed belongs to; I’m greeted with an empty space.
Beer fear consumes me. I lay back and close my eyes, trying to piece together some sort of memory of last night.
I remember being in Stag, something about Jason and…
The door handle clicks open, I’m either about to meet my captor or saviour. Mr Blue Eyes. I must be at his. I remember kissing him. The door opens with such slowness that it tortures me to see who’s on the other side of the door. It’s like the screen going back on an old episode of Blind Date.
‘You better not have been sick on that bedding.’
My vision slowly comes into focus. A man I vaguely recognise is looking at me in pity.
‘I’m Derek’s boyfriend,’ Muscles says. ‘God, you were a bloody mess last night.’
Derek walks through the door. ‘I thought I heard your stirring; I’ve brought you an orange juice, for your blood sugar.’
I take the juice and gulp it back like a thirsty dog, panting when I finish it. I still can’t figure out why I’m here. The open couple read my expression.
‘We brought you back,’ Derek says.
‘Don’t worry we didn’t have sex.’ Muscles drops the words out of his mouth like the very idea disgusts him.
‘You wanted it though,’ Derek says, ‘until you started crying.’
I want to sink into oblivion.
‘Whoever this Olly is, you’ve got it bad for him.’ Muscles is now sat on the end of the bed.
‘I thought I was at someone else’s house.’ Where’s Blue Eyes?
‘You were cornered by some Welsh man who was trying to get you to go back to his. He wouldn’t take no for answer. Paul recognised you from the flight. We couldn’t have left you with him.’
Derek puts his hands on Paul’s shoulder, the man formerly known as Muscles, and places a kiss on his cheek. ‘He’s nothing but a big softy, really. It’s him who insisted we bring you back.’
‘Thank you.’ I try and process this information.
Derek’s laughing. ‘You were begging for a threesome in the cab back.’
‘Oh god.’ The weight of mortification makes my head drop into my hands.
‘Don’t embarrass him, he’s suffering enough.’ Paul is my unlikely defender. ‘You got upset as soon as we got you home. You said Olly should never have taken you to Blackpool if he didn’t like you.’
Derek stands behind Muscles and rubs his shoulders. ‘In my experience, if he liked you, he never would have taken you to Blackpool.’
Muscles slaps Derek’s hands. ‘What did he do that was so bad?’
‘He slept with my ex.’
Derek offers his opinion. ‘You’re better off without him.’
Muscles needs more information before he decides how much he hates Olly. ‘How do you know?’
I look around for my phone. It’s on the side. I swipe away the missed call notifications and new messages and show them both the picture of Olly in bed at Liam’s.
‘I take it your ex is the one in front of the picture and Olly is laying on the bed?’ Muscles asks. I nod. ‘And did he tell you he slept with him?’
‘No, but – ’
‘And did your ex tell you he’d slept with Olly?’
I think back. ‘Not in so many words.’
‘Looks like he’s just passed out to me and your ex is taking a pissed selfie.’ Muscles pats down the bedding.
I rub both hands through my hair, trying to consider this possibility.
‘Why would he go back to my ex’s place though?’
‘It’s just a thought,’ Muscles says, ‘but maybe you could ask him?’
My phone vibrates in my hand.
Derek picks up my empty glass and makes his way out the door. ‘I’m surprised you slept through that ringing; it’s been going off for the last hour.’
I unlock my phone screen. There are messages from the whole Tiny World gang. The last one is from Ivy Walsh.
Ivy Walsh:
Soumia needs you. Where are you?
08:47
I go back to the message home page and tap on a message from Sandra.
Sandra Scandel:
Get to the airport now. Soumia’s hurt
08:23