Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
L ayla was walking home when Evie appeared from the bushland. ‘Jesus, what are you doing?’ Layla asked. ‘I thought you were getting ready for your big night.’
‘Give me a cigarette,’ Evie said, grabbing the packet out of Layla’s hand.
‘What the hell. You can’t have one here. Someone will see you and dob you in to your mother.’
‘I don’t give a shit. Give me the matches.’ Evie lit a cigarette and looked straight into Layla’s wide eyes. ‘That bastard has been lying to me. He’s rooting Geraldine.’
‘Are you fucking crazy? What the hell has got into you.’ Layla grabbed her by the arm, steering her back towards the bushland. Once they were concealed, she lit up a cigarette for herself. They stared at each other, inhaling for a long time before blowing the smoke upwards. ‘Whoever told you that, is lying. He loves you. Everyone knows that.’
‘Well, he’s a lying, cheating bastard. ’
‘Calm down. Tell me how you know.’
Evie bit her lip. ‘I can’t tell you exactly. But someone in his family told me they heard him and Geraldine doing it, and they have sex all the time. Not just once. I can’t tell you any more than that. I’m sworn to secrecy, and you can never tell anyone. Promise me, Layla. You can’t tell a soul.’
‘Of course, I promise. It was his sisters, wasn’t it? Shit, Evie. They wouldn’t lie. They love you.’
Evie started crying, and Layla put her arm around her. ‘What a bastard. Prick. And Geraldine? Fuck.’
‘Yeah, well that’s what they do.’
‘What are you going to say to him?’
‘Say to him? Are you crazy? I’m never talking to him again. He can get fucked.’
‘Are you sure you don’t want to have it out with him? Tell him you know about them?’
‘No. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction. He thought he could have both of us. He’s sleeping with her, and he was about to sleep with me. But not now. I hate him.’
Evie’s stomach churned. She hated him, but on the other hand she was heartbroken. She loved him. She was supposed to be with him for the rest of her life. Her dreams were of a wedding, a house with a little fence, two dogs and three cats. Even kids.’
‘Give me another cigarette,’ she demanded.
‘You just put that one out.’ Layla handed her another one and lit a match, holding it under the smoke as Evie drew in.
‘I’m supposed to meet him tonight, but I just won’t go. I’m going to leave him waiting there for me. I’m never speaking to him again. I hate his guts!’