Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92668 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92668 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“I don’t know. He doesn’t look like he’s trying to pin a murder on you.” Steph eyed them, and I gave in to the urge to turn around and did just that.
I turned around, looking over the back of my chair, and scanned the pub until my gaze locked onto his dark green one.
A little buzz of something—an indiscernible emotion, or perhaps just one I didn’t want to think about—danced down my spine, and I quickly turned back to the girls and grabbed my drink.
“Yeah,” Ash said, picking up her glass with a smirk in my direction. “You’re over it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“I have to know,” Ash said, leaning over towards Steph. “His family were very nice to you. Do they know you were divorcing his stupid bum?”
I glanced between them. Three hours ago, that would have been a bit of a rude question, but now? After… uh… several cocktail jugs between the three of us?
No.
It was just standard drunk girl talk.
Steph shook her head, definitely on the woozier side of vodka. And gin. And rum. “No. He wouldn’t tell them. The smug bastard was sure I’d change my mind and take him back.”
“The smarmy git,” Ash agreed, swaying slightly.
I laughed. “You’re swaying. Woosh. Woosh. Woosh,” I sang, mimicking her movements.
“Youuu shut up,” she said, pointing at me. “Both of you.”
Steph collapsed into giggles as Ash tried and failed to point at the real me. I wasn’t helping matters by rocking side to side like a goon, but I didn’t care. There was also a little part of me that knew sipping away at this drink was a very bad idea, but eh.
I’d call my dad to come and get me.
“What’s so funny?”
I turned at the voice and pointed at Shane. “Heyyy, it’s Shane! Did I tell you that he rescued my vacuum cleaner?”
Steph’s jaw dropped. “No. Where did it go?”
“Nowhere, but it would have. Did you know trolleys have brakes on the wheels at the big shop?”
She stayed there, mouth open, gaping at me. “No. I didn’t know that!”
“I knew that.” Ash cackled, leaning to the side and almost falling over. “Whoopsie.”
Shane cast his gaze over all three of us. “How much have you three had to drink?”
Steph held up two fingers. “Just… Just two.”
“Plus two,” Ash added.
“Plus fourrrrr,” I said, giggling. “Big ones.”
Shane pointed at the jugs, fighting back a smile. “Jugs.”
“It was an accident. Shh,” Steph said, trying to reach up and put her finger over his mouth. “Oopsie.”
“Big oopsie,” I agreed, slurping the last of the drink. “Oh no, it’s gone.”
Ash gasped. “More! I’ll fill it!”
“No,” Shane said. “I don’t think any of you need anymore.”
“I agree,” Noah said, coming up alongside him. “Especially you, Ash.”
I wrinkled my nose up. “Are you still here?”
“It’s a bloody good thing I am. How did you plan to get home?”
“I was going to call my dad. Duhhhh,” I said, wiggling my finger at him. “He can give me a lift home. He got me a lawyer after youuu arrested me.”
“I didn’t arrest you,” Noah said, turning to Ash. “Come on. I’ll take you home and smuggle you in so you don’t wake Mum up.”
“I’m not a child,” Ash said, smacking her lips together. “It’s fine. I can sleep here.”
Steph giggled. “You can’t sleep in the pub!”
“And I think it’s time for you to go home, too,” Shane said, pushing her glass away. “Come on. It’s been a long day, Steph.”
“Oh.” She paused. “Yeah. You’re right. I don’t want anyone to think I don’t care about that lying, cheating bastard being dead.”
Noah looked at her.
“That’s not slander, so don’t you look at me like that. It’s the truth. He was a lying, cheating bastard.”
“I’m not saying anything,” Noah said, miming zipping his lips shut.
Shane sighed. “Come on. Before you get yourself arrested for murder.”
“Hey, you can join my club!” I laughed, leaning back and missing the back of the chair, almost toppling right off it if it weren’t for a pair of hands stopping me.
I peered up.
Noah.
Of course.
“Whoops,” I whispered.
“I’m taking you both home,” Noah said, righting me. “Now.”
“You can’t tell me what to do,” I argued. “You’re not my dad.”
“Fine.” He pulled his phone out, tapped, and held it to his ear.
“You’re in trouble,” Steph said, getting up and grabbing her bag after using Shane for stability.
I waved my hand. “He’s already arrested me once.”
“But I bet that’s not what he wants to do with the handcuffs,” Ash said, giving a devilish grin.
I threw my straw at her.
“Um, I have to go. Whoops,” Steph said, almost falling again. “Lottie, I’ll text you tomorrow.”
I nodded, tipping the water from the melted ice cubes back into my mouth.
“Hey, Paul,” Noah said, staring at me.
I put down my glass, and my eyes widened as I looked at Ash. “He’s on the phone to my dad!”