Page 46 of Worth Every Penny
“And your annual”—Elly makes finger quotes—“‘family dinner’ tonight.” She grins, taking an infuriating delight in my misery.
“You can’t drive like this,” Marie says. “I won’t allow it.”
“I can. I’m fine. I drove hungover in my early twenties all the time.”
“I bet you were over the limit then too,” Marie continues. “But now that we’re all responsible adults—”
Elly giggles, cutting Marie off, and at the same moment, my phone rings.
The contactMassively Hot Nicoflashes on the screen.
My body goes hot, then numb, then pins and needles prickle me all over. I didn’t even realise I still had his number. That’s how I saved it in there a decade ago. I stare at the phone like it’s about to explode.
“Does that say what I think it does?” Marie asks, staring at the screen.
“Yes,” I say. “Don’t answer it.”
Elly grins and presses the button to answer the call, quickly putting it on speaker before leaving the handset in the middle of the table.
“Bitch,” I mouth.
“Kate?” Nico’s voice is so cold I’m surprised frost doesn’t spread across the kitchen table.
If he didn’t hate me before, he does now.
I cover my face with my hands, speaking between my fingers. “I’m here.”
“I’ll pick you up at four.”
“What?”
“You won’t be safe to drive to Surrey.”
He’s coming?It’s predictable, but my mind hadn’t gone there. Before Dad died, Nico always came to our family events. And Mum was so taken with him at Jack’s birthday party that I’m not surprised she invited him. Just like old times.
Marie is making eyes at the phone and nodding in agreement.
I groan. “I’ll go tomorrow.”
“Then you’ll miss the family dinner tonight,” he counters.
I close my eyes, feeling the headache pound behind them.
“Mum won’t care,” I tell him.
Nico says nothing; he knows she’ll care.
His silence breaks me. “I’ll take the train,” I argue.
“And risk vomiting all over public transport?”
“I’m not going to be sick.”
“Good. Then you can come in my car. I’ll be there at 4 pm. Don’t make me wait.”
He hangs up, and all three of us sit in silence for a few moments.
“I think he cares about you,” Elly says, her face a vision of studied sincerity.