“Let’s get a drink,” he says nervously and pulls me towards the bar, huh, why? I look over my shoulder at Joshua and see him talking to a blonde. He’s got his hands in his pockets and he’s scowling at her.
“Who is Joshua talking to?” I ask Adrian. He starts to fidget in his pockets, looking for money, “Um, not sure,” he murmurs without making eye contact with me. He’s lying and I don’t have to be a psychologist to know that. I look back over toward Joshua and the blonde and I see him mouth the words “Go away”. Huh, he knows that girl—I can tell by the way he’s annoyed with her. That wasn’t a casual brushoff. I go to walk towards them and Adrian pulls me back by the hand.
“Hey, stay here,” he smiles as he pulls his arm around my shoulder. I look back over my shoulder and she is still talking to him. Actually she looks…familiar. Where in the hell do I know her from? I hope she’s not an ex–patient. Abbie and Bridget come back up the stairs and head straight over to the meeting spot. I see Abbie’s back straighten when she sees the girl and her hand goes onto her hip…huh. She barrels straight over to Joshua and I can see him shuffle on his feet, he’s nervous…he’s hiding something. I wish I couldn’t read body language so well… it’s really annoying. I pull out of Adrian’s grip which I now know for sure is so I don’t interrupt Josh, asshole, and head over towards them. Abbie is saying something to her and I can tell by the way Abbie is talking that she is mad. What in the world is going on? Am I missing something? When I get to them Joshua immediately links our hands and, without making eye contact, whispers into my ear.
“We’re leaving.” Huh? He turns his back on the girl and gestures for me to walk in front of him. Hang on a minute—how exactly does he know this girl? I pull my hand out of his grip.
“Who is that woman?” I ask.
“Nobody,” he answers way too fast.
“Joshua, don’t lie to me,” I snap. She pushes around in front of Joshua and I see him make eye contact with his bodyguards and nod. This is ridiculous. What in the hell is happening here? She puts her hand out to shake my hand and I take it out of habit of good manners.
“Hello,” she purrs.
I frown. “Hello.”
“And you are?” she asks as she raises her eyebrows.
“Leaving,” Joshua snaps as he steps in between us. He grabs my hand and twists me so I am standing behind him. It’s a defensive stance and I know that he thinks she is a threat…to what I don’t know. The bodyguards come and stand over her, asking in silence for her to leave. I pull out of his grip and walk back around him. What is his problem?
“Natasha, my name is Natasha,” I say.
She looks at Joshua and bubbles up a giggle. “You’ve got to be kidding. Her name is Natasha; she’s Natasha.” The blood drains out of my face as realisation sets in. Oh fuck, she has seen his tattoo. This woman has slept with him. He grabs my hand again and I snatch it out of his and walk off to the bathroom. Ok, I’m fuming. So he hasn’t stuck to the deal, as if he would. Who was I kidding? Abbie is hot on my heels.
“My god, Natasha, how in the hell does he know TC?”
I stop mid–step and turn. “That was tunnel cunt,” I fume.
She nods and winces. “I thought you knew,” she hunches her shoulders. “Mm, sorry.”
I bump into a girl coming out as I enter the ladies room. “Watch out where you’re going,” I snap.
“Ok, sure thing, psycho,” she replies. I’m not even kidding when I say I could do some serious bitch–slapping tonight. TC…TC…TC…are you fucking kidding me?
“Abbie, how would he know her?” I’m fuming.
“I don’t know,” she whispers. “But when I got there I heard him tell her to get out of his fucking sight.”
“What! He said that? Just like that.”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“He said get out of my fucking sight. What a stupid mole,” she winces.
“He’s slept with her.”
“What, how do you know?” she looks horrified.
“Because she has seen his tattoo and she laughed when I told her my name is Natasha.”
Abbie fake–punches her fist. “Let’s take her out.” I smile. That is such an Abbie thing to say. How is it that even in the most intense situations Abbie can make me laugh? I go to the loo, wash my hands and then lean up against the wall.
“I’m going to back–door it, Abbs. I can’t be with him tonight. It’s making me sick just thinking of him with her.”
“This is exactly what the silly mole wants,” she snarls.