Right Number, Wrong Girl

I had to face my actions, even though I’d run away from the scene of the crime. In the end, the only person I’d ever have to see again was Camilla.

I couldn’t really get out of that one.

We lived together.

And she had my laptop.

The one I’d been using was almost as old as I was.

All right. Not that old. But it’d had more than one update to run before I’d been able to log in and do my job search.

I tapped my thumb against the screen. The fingertip reader thought I was trying to unlock it, and my phone asked me to enter my passcode because I’d been locked out for the next twenty-five seconds.

Great.

I blew out a long breath and tapped in the passcode. Maybe that was the prompt I needed to text her at least.

I was going to do it.

I opened WhatsApp and our chat.

ME: I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t leave you too much of a mess to deal with. I panicked and didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to tell you and worry you after your grandma got sick and then I was in too deep to do anything about it. I hope Anna isn’t giving you too much of a hard time and I’m so so sorry.

I gripped the sides of my phone and stared at the screen. The three little dots in the bottom that indicated that someone was typing captured my attention until her little bubble popped up.

CAMILLA: Can you answer your stupid phone???

I didn’t get a chance to reply before her name popped up in a call.

Well, I should have known that would happen. She was a weirdo who used her phone to talk to people.

I answered and tapped the speaker button, then hugged my knees to my chest. “Hi.”

“Sophie, thank God,” she said, breathing out a sigh of relief. “Are you all right?”

No.

“Yes. I’m sorry, Cam. I’ve made a complete mess of things.”

“You have.” She laughed softly. “But it’s not so bad in the end. You did an amazing job with the plans for the party and keeping a list of everything Nancy did was a huge help for us.”

“Well, I wasn’t lying when I said I warned her I’d throw her under the bus if I was found out.” I paused. “I hoped you’d find it.”

“Titling the document CAMILLA READ THIS made it quite hard to pass up.”

“I did that in McDonald’s toilet stall last night.”

“Of course you did.” She laughed again. “Why did you go, Soph?”

“I panicked,” I replied quietly. “I just needed to get out of there. I knew I’d never be able to show my face at Cavendish House again and gossip spreads like hell through that village, so it was just easier if I left.”

“I get that. I wish you’d have stayed. You can’t avoid Hugo.”

“I’m on the other side of the country.”

Silence.

“Camilla.”