Little White Lies (5 page)

“I’d better go.” I stand up hurriedly—
forgetting he’s still holding frozen peas on my foot.

“Careful!” Christian catches me as I lose my balance, electricity jolting through me as he pulls me hard against his chest, knocking the breath from my lungs. We stare at each other as he holds me close.

“
Do
I know you?”

My heart thumps hard against my ribs as he gently brushes my hair from my face.

“Honestly, Louise, there’s something about you that seems so familiar....”

I swallow hard.

The sharp ringing of the phone makes us both jump. It stops abruptly, and I take a step backwards, hugging my arms as footsteps patter down the corridor.

“Christian!” Vix pokes her head round the door. “Phone call for you. How many jobs do you do?”

“What?” Christian turns.

“Barman, first-aid guru, taxi driver...”

He groans.

“Why did you ring for a cab when
you’re
a taxi driver?” Vix frowns.

“I’m not,” he says grumpily. “Tell them they’ve got the wrong number. Again!”

“O-kay...” Vix walks off, pointedly leaving the door open behind her.

“Again?” I ask.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” he sighs. “Some taxi firm’s obviously got a phone number similar to mine, or there’s a printing mistake on their cards—for the last week or so I’ve been getting phone calls all the time from people wanting taxis.”

“That must be pretty annoying.”

“It’s more than annoying!” he groans. “Especially in the middle of the night! And you should hear the abuse I get when I tell them they’ve got the wrong number!”

“Can’t you do anything about it?” I ask.

“Like what? I can’t call the taxi company since I don’t know their real number, I can’t leave my phone off the hook in case there’s an emergency—I’ll have to change my phone number if it goes on much longer.”

“Isn’t that expensive?”

“Yeah, but it’d be worth it, I’d give anything for a decent night’s sleep. The other day I was so exhausted I slept straight through my alarm and was late for work!”

“How awful. Did you get into trouble with your boss?”

“First strike.” He nods miserably. “Three strikes, and I’m out. Speaking of which, I’d better get a move on, or I’ll be late again!”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hold you up.”

“It’s fine.” He smiles. “I’m happy to help. Besides, it’s not like you hurt your ankle on purpose, is it?”

I bite my lip.

“Well, everyone, the good news is the tea’s ready,” Vix says, returning. “But the bad news is the taxi’s just arrived too.”

“Thanks for the first aid.” I smile at Christian. “And for your jacket.” I shrug it off and hand it back to him as I make for the door.

“Wait,” he says. “Cindy—”

“What!” I turn sharply. “What did you call me?”

“Um... Cinderella.” He looks at me strangely as he holds up my trainer. “Don’t forget your shoe.”

“Oh. Right.” I take it from him, my cheeks burning. “Thanks. Bye.”

“We’ll see you at the pub later, though.” Vix beams. “We’re meeting Kenny for lunch, aren’t we, Lou?”

I blink. “Are we?”

“Yes, he texted last night inviting me for lunch—didn’t I tell you?”

I stare at her. No, she certainly did
not
tell me Kenny asked her out. What is he playing at?

“Anyway, it’d be great if you could come along too, seeing as
I’ve
only just met him,
” she mimics pointedly. “Come on, please-please-please-please-please-please-please-please!” She flutters her eyelashes madly.

“Go on, Louise,” Christian laughs. “You still owe me that drink, after all.”

I smile helplessly. “How can I refuse?”

“Wow, it’s heaving in here!” Vix gasps as we fight our way into The Flying Pig
.
“What’s going on?”

“No idea.” I shrug. I spot Christian in a heated debate with a crowd of guys at the bar.

“Come on,” Vix says. “I need caffeine.”

“How? We can’t even get to the bar it’s so busy!”

“Cripple coming through!” she yells. “Make way, people, she’s injured!” She forges a path through the mob to the bar, then shouts at a guy till he relinquishes his stool.

“Smooth.” I grin wryly as she helps me up. “But my ankle’s really not that bad.”

“Not the point.” She winks. “Nothing should come between a girl and her true love. Or coffee.” She stares longingly at the coffee machine as we wait to be served.

Finally the barmaid we spoke to yesterday rushes over, looking flustered. “Hi, girls, back again? Sorry for the wait. What can I get you?”

“A latte, please,” I say.

“Double espresso,” Vix answers. “I’m all about the caffeine.” Her eyes dart around the bar. “Where’s Christian gone?”

“He’s on the phone to the boss,” the barmaid replies. “Is it important?”

“No, I just... owe him a drink, that’s all.” I shrug.

“So it went well with the two of you?” The barmaid smiles as she makes the coffees. “Did you ask him out?”

“Yeah, but he turned me down.” I sigh. “Said he was busy.”

“Was he working all evening?” Vix asks her hopefully.

“No, Christian doesn’t do evening shifts—but like I said, don’t take it personally.” The barmaid smiles sympatheti
cally.

“He keeps himself to himself.”
I nod, remembering how he neatly avoided all my questions earlier, about why he moved here, how he got his scar. He did say he was good at keeping secrets....

“Hello, ladies.”

Vix and I spin round.

“Kenny!” she cries delightedly as I force a smile.

“Hey, Kenny.” The barmaid smiles, passing our coffees across the counter. “The usual?”

“Heidi, you read my mind.” He grins.

“Oi, I was here first!” a guy calls from the other side of the bar.

“With you in a sec, love!” Heidi beams at him.

“Actually, make it two,” Kenny adds.

“Coming up.” She smiles. “But you know the Facebook offer’s only on beer, right?”

“Facebook offer?” I ask.

She sighs. “Everyone’s claiming there’s some buy-one-get-two-free beers offer on our Facebook page, but it’s the first we’ve heard—that’s what Christian’s calling Mike about now. I wish he’d hurry up—I’m on my own here.”

“How strange,” I comment.

“One cappuccino.” Heidi slides a cup towards Kenny. “The second one’ll just be a mo.”

“Thanks,” Kenny says. “But this one’s for you.”

Vix’s smile slips.

“One sugar, as usual, right?” He opens a packet.

“Perfect! Thanks, Kenny!”

“If only all the staff were so easily impressed,” Vix mutters moodily as Heidi turns to make the second cappuccino. “Maybe you should’ve bought Christian a cappuccino, Lou?”

I raise an eyebrow. “After throwing coffee over him?”

“True,” she concedes.

“You threw coffee over him?” Kenny raises an eyebrow. “I’m guessing you didn’t get hired, then?”

“Oh, that reminds me.” Heidi turns to me as she hands Kenny the second coffee. “I told my boss about you, and he got the CV you emailed, but he doesn’t need any more staff at the moment, sorry.”

“Are you kidding?” Kenny glances round at the crowded bar. “Even today? It’s rammed in here!”

She shrugs. “He doesn’t know.”

“He does now.” Christian appears, looking flustered. “Hi, guys. I finally got hold of Mike. He says we have to honor the beer offer, but he’s going mental about it.”

“Well, it’s his fault! It’s a typo—it must be,” Heidi says. “Is he at least sending someone to help us out? We’re rushed off our feet.”

“No,” he sighs. “He’s tried, but no one’s available.”

“Lou could help out,” Kenny suggests. “She’s got bar experience, she’s available, and she’s emailed in her CV. Demand and opportunity, right?”

“Sorry,” Heidi says. “We’re not allowed to hire or fire people.”

“Only Mike can,” Christian adds. “And he’s at a christening until later today. How’s your ankle?”

“You hurt your ankle?” Kenny turns to me, concerned.

“It’s fine,” I tell him. “I just went over on it earlier. It’s nothing.”

“You shouldn’t walk on it if it’s twisted,” he insists.

“It’s not twisted, just a bit bruised,” I argue.

“Either way, you should rest it.”

“I
am
resting it, okay? I’m sitting down, aren’t I?” I glare at him.

“Oi!” a guy shouts from the other end of the bar. “Is anyone serving, or what?”

“No rest for the wicked.” Christian smiles, turning to go.

“I’ll see to them,” Heidi insists. “You finish up here.” She winks at me.

“I’ll get these.” Kenny pulls out his wallet.

“No, it’s okay,” I say hastily, opening my bag. The last thing I need is to be even more indebted to Kenny.

“I insist.” He smiles.

“No,
really
.” I yank my purse out quickly, sending the contents of my bag scattering over the floor. “Shit!” I jump off my stool.

“Lou, don’t—your ankle!” Vix cries.

“Double shit!” I grab the bar for support.

“Here, let me.” Vix starts to gather up my things.

“Thanks,” I say, cursing myself for feeling so on edge around Kenny, cursing
him
for coming back into my life at all.

“What’s this?” Vix holds up an envelope and I freeze.

Shit.
I forgot all about the letter since picking it up from my pigeonhole yesterday.

“HMP Stonegate.”
She reads the postmark. “What’s HMP?”

“Her Majesty’s Prison.” Christian looks at me and my heart sinks.

Vix looks up. “Who do you know in prison, Lou?”

“I...” My cheeks burn as I just stare helplessly at the letter. “No one...”

She frowns. “What?”

“That must be the letter you were telling me about yesterday, Lou,” Kenny cuts in quickly, taking it from Vix.

I stare at him.
This is it. He’s going to tell them everything.

“From the prisoner correspondence program?” Kenny prompts, handing the letter back to me. “Have you replied yet?”

I blink, surprised. “Um... no...” I shove the envelope deep into my pocket.

“Isn’t that weird?” Vix frowns. “Writing to a random criminal?”

“I think it’s great,” Christian says suddenly, and I look up. “I expect they get really lonely, separated from their family and friends, everyone they’ve ever known.” His eyes meet mine.

“But isn’t that the point?” Vix argues. “That’s part of their punishment. They’re criminals—they broke the law.”

“Not everyone in prison has broken the law,” Christian counters.

Vix rolls her eyes. “Most people.”

“You’d be surprised,” he says, a rough edge to his voice.

I stare at him.

“What did the person you’re writing to do?” Vix asks me. “Or are they innocent?”

Kenny and Christian both turn to me and I flush under their gaze.

“Um... er...” I swallow, then shake my head. “He didn’t do anything wrong,” I tell them. “He shouldn’t be in jail.”

“Poor guy,” Christian says quietly. “It’s awful to be wrongly accused.”

“Well, that’s what they all say.” Vix shrugs. “Or else you wouldn’t write to them, would you, Lou?”

“I...” My head feels like it’s going to explode. I have to get away from everyone before I fall apart completely. “Sorry—I’m not feeling very—” I turn and hobble quickly to the toilets, lock the door, and close my eyes.

What am I doing?
My blood throbs in my temples, tears stinging my throat.
How could I be so
stupid
?
So
careless
?
I nearly ruined
everything
!

“Lou?” Vix’s voice calls gently from outside the cubicle. “Are you okay?”

Get a grip.
I swallow hard, trying to steady my breathing.

“I’m fine,” I reply shakily. “I just... I just feel a little weird. It’s probably still the shock of falling over or something.”

“Right...,” she says uncertainly. “Can I get you anything? A glass of water?”

“No, just... give me a minute, yeah? I’ll be out in a sec.”

“Okay,” she says reluctantly. “See you in a mo.”

I close my eyes and listen till I’m sure she’s gone, then take a deep breath and pull the envelope from my pocket.

How could I forget his letter?

The first letter, the first contact in
weeks,
and I just leave it sitting, unopened, in my bag?

I stare at the envelope, at its prison postmark, my heart heavy. Then, carefully, gently, I open the seal and slide out the single sheet of paper, his oh-so-familiar handwriting dancing across the page and tugging at my insides.

Sweetheart,

I hope your first few weeks at uni are going well. It will undoubtedly be hard at first. It’s always difficult moving somewhere new, especially where you don’t know anyone—believe me, I know.

But I’m sure you’ll make good friends. You’ve been an incredible friend and cousin to my daughters—like another sister—and I’m so proud to view you as a daughter of my own. You’re smart and kind, and so, so strong. You’ve had to cope with so much in your young life, and I’m sorry to have made that even harder for you with my current situation, the notoriety it has incurred, and my enforced absence from your life.

I understand your decision to alter your name for university, and think it a wise one. I hope your new life will be filled with all the happiness you deserve.

All my love, always,

Uncle Jim x

I choke on my tears.
All the happiness I deserve.
I don’t deserve any happiness. I
caused
this mess. Guilt floods my veins as I think of him all alone in a prison cell.

It’s all so
wrong
! Uncle Jim isn’t a criminal. He should be at home with Aunt Grace and his beautiful daughters, living happily ever after. He
would
be if it weren’t for me—
this is all my fault!

Well, not
all
my fault... I close my eyes and that face pops into my head, unbidden. The same eyes that have haunted my dreams ever since the trial, boring into my soul.

If it weren’t for
him,
none of us would be in this situation.

And it’s time I put things right, once and for all....