only Evie hears the words whispered, âNo Mamma. No Mamma.â
âCome. Nu intâeleg ,â Nora continues. âMamma cannot go on unless you speak to me. Please, my darling. Speak to me.â
The words hover around Noraâs chair. âNever again. Never again,â it murmurs. âNever again. Unforgivable. Unforgivable Mamma. Never again.â
Â
Evie is still sitting at the table when her parents arrive to take her home. Victoria shakes her head. âIt didnât go too well,â she tells them. âNoraâs very good at the dramatic exits and entrances, but sheâll be back.â
Robin rushes to where her daughter is sitting. âEvie!â She turns to Victoria and Nick. âI knew this wasnât a good idea. How could we let her do this?â
âPlease, Robin, let me explain.â
âWhat on earth could you say to make this better?â She puts her hands on Evieâs shoulders. âLetâs get you out of here. Come on, Nick.â
âMum, itâs not Victoriaâs fault,â Evie sighs. âIt just wasnât going to work. It never was.â
âIf you ask me, the whole idea was pretty bloody awful!â
âWell, it doesnât matter any more,â Evie tells her. âNora Cuza thinks Iâm the biggest fake in the world. I donât have anything to tell her.â
âYou mean, thatâs it?â
âYep.â Evie lies for the second time. âIt ended up being ⦠nothing.â
As Evie leaves the flat, her eyes connect with Victoriaâs. She knows.
Â
âAlex is on the phone,â Robin calls. âEvie?â
âIâll take it in your room.â Evie lies on her parentsâ bed and picks up the receiver on her fatherâs bedside table. âYou can hang up now, Mum.â
âHey, I thought you were coming to the movies last night.â Alex says. âWhat happened?â
âI got a really bad headache.â Thatâs not exactly a lie, Evie thinks. By the time she got back from Victoriaâs, her head was thumping. âWas it a good night? Who went?â
âMe and Zac. Um, Seb, Roxy ââ
âRoxy went?â
âYeah. Sheâs great.â
Evie rolls her eyes.
âYouâd really like her,â Alex tells her. âI reckon there might be a bit of chemistry between her and Seb, you know.â
âOh?â
âWell, she seemed pretty hot for Seb.â
âYeah?â
âWould you believe she asked if you and Seb were an item?â Alex chuckles. âI said youâd die if people thought you were going out with him.â
âNo I wouldnât,â Evie says a bit too quickly. âI mean ⦠I mean, Sebâs a great guy. Thereâs nothing wrong with him.â
âWell, donât worry. I assured Roxy there was absolutely nothing going on with you and Seb.â Alex crunches away at something as she speaks. âDonât you think Roxy and Seb would make a cute couple? I do. Hey, Zac and I could go on double dates with them! Weâve just got to find someone for you, Evie.â
âIâll ⦠be okay. Thanks anyway.â Evie picks up the pencil on her fatherâs bedside table and starts doodling on some paper. âSo, what are you up to today, Al?â
âIâm going to see Zac and Seb play soccer at one oâclock.â Alex is talking with her mouth full. Evie holds the phone away with each crunch.
âWhat are you eating?â
âA carrot,â Alex mumbles. âIâm on a diet. Zac said I was a little bit too cuddly.â
âThatâs a bit harsh!â
âOh, he didnât mean it like that,â Alex says in defence. âHe said I was just a bit too cuddly, not fat! Anyway, you want to come and watch the game?â
âIâve still got a bit of a headache.â This time it is a lie. Evie actually feels quite
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