Read Online Some Girls Do by Clodagh Murphy - Free Book Online Page B

wincing. ‘Well, maybe just a quick game to keep our hands in. We don’t want to get rusty. There’s a deck in the locker.’
    Several rounds of gin rummy later, Claire got up to go.
    ‘Claire,’ her mother said, as she put on her coat, ‘you know I was just kidding, don’t you – about shooting me?’
    ‘Of course! But I wouldn’t mention it in front of Michelle, if I were you. She doesn’t have our sense of humour.’
    ‘God, no! She’d take me up on it, wouldn’t she?’
    ‘In a heartbeat.’
    Claire was almost crying with exhaustion as she walked up the path to her house. She would just go straight to bed and draw the curtains on this wearisome day. She’d feel brighter in the morning after a good night’s sleep. And tomorrow was Sunday so she could have a nice long lie-in.
    She went straight to the kitchen and flicked the switch on the kettle. She was pleased to see that her impromptu guest had at least cleaned up after himself. Feeling a little more energised now that she was at home, she made tea and took it through to the living room, thinking she might unwind in front of the TV before bed. She flicked on the light and stopped in her tracks – because there on the sofa lay Luca, fast asleep, emitting a low rhythmic growl as he snored.
    ‘Oh, shit.’ Was there no end to the bloodiness of this day? Why was he still here? Maybe she’d just go straight to bed after all. She could pretend she hadn’t seen him. She was too tiredto deal with him right now. With any luck he’d be gone in the morning when she came down. But even as she started to back out of the door, he stirred.
    Luca woke to find a dark-haired girl with hazel eyes staring down at him. She was vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t quite place her. He glanced around the room, but he couldn’t place that either. Presumably he’d shagged her the previous night and this was her place. It was the only explanation he could come up with, though he had no recollection of kissing her wide, beautiful mouth. But why was he on the sofa, and why were they both fully dressed? And why was she looking at him with such … horror? Then he remembered: food; warmth; a soft bed. Claire – that was her name and this was her house. She was looking at him like that because he wasn’t supposed to be here. He had meant to leave while she was at work, but he’d just lain down on the sofa to shut his eyes for a few minutes … Fuck!
    He sat up quickly, rubbing his eyes. ‘Hi. Sorry – I must have fallen asleep. I didn’t mean to …’
    She watched him in silence and he could see she was trying to hide how upset she was at finding him still there. But it was clear she wanted him gone. He didn’t blame her.
    He sprang off the sofa. ‘Look, I’ll get out of your way,’ he said, moving to the door. ‘Sorry – and thanks for the bed last night. And the dinner.’
    ‘That’s okay.’ She followed him into the hall. He found his jacket on the coat-stand and she stood watching him as he pulled it on. ‘Will your electricity be back on?’ she asked, her eyes darting from him to the door, which was being rattled by wind and rain.
    ‘No, but it’s fine. I’ll get it sorted.’
    She chewed her lip, and he could tell she was tussling with herself, longing to be rid of him and trying to tamp down the better part of her nature that hadn’t allowed her to kick him out into the rain. He wasn’t sure which side he wanted to win.
    ‘You’ll get soaked again,’ she said, with a resigned little sigh. He reckoned the better part of her nature probably won out every time.
    ‘Look, it’s not your problem,’ he said, buttoning up his jacket determinedly. He had to let her off the hook. She had been kind to him and she didn’t deserve to be lumbered with him any longer. She looked exhausted and he could tell she just wanted to be alone.
    She followed him to the door. ‘It’s late, and … you’re welcome to stay again if you want to. I mean, unless you have