Page 58 of Washed Up

‘And?’ said Sally, looking exasperated.

‘And… I don’t know, I guess we spent some time together, and it was all windy and rainy and miserable and we were both super grumpy and bickering. Then something changed. I can’t explain it any better than that. He was so funny, Sal, and the way he looked at me, honestly it made me want to do things to him I’ve only ever read about in books.’

Sally let out a low whistle. ‘So you did want to be riding him.’

‘When he left in that helicopter,’ said Frankie, ploughing on regardless, ‘it was like losing a friend, you know? I feel like I want to be around him all the time. Forever.’

‘But you don’t know anything about him, not really,’ said Sally, frowning.

‘I know enough.’ From staring at his Instagram posts, mainly.

Sally rubbed a hand across her forehead. ‘Franks, I’m trying to understand, honestly I am.’

‘Well try a bit harder.’

‘It’s just…’

‘What?’

‘You smashed my phone up, Frankie.’

Frankie’s jaw dropped. ‘You said you were okay with it. You said you didn’t mind about that.’

Sally folded her arms and sat back in her chair. ‘I lied. Of course I minded.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me that?’

‘I don’t know. It wasn’t really about the phone, as such. More the fact that I’d lent it to you out of the goodness of my heart and you just didn’t care you’d broken it. You only cared about getting back online as soon as you could.’

‘That’s… that is not true,’ said Frankie, her voice faltering. Was it true? Of course it was true. What had she become?

‘I think it is. You’re so wrapped up in him, Frankie, and he’s a total stranger. It’s… not normal.’

‘I’m choosing to ignore that last part, Sal. But I am sorry about your phone,’ said Frankie, her friend’s words like a verbal slap, ringing in her ears. It’s not normal.

‘It’s okay. I want to support you in this, but you’re not making it easy.’ Frankie raised her eyebrows, and Sally winced. ‘Okay, point taken. Jake and I weren’t exactly supportive yesterday, I know. That’s only because we’re worried about you.’

‘What’s with the “we”? Are you and Jake a couple or something?’

Sally flashed her a secretive little smile. ‘I’m working on it.’

Frankie coughed as a cold shiver ran down her back. ‘Is that…?’ She was going to ask if it was a good idea but the words got stuck in her throat. Oh God. This was not good at all. She had to tell Sally the truth, about Jake, what he’d told her. She would be a terrible friend if she didn’t.

As if reading her mind, Sally spoke into the silence. ‘Jake has always fancied you, that’s the thing, so I never pursued it, but now, I think he’s finally got over his crush. He walked me home the other night, and everything.’

That’s just the kind of guy he is, Frankie wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come. What she said out loud was, ‘He didn’t fancy me.’ How had Sally picked up on it? How did she miss it?

‘Of course he did. You’d be an idiot not to have noticed. But I think with all this Dylan stuff…’ Sally’s long fingers played with her wine glass.

Frankie cringed. ‘You think he’s realised I’m a total plum, is that what you mean?’

But Sally wasn’t listening anymore. She was clearly daydreaming about Jake. Frankie actually had to wave a hand in front of her face to get her attention. The food arrived with impeccable timing and they ate in silence for a few moments, each deep in thought.

‘Anyway,’ said Frankie after a few minutes more, as if they’d never stopped talking.

‘Anyway?’ said Sally, dipping a chip in ketchup.

‘Anyway, I thought you were into Dr Mac.’