Page 89 of Plot Twist

I gave her a hug and waved at Eimear and Paul before heading back over to retrieve Drew.

‘Follow me,’ I ordered.

It wasn’t the kind of tone you said ‘no’ to. Drew followed obediently behind as I fumbled with my key in the door at the cottage. He tried to help but I waved him away until I succeeded.

‘After you,’ he said, when I eventually managed it. I tutted in response as I walked in.

My overnight bag was set up on the couch and I moved it onto the floor.

‘Sit,’ I commanded.

‘Becca, I’m not a bloody dog,’ Drew said.

I sighed. The fight with Riley had taken me completely by surprise. The thought of him not speaking to me made me crumble inside. And the one person I really didn’t want to speak to couldn’t stop bloody talking and following me around. But I knew I couldn’t keep this up. I had to talk to Drew civilly at some point.

I had to read the letter, too.

‘I’m just so angry with you. Turning up here. This is my space, Drew. You can’t just turn up without asking me.’

‘I know,’ he said. ‘But I knew you wouldn’t see me otherwise.’

‘There are so many reasons why I don’t want to see you,’ I said. ‘If I don’t want to see or speak to you, you need to respect that.’

He sighed.

‘You’re right. I’m sorry, Becca. I just. . . I really want to know what the letter says. And I didn’t think you’d ever see me to tell me.’

‘You’re right about that.’

‘And you don’t have to tell me what’s in it, of course. It’s just. . . I know it’s going to be about me and Rae. About us. I’ve started doubting things. Like if it was ever real, you know? Everything is so mushed up in my mind. I’m not thinking straight.’

‘It was clearly real, Drew. Everyone knew it was, apart from me. I was the one that was kept in the dark, not you,’ I retorted.

He put two hands over his eyes and let out a deep sigh.

‘I guess I wanted to know what she said about me. I need to hear it from her, maybe just one last time,’ he whispered, his voice cracking.

‘You just want to hear how wonderful you are.’ I rolled my eyes. ‘Fine. I’ll read the letter. I just. . . I need a drink before I do.’

He nodded, his eyes checking the room for booze to ply me with so I could just get on with what he needed from me.

‘Have you got some stashed in here somewhere?’ he asked.

‘Nope, but it’s a free bar. I’ll nip out and grab a bottle. Stay here and don’t move.’

As I walked out to the courtyard on the hunt for a bottle of something, I couldn’t help but feel a little. . . impressed. Drew, who had wanted so badly to read the letter from his late girlfriend, had instead travelled all the way over here so I could be the first to read the words. It was addressed to me, but still. I knew if the shoe had been on the other foot, things would have been completely different. I’d have read the letter then completely denied all knowledge, keeping the whole thing to myself. I really had kept my grudge against Drew for so long now, I didn’t even know how to speak to him normally any more.

I located a bottle of sauvignon blanc and turned to go back to the cottage. My shoulder nudged someone’s back. I flew around.

‘Sorry,’ I said.

‘Sorry,’ he said.

Riley.

‘Oh, it’s you,’ I said, meeting his eyes again.

‘You’re back,’ he whispered softly at the same time. ‘I’ve been looking everywhere for you.’