Page 44 of Safe Hands

“Cool.”

Another pause settled.

Again, Lauren let it sit. Then, almost without thinking, she said, “You have a very competent silence.”

Carly’s brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”

“The kind where people assume they should leave you alone unless they’ve got something useful to say.”

Carly straightened slightly. “Is that a criticism?”

Lauren shook her head. “No. Just an observation. I’m still deciding whether it’s efficient or mildly terrifying.”

Carly’s eyebrows lifted a fraction.

“Terrifying?” she repeated.

“Only a bit,” Lauren lied. Her palms were prickling with sweat. “Keeps people on their toes.”

Carly almost laughed. “I don’t mean to be.”

The next pause felt softer.

Lauren nodded towards the door. “I’m heading to training from here tomorrow. I can give you a lift, if you want.”

“I can get myself there.”

“Yeah,” Lauren said, trying to sound unbothered either way. “I know. Just offering.”

She left it there without explaining. If Carly had a problem with a kind gesture, that had to be Carly’s problem. Lauren couldn’t keep making it her own.

Carly held her gaze for a second longer.

“Alright,” she said eventually. “I’ll take the lift.”

Lauren nodded. “Cool.”

She turned to go, then paused. Maybe she could go one step further.

“And for what it’s worth, you were right about the squat. I’ll just…” She caught herself. “I’ll do it properly next time.”

“Good,” Carly said, returning her focus to the laptop screen. “A fortnight on Thursday, while we’re closed for the roof repair?”

Lauren gave a small nod. “Works for me.” She headed back to her room.

That had gone better.

It hadn’t been smooth, and she’d almost sweated right through her top. But she’d meant what she said and stopped talking before she ruined it.

And Carly had said yes.

Not that Lauren had any intention of telling Paige and Jenna that right away. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of knowing they might be onto something.

16

Carly

Lauren’s car smelled faintly of mint chewing gum and something clean and lemony that Carly couldn’t quite place. She’d expected it to be messier. Some evidence of chaos. But everything was weirdly tidy: a reusable water bottle in the cupholder, an emergency hoodie folded on the back seat, and a packet of tissues tucked neatly into the door.