he added, ‘Drinking for two now? Or has someone else been round?’
Sally giggled. ‘Someone else is still round.’
OK, enough skulking in the kitchen. Lola stepped into the living room. ‘Actually I wouldn’t call myself round, more curvily girl-shaped.’
Chapter 14
’Oh, for God’s sake.’ Dark eyes narrowing, Doug said impatiently, ‘Not you again.’
It hurt, but as far as he was concerned, Lola knew she deserved it. Just as well she was the optimistic type; maybe she could win him round. Dougie, I’ve already said I’m sorry’
‘I know you have. But what are you doing here?’ he demanded.
Dougie, don’t be so rude,’ wailed Sally. ‘Lola’s my friend.’
‘I’m more than her friend.’ Lola flashed him a playful smile and saw the split-second look of horror on his face ... Jesus, surely not ... ‘I’m her next door neighbour.’
Doug shook his head in disbelief; being a neighbour might not be quite as alarming as being a predatory lesbian but it was evidently a close-run thing. He looked over at his sister. ‘You didn’t mention this.’
‘Of course I didn’t. If I’d told you I was going to be moving in next door to Lola, you’d have tried to talk me out of it.’
Exasperated, Doug retorted, ‘Damn right I would. And I’m not the only one.’
‘Well, too bad. I don’t care what Mum says — it’s not my fault she doesn’t like Lola. You and Mum should put all that old stuff behind you, it’s irrelevant now. Anyway, this is my flat and I’m jolly well staying here!
Overcome with gratitude, Lola longed to burst into applause, but the line of Dougie’s jaw wasn’t exactly forgiving. Instead she attempted to change the subject.
‘Errm, I couldn’t find the corkscrew.’
‘OK, I think there’s one in one of the cases in my bedroom. Hang on, I’ll go and have a look.’
‘You never know,’ Doug said softly when Sally had left the room, ‘play your cards right and you could land yourself another handy little windfall. My mother might be so keen to keep you away from Sal that she’d be prepared to pay you to move out.’
It hurt like a knife sliding in under her ribs. Lola said, ‘Look, what do you want me to do? Fall on my knees and beg for forgiveness? I did a bad thing once and I’m sorry I hurt you, but at the time I didn’t have any choice.’
Doug shook his head. ‘Fine. Anyway, we’re not going to argue about that again. I’m just here to drop off the rest of Sal’s things. I’ll fetch them from the car.’
‘I’ll help you! Had Sally still not managed to locate the corkscrew or was she being discreet and keeping out of the way?
‘No need.’
‘I want to.’ Lola followed him out into the hallway. ‘I can manage.’
‘But it’s going to be easier if there’s two of us.’ She clattered down the stairs behind him. ‘And I’m strong! Remember that time I beat you at arm-wrestling?’
Doug’s shoulders stiffened. ‘No.’
‘Oh, come on. At Mandy Green’s party. Her brother started this whole arm-wrestling competition out in the garden because he said no girl could beat a boy. But he was wrong,’ Lola said proudly, ‘because I did, I beat him and I beat you—’
‘That’s because I let you win: Doug said curtly.
‘What?You didn’t! Ouch.’As he reached the front door, Lola cannoned into his back.
‘Of course I did.’ Doug yanked open the door, shooting her a dismissive look over his shoulder.
‘Did you seriously think you were stronger than me?’
‘But ... but ..’ Lola had spent the last decade — ten whole years — being proud of that achievement. And now Doug was shattering her illusions. This was like suddenly being told that Father Christmas didn’t exist.
Woooooop went the dark green Mercedes on the other side of the road as Doug pointed a key at it.
Unless ... unless he was lying when he said he’d let her win.
‘Right, you can carry the bags with the clothes in. They’re not so heavy.’ He opened the boot.
‘I’ll deal with the boxes of books: Books. If there was one thing Lola was the queen of, it was carrying piles of books. Who needed to lift weights in a gym when you worked at Kingsley’s?
Reaching past Doug she slammed the boot shut.
‘Jesus!’ He snatched his hand away in the nick of time. ‘You nearly had my fingers off! What d’you think you’re playing at?’
‘I don’t believe you lost on purpose. I think that’s just your excuse.’ Pushing up the sleeve of her sweater to give her elbow some grip, Lola angled herself up against the corner of the car’s boot and waggled her fingers. ‘So we’ll just fmd out, shall we? On your marks, get set ...’
‘I tell you what,’ said Doug, ‘why don’t we just carry my sister’s things into the flat?’
‘Chicken.’
‘Lola, let me open the boot.’
‘Clucka-lucka-luck’
He gave her a raised-eyebrow look. ‘What?’
