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At the half-time break, the simmering tension finally comes to a head. James murmurs something to Cassie, who then announces loudly, “Fuck off.” She picks up her purse and phone. “I want to get up, please.”
“Cass…” James pleads.
“Now,” she snaps.
I stand, Aroha scoots along, and James follows. Cassie gets to her feet and, without saying goodbye, heads for the exit. James puts his hands on his hips for a moment, then, without looking at us, follows her out.
“Are they coming back, do you think?” Gaby asks.
I shrug, and after Aroha has slid along the seat, sit down again.
We talk quietly amongst ourselves for a few minutes, and then James comes back into the bar.
“Stay where you are,” he tells us as we go to get up, and he climbs over the back of the bench and slides into the corner beside Aroha.
“All right?” Alex asks.
“Hunky dory.” He finishes off his whisky, then blows out a long breath. “We broke up.”
“James!” Juliette exclaims. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
“Are you okay?” Aroha asks.
He nods. “It’s been coming for a while. Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring the mood down. Would you rather I go?”
“Absolutely not,” Alex states. “Time to drown your sorrows. Consolation whisky, anyone?”
I nod, and so do Tyson and Aroha.
“Cam?” Alex asks.
He’s checking his phone, and he shakes his head. “No, thanks, I’ve got to shoot off soon.”
Juliette stares at him. “You’re kidding?”
“I’m going to see Pete and Alan,” he says.
“You promised you’d stay till ten,” she whispers.
At that, he glances across the table in my direction, then looks back at her and raises an eyebrow. Clearly horrified, she blushes scarlet. What the hell’s that about?
“Maybe we should have another bowl of mulled wine, what do you think?” Missie says brightly to the girls.
“Sounds great,” Gaby says.
Juliette is looking at Cam with a hurt expression. She murmurs to him, and he says something that makes her inhale and her eyes flare. I bristle again, hating the fact that he has this power to hurt her so badly.
“Probably best if I go now,” Cam says, getting to his feet. “See ya.” He strides off without a backward glance.
“Cam!” Juliette calls after him, but he doesn’t look back. She watches him go, then turns back to the table and lifts her chin. “I’m not going after him,” she blurts out. Then she looks at me, and her eyes fill with tears.
I want to get up, pull her into my arms, and promise her that I’m going to kiss her until she forgets that bastard ever existed. But I can’t, so instead I push my glass over to her. She looks at the last half-inch of whisky in it, then knocks it back in one go.
“Euw!” She pulls a face. “I hate whisky.” She puts the glass down, then covers her face with her hands. “Oh God. What have I done?”
“You haven’t done anything,” Missie states firmly. “You’re staying with your friends for the evening, that’s all. I’m sure he’ll calm down after a few hours.”
Juliette mumbles something under her breath. I think it was, “No, he won’t.” Finally, she lifts her gaze to me.
