Page 118 of D for Dead

‘Guess he ticks all of the boxes for her: safe, stable, inoffensive; able to cater to all her picnicking needs.’

‘You’re not funny.’

‘I’ll bet she’s already planning your big day. Alan will probably want a picnic theme –sandwiches and blankets in the backyard. You can have your own monogrammed plastic forks and spoons.’

‘Sure, whatever you say, Hickok.’

‘Alan and Rebecca. No, it would be Alan and Becky, wouldn’t it? That’s what he likes to call you, right?’

Don’t bite.

‘In fact, Becky and Alan would work better, cos you’re the one wearing the balls in your relationship.’

Rebecca scowled at him, her temper simmering. ‘You don’t even know him. You have no idea what kind of man he is.’

‘One you have wrapped around your finger. Or so you think.’

‘What?’

Hickok grinned at her, nodding.

‘I heard your conversation earlier, chewing the guy out because you forgot to collect his delivery, making it out to be his fault.’

‘I did not.’

‘Sure you did, Angell. I’ll bet he’s constantly walking on eggshells around you, trying to keep you happy. No wonder he’s probably straying.’

‘Too far, Hickok. You’ve gone too far.’

‘Well why else would he keep disappearing at the weekend? If he spends it with you he has to leave his balls at the front door.’

‘Stop the car.’

They were only a couple of blocks from her townhouse. She would walk it.

‘Stop the car, Hickok,’ she repeated when he failed to slow. ‘Do it now before I punch you in the face.’

He grinned at her threat.

‘And to think I was gonna share my pizza with you.’

‘You are not coming in my house.’

‘Why not? You haven’t got any other plans.’

‘I don’t need to have other plans. You’re not setting foot inside my house.’

‘Come on, Angell. I have pizza. I know you’re a cheap date.’

‘You’ll have pizza on your face if you don’t shut up.’

Deciding to ignore him, she glanced out of the window, furious with Hickok, but more so with herself for biting.

Every time, Rebecca. He gets you every time.

And the stuff he said about Alan, about how she had him wrapped around her finger and he had to leave his balls at the front door. It wasn’t true.

Was it?