Page 120 of The Jealous Girl

‘Nothing really. She was just worried about you. Wanted to understand about your—’ Janine leaned closer and lowered her voice ‘—difficulties.’

I drew back. ‘What difficulties?’

‘She explained how you’d been struggling to let things go after the breakup.’

‘It’s barely been a week!’ But I couldn’t ignore the uncomfortable truth that Charlotte was right.

Guilt prickled under my skin.

Technically I had stalked her…

Janine and Dad exchanged a look.

‘What?’ I demanded.

‘You do tend to get a bit emotionally overwhelmed,’ Janine said gently.

‘It’s not a criticism,’ Dad added. ‘It just means you feel things strongly.’

‘Kirsty?’

I swung to the right at the sound of Ben’s voice, my pulse racing.

No. Not now.

He couldn’t meet them.

‘Is everything alright?’ he asked, his eyes full of concern as he appraised us all.

‘No,’ Janine replied before I could answer. ‘I’d say getting called to the police station to answer questions means everything is definitely not alright.’

‘I’m sure it’ll be fine,’ Dad said quietly.

‘I’m just worried about what our daughter has got mixed up in,’ Janine said, her eyebrows furrowing.

‘You’re Kirsty’s parents?’ Ben said, reaching his hand out towards Janine. ‘I’m Ben.’

Janine shook it briefly.

‘And how do you fit into all this?’ she asked, as he shook hands with Dad.

‘He has nothing to do with any of it,’ I said quickly. ‘He’s just giving me a lift home.’

‘Well, I’m glad you have someone keeping an eye on you,’ Janine murmured as she turned back to me. ‘You do have a tendency to get out of your depth.’

‘Janine,’ Dad said softly. ‘I’m sure Kirsty is handling things.’

‘Then why did Charlotte sound so worried when she called me?’ Janine asked.

‘Charlotte was concerned about Kirsty?’ Ben shook his head. ‘That’s hard to believe.’

‘It’s not your fault,’ Janine said soothingly, as she gave me a hug. ‘You just take after your mother, she got out of her depth too.’

‘Mum’s got nothing to do with this.’ I spat the words out, pulling free from Janine.

‘Of course not,’ she said, patting my arm. ‘That would require her to actually be here, wouldn’t it?’

‘Janine,’ Dad said, an edge of caution to his tone.