Page 96 of The Jealous Girl

Yes. No. Why? Every possible answer swirled through my head. Which one did I even want to say?

‘Okay.’

Ryan let out a deep breath. He sounded relieved.

I frowned. To be seeing me?

Another pause.

‘In thirty minutes?’ Ryan asked. ‘At the flat?’

‘Sure,’ I replied automatically. It felt easier. Just go with it. Just agree.

‘Thanks, Kirsty.’

I nodded. ‘No problem.’

We hung up and I stared at the phone. Was it no problem?

‘You okay?’ Ben’s voice disrupted my thoughts.

I looked up, my eyes meeting his. ‘Charlotte’s dead,’ I said flatly, still unsure how I felt about that.

‘Oh!’ He drew back in his chair as though the news had taken the wind out of him. ‘That’s awful.’

I didn’t speak. Didn’t move.

Was it awful?

I mean, it should be. Someone dying was sad. Disturbing.

But when that someone was Charlotte?

‘Yeah,’ I agreed. ‘Awful.’

‘Was Atlas involved?’ Ben asked suddenly. ‘You said his name,’ he added when I frowned.

‘She was riding him at the time. He threw her.’

‘Atlas?’

‘Yes,’ I said, wondering if Ben was in shock too. He sounded almost as strange as Ryan.

‘But that doesn’t make sense. Charlotte’s an experienced rider. And Atlas, he doesn’t get spooked. He doesn’t throw his rider. Especially not her.’

34

THEN

Mid August

‘We’re late,’ I said, glancing at my watch as I hurried Ryan down the road from the flat.

‘The Black Swan is only around the corner,’ he replied with a shrug.

‘Which should have meant we’d be on time at least,’ I replied, trying not to let my irritation show. ‘I don’t want to keep your parents waiting.’

‘They’ll get a drink if they beat us.’