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She mouthed, “It’s fine.”
“I knew it.” Lucy stuck her finger in Freddie’s face. “You’re picking sides.”
“I’m not. Shit, I’ve totally lost feeling in my arm now.”
“You’re here to report back to him. Admit it, spy.”
“I’m not. Jeez, Lucy. I wanted a fun day out, not a trial by fury…” The four friends edged forward in line.
“Freds, if I discover that you’ve told Keegs anything, I will tell Simon all about you skipping spin classes.”
“You can’t prove that!”
“Oh yes I can. I screen-capped your lunchtime Insta stories, wandering around Topman eating Cheesy Wotsits.” Lucy laughed, a visible puff of her warm breath floated away.
Alex stifled a giggle.
“Nice one, Luce,” said Naomi.
Lucy shot her a dirty look.
“Fine.” Freddie crossed his arms.
“Your arse is mine, Mr. Ryan. So, maybe now you’ll tell us what really happened in Dublin?”
Freddie maintained a poker face.
“You said you’re not picking sides, so what’s stopping ya?”
“Keegs’ memory, that’s what.”
“Of course, you would take Mark’s side,” said Lucy. “Mark could spin Moriarty over his head, fling him into the Thames and you’d still say he’s innocent.”
“Lay off. It’s not like that. Would you remember anything after a skinful and an E?” Freddie’s eyes bulged and he slapped a fingerless gloved-hand over his mouth. “Ah…shit.”
Alex’s face blanched. “E? He took ecstasy?”
“Er, yeah.” Freddie turned away, biting a fingernail.
“He didn’t tell me that. He said he smoked a joint…” Alex’s stare darted from Freddie to Lucy and back to Freddie.
“Don’t look at me.” Freddie’s shoulders crept up to his ears. “That’s all I’ve got. End of.”
“If Keegs was that trolleyed on booze and drugs…” Naomi blew out her cheeks. “…anything could have happened.”
Lucy looked at Naomi. “Why? Did Mark cheat on you, too?”
“No, but you know what he’s like when he’s drunk. He’s giggly, flirty…forgetful.”
Freddie sighed. “Aren’t we all?”
“Some of us more than others. It doesn’t make us bad people.” Naomi wrapped her arm around Alex’s shoulder. “I’m not telling you anything you don’t know, right?”
Alex nodded.
“I bet he was boozed up and BAM—a momentary indiscretion, a mistake.” Naomi squeezed Alex’s arm and let go.
“Oi, get your tickets ready.” Lucy pointed at the entrance, now five people away. A chilly gust blew in from the river.
