All the Wicked Games by Lauren North

Author:Lauren North [North, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473589247
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2021-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 31

Rachel

Five years earlier

There’s a knock on Rachel’s door and her insides squirm. The very fact that Cleo is knocking instead of bursting in shows that things are still weird between them. She hates that they can’t seem to go five minutes without bickering. It’s like there’s a distance separating them. Cleo thinks Rachel is mad about her and Simon, but she’s not. She’s got Luke now. She just wishes Cleo had told her at the start. Luke thinks it’s because Cleo doesn’t trust her. She’s starting to wonder if he has a point.

The door opens and Cleo pokes her face into the room with a soft ‘Hey.’

‘Hey,’ Rachel replies, waving her in and forcing a smile.

‘Who were you talking to?’

‘Luke.’

Cleo makes a face and it’s obvious what’s coming – another lecture.

‘What?’ Rachel sighs.

‘I’m just worried about you. How do you know he’s not married?’ she says.

‘Oh my God,’ Rachel huffs. ‘How many times do we need to go over this? He’s not married. Can you stop treating me like I’m an idiot, please?’ She sits up, hot and bothered, and tugs off her jumper. ‘You know what? Luke was right. You’re jealous of us. This whole thing is about you trying to come between us.’

‘Jealous? You think I’m jealous? What a surprise Luke was the one to think that up.’

‘What a surprise, another dig at Luke. You can’t stand that I’m happy, can you? I’m happy for you and Simon. Why can’t you be happy for me and Luke?’

‘There is no me and Simon.’

‘Whatever.’

They fall silent and Rachel doesn’t have to look at Cleo’s face to know she’s sorry she said anything. Good!

The truth is – and Rachel really can’t tell Cleo this because she’ll hit the roof – Rachel is starting to think Cleo might be right. When Rachel asks Luke about his life, he’s vague sometimes. She doesn’t think he’s lying to her, just omitting certain details, and even though it’s wrong and screwing over the sisterhood, she actually doesn’t care if he’s married. Rachel has finally met a man who likes her for who she is, who doesn’t just want to shag her.

And Rachel might not be naive enough to think that they’ll have a fairy-tale ending, he’ll move to London and marry her instead, but it does happen.

‘OK. I’m sorry. So, how is Luke?’ Cleo asks, her voice a touch too casual, like it’s suddenly a massive effort just to talk to Rachel.

‘Good. Really good. In fact, he says his company have a big meeting happening in London. He doesn’t normally travel to the UK, but he’s put his name down for it. He’s going to be here next week. He’s taking me out next Friday night.’

‘That’s great.’ Cleo’s voice is deadpan.

Rachel’s excitement fades again. She’s so tired of having to defend herself and her decisions while Cleo sucks the joy out of her. ‘Don’t sound so happy about it, will you?’ Rachel’s voice drips with sarcasm.

‘I am happy for you. I just want you to be careful.

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