Love Song by Sasha Wasley

Author:Sasha Wasley [Wasley, Sasha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

Halfway home, Beth decided on a detour. If she went home now, she would turn into a nervy psycho, cleaning her perfectly tidy house in preparation for her guests. She’d already caught herself contemplating baking biscuits. And if it wasn’t that, she’d get online and scour medical journals until she terrified herself with too much information about cancer and genetic mutations. She stopped at the bottle-o and picked up a bottle of white – she and Free shared the same favourite – then drove past the busy pub and takeaway shops to Marlu Street. Three cars were on the verge at number 17B. Hmm. If it was too noisy for Beth’s taste, she could just stay for one drink and then make her excuses.

Free’s eyes, a bluer green than Charlie’s, opened wide when she saw Beth on the doorstep. ‘You came!’

Beth stepped into Free’s hug. ‘I’ve missed you.’ She handed her the wine. ‘Are you guys having a party?’

‘Briggsy just picked up pizzas, and Hendo’s pretty drunk already,’ Free confided. ‘I hope they all clear out by nine, because I Gotta Sing is on tonight.’

Beth chuckled. She didn’t share Free’s obsession with reality talent shows, but she sure knew about it.

She was greeted loudly by the crowd and went around exchanging hugs and kisses. Beth had a soft spot for Briggsy, who was one of the most forward-looking and open-minded police officers she’d ever met. She wasn’t quite as keen on his girlfriend, Kate. Beth was only a year older than Kate, so she knew her from school, and remembered how the girl’s behaviour had raised eyebrows in the senior common room. As a teen, Kate had been an attention-seeker, and Beth had seen her busting up other people’s relationships. As far as Beth could tell, Kate was still a bit that way inclined. Nathan ‘Hendo’ Henderson was there too, with his bubbly girlfriend, Karlia.

‘Oh, my God, Karlz, I forgot to tell you!’ Free exclaimed. ‘Beth just spent the week with Charlie-freaking-Campbell!’

Karlia turned her attention to Beth, her eyes round with awe. ‘What?’

‘No.’ Beth tried to laugh it off. ‘Not quite. I drove Charlie out to Madjinbarra, where he grew up. And gave him a lift back to town yesterday.’

‘What’s he like?’ Karlia asked. ‘I follow all his social profiles. He seems really fun and chatty. His photos are gorgeous.’

Beth struggled to picture Charlie being chatty on social media. ‘He’s very dedicated to his community,’ she said, hoping that would suffice.

‘Beth was at high school with him,’ Free added, barely waiting for Beth to finish. ‘Can you believe it? I nearly died when she told me. And get this – she used to tutor him!’

‘There were rumours about you two, you know, Beth,’ Kate put in, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief – malicious mischief, Beth thought. ‘That something was going on.’

Free was in danger of popping out an eyeball or two. ‘Was there something going on?’ she breathed.

Beth mustered a casual smile. ‘Yes, there was. I was tutoring Charlie in English, maths and biology.

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