The Perfect Girlfriend: An absolutely gripping and breathtaking psychological thriller by Hayley Smith

Author:Hayley Smith [Smith, Hayley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781837902620
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2023-07-19T23:00:00+00:00

Later, when I ask who lives on Portland Crescent Jay is defensive. His face colours. There’s the hint of a tic under his right eye.

‘Why are you asking?’

‘I saw you there. Coming out of a driveway.’ I don’t take my eyes away from his face. He blinks three times. Looks to the left.

‘It’s one of the vegetable box deliveries. That’s all.’

I know it’s not. But I’ve got an idea what it is, and I’m going to check it out.

It’s a midweek morning, but as part of my new motivational routine, I decide to pamper myself. In the bathroom I light vanilla candles. A gratuitous slug of aromatic bath oil goes into the running water. I place my Christmas gift toiletries around the edges of the bath and step through fragrant steam into the hot water.

Afterwards, I daub myself with body lotion. But as I smear it, I notice bruises. I turn and look in the mirror, check my legs, my buttocks, my back. See the patches of purple and blue and yellow and green. I remember someone who bruised easily finding out that she had leukaemia. Perhaps I will go for a check-up.

I hang my head upside down and swish the hairdryer at my dangling hair. It feels thin and straggly and I realise that it hasn’t been trimmed for almost six months.

Next thing, Jay is back from work. There I am at the sink in my bra and pants with my make-up everywhere and he’s bouncing around, galvanised, rattling on about some festival or other.

‘Our first festival gig,’ he says. ‘Out on a farm in the Peak District. Two thousand capacity. The farmer and one of the organisers came over to the estate today to ask about temporary housing for their sheep while the festival is on. I was in the office, mentioned the band, said you’d played with some big hitters and they were impressed. Want to book us.’

‘That sounds great.’ I pack my pencils and lipsticks and brushes into the make-up bag.

‘It’s an eclectic line-up. They’ve got trance, reggae, folk, poetry, all sorts.’

‘Wow,’ I say.

Jay stands there beaming. ‘Get your best frock on. Go on. I’m taking you out to celebrate.’

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