The Garnett Girls by Georgina Moore

Author:Georgina Moore [Moore, Georgina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2022-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

‘If he ever hurts you – you call me straight away. I mean it. Or just get out and come to my flat.’

Sasha could feel the velvet of the banquette under her thighs, and under the starched white tablecloth one of Jonny’s legs was entwined with her own. She was aware of every inch of her body, the tantalising closeness of the man she wanted. The cocktails had made everything soft focus, and yet she could feel time rushing past. The busy lunch crowd had died away, there were just a few couples left enjoying the hush and the air conditioning, staring into each other’s eyes. They could see the street through the big windows, crowds from Portobello Market, lost tourists, the monied Notting Hill set pulling up in sleek cars, roofs down. Blasts of dance music, shouts down to the street from windows above.

‘He won’t, I don’t think. It’s all talk with him. I didn’t see any of it coming – I’m such an idiot. It just sort of crept up on me, the snide remarks, the wanting to know where I am all the time. Hating my family—’

‘Do they know?’ Jonny poured more Sancerre into their glasses. They had barely touched the small white plates of sushi and tempura on the table between them. ‘I saw Imogen for lunch, she didn’t mention it, so I just wondered.’

Sasha tried not to show her surprise. ‘When was that?’

Jonny looked uncomfortable, like he’d blurted out a secret. ‘A few weeks ago. She’s going through some stuff. I can’t really say if she hasn’t told you.’

Sasha thought about how Imogen would once have confided in her, how distant they had become. It reminded her that Jonny had these intimate conversations with each of the Garnett women while she had been stupidly hoping he was hers alone. He belonged to them all. ‘We don’t really talk much any more – it’s okay, I wouldn’t ask you to tell me. I hope she’s all right though.’

‘You know she’s like a sister to me don’t you? It’s not the same as us.’

‘Whatever us is.’ Sasha’s tone was cynical and she could feel herself pulling away from him, from the enchanted bubble around them. Her mind had flashed to Richard, his latest voicemail, the one she was ignoring. What she had done behind her family’s back, how much they would hate her when they knew.

Jonny was frowning. He sounded awkward when he finally spoke. ‘I think we both know there’s something here. But you need to sort your life out first.’

‘Yeah – because that’s so easy.’ Sasha pulled her leg away from Jonny’s, tipped the last of the wine into her mouth. She would walk home alone, she wouldn’t let Jonny come with her, in case they were seen. ‘I need to go.’

‘Sasha, what the hell? Where have you gone?’

Sasha looked at Jonny, saw he was upset. His hand lay open towards her on the table. She looked at his arm, his brown skin, the ridiculous cotton friendship bracelet he and Gabriel both wore.

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